Gamebegone
When you leave one of those MMORPGs that I adore so bitterly, you delete the software and unsubscribe your account.
Then, 6 months later, when you’re rocking back and forth in your chair NEEDing a fix, you go to GameStop on Court Street and buy aNOTHER copy (because you dutifully destroyed your original CDs in a gesture of mock finality, convincing to no one.)
You install the software and start it up.
While it connects to download the patch between the released CD versions and the latest version of the software you are serenaded by the theme music like a homeless person catching a whiff of gin, having just opened the bottle, but not yet taken a drink.
Finally, lo and behold, you log in!
There, sitting and waiting for you, are all your old characters, just the way you left them. All the work you’d put in to them, all the time they stole from your life. It’s all right there, waiting for you to pick up where you left off and continue the adventure.
It’s insidious.
I’ve been playing computer games for more than most people I know have been alive. I’ve done FAR more of that one activity than pretty much anything else not strictly related to biological survival.
It’s such a piece of habit, like eating when I’m depressed or yawning while approaching someone I don’t want to talk to so they don’t actually interrupt me with contact (I only realized I did that about a year ago, very strange. It’ll probably be worth another post some day.)
In an age where electronic gaming has outgrossed the movie industry and shows no sign of slowing down, being the guy who’s underneath that tidal wave is a pain in the ass.
So over the last 2 days I’ve gone through all 6 games (yeah, 6) that I pay a monthly fee for, and I’ve deleted individually each character/persona. Once those were had been irrevocably deleted I signed on to “account/billing” options.
I cancelled my subscriptions.
Then I deleted my “community” accounts and sent an email to the customer service / support for each and asked they REALLY purge my accounts (just in case.)
So what has that accomplished?
Perhaps not so much. But this time, things are actually different. It’s not an isolated incident really. I’m treating myself a whole lot better than I was.
See, during the blog blackout I had a WORLD class meltdown. I’ll no doubt feel the need to blather on endlessly about it eventually.
The upshot is that I’ve been paying attention to what realistic changes in my life would consist of. Not that endorphin/caffeine induced bold battery of proclamations of …oh, say… this type (yeah, remember that whole abortive mess?)
I eat a little better. I don’t drink caffeine after 3:00 or so (full night’s sleep and all.) My attitude towards work is healthier (yeah, the hours are long, the expectations aren’t always reasonable (hmmpf), But that doesn’t have to drag me to hell emotionally.) I get out and do a whole lot more (did I mention I rejoined Social Circles? I can’t remember.)
So this is the page turned in a continuing trend.
All you people who are rolling your eyes saying “good grief you self-absorbed whinebag. Cut with the games and go kiss a girl or something.” You’re all exactly right.
Tags: UCCU