Ending my tenure on World of Warcraft

Here is my post as to why that I left to my guild, with certain sections edited out:

Hey folks:

I have made the tough decision to stop playing WoW.

I don't know where to begin as there is a lot to say.

First, the guild has been uber awesome. The reason I have stayed for so long is the people, it really is.

But at the heart of the matter, I don't really enjoy WoW and as of late, have come to loathe it. I log in to see my friends, but it's rough for me to play at any length. Because I don't like the game.

I know that's a bit weird considering the time I have put in. I love the WoW universe, the lore, the pretty graphics, the getting on and owning noobs sometimes, but the gameplay itself is insulting to me, especially after playing games like EQ and EQ2. The repetitive nature of the game is a let down. The constant grinding, the easy instances, the lack of respect for me as a gamer.

And the icing on the cake is Blizzard's attitude toward its customer base. Their constant rebalancing and "you'll like it or else" attitude is crap.

But the ultimate reason is that I need more me time. I don't know how to say it otherwise. My life completely changed since playing WoW. To be in a group with good people you have to be on constantly or you get left behind for some reason or another.

And it has taken its toll on me. I have gained more than a hundred pounds of weight in the last four years (some due to the ending of a bad marriage, but not all). I have shut myself in night after night, for which friends became a diminishing circle in real life. And I need to find other things to do. Other passions and hobbies.

I'd hate for me life story to be written as "he was a good gamer."

Now there is one MMO that I'll still be in from time to time, but the whole reason is that MMO, Eve Online, is more of a hobby, not a time sink.

And I might play others here and there but never again this dedicated.

It is not likely that I will ever pick up WoW again. EQ II is a much better game. If I ever go back to something, it'll be EQ II.

Finally, I have put in funds to get the guild up and running on this Web site and on Ventrilo.

I want you to continue to use them. I'd hate to miss seeing my friends and talking to them, for which many of you are amongst that number.

[Section Edited out]

You guys are the greatest of my friends and the ones who had me logging in day after day.

[section edited out]

Keep in touch, and talk to me on Ventrilo.

I now take my leave of the guild, satisfied that I am exiting the game at the top. Of all the guilds I have seen, I am proud to have this one listed as my final one.

Good Guild

Thanks,

See you around

Beofox