So here's my first stupid gaming post.

Ok, I don't want to be seen as the touchy/feely member here, but honestly, as much as I love gaming, my reflexes suck and I always use more buffs than average (and still suck), but I am fascinated with the psychology of online gaming and I really believe that despite some of the pitfalls, there are some really positive things going on in these games. So I'm gonna come right out and admit I don't get off on the stats as much as my counterparts, but I enjoy the comaraderie and the fight more than most. That said, forgive me if I post a bunch of relationship/personality sort of questions; its just that when I was a kid, I never imagined one would ever be able to engage in a game with someone thousands and thousands of miles away who didn't even speak the same language (e.g. Japan) and share memories that are, in fact, as real as the memories developed in real life. This is simply mind boggling to me.

I met my YM in FFXI about 3 1/2 years ago and we've played a little in every single expansion pack since. Since taking this relationship into real life, we just don't play as much; too much playing to be done in real life. But, we treasure our life in Vanadiel. The newest version just came out (Wings of the Godess) and we are really excited because there are some new jobs, one of which is Dancer (me, me, me). We plan to start this up sometime in the next few weeks.

So here's the stupid question for those of you in a relationship. Do you have a fondness or feel a connection to the first game/place that brought you together? Do you have a treasured account that you continue to pay for, despite the fact that you might go months without going there?

I have a real emotional connection to this place and still I think I have a good grip on what's fantasy and what's reality, but if one doesn't play, I don't think there is any understanding that the memories and events are real!! Again, mind boggling!

So here's the stupid question for those of you in a relationship. Do you have a fondness or feel a connection to the first game/place that brought you together? Do you have a treasured account that you continue to pay for, despite the fact that you might go months without going there?

Short answer... YES! I will always have a soft spot in my heart for There. Devon and I both purchased lifetime membership accounts and though we rarely if ever log into the game (it is just too much of a *relationship* place for us to hang now), I always think of it fondly *because* it brought me Dev. :p

Lol. Didn't know that you could get a lifetime account. I'll have to check our game.

Reading your post got me so choked up........

Like, wow, there's someone who can really relate to what I feel.......

My background is that I never played video games other then Tetris.....I watched my son play and was always fascinated......he was a Final Fantasy Fanatic for the games on his playstation.......I loved the graphics.

When I started talking to Shin on the telephone I remember the day that he got Final Fantasy for his computer and he would try and explain to me endlessly what it was about.......I remember hearing the Chocobo music in the background......I remember him experiencing with me his very first airship ride.......it always captivated my interest.......but I never played.

He moved to Cali but he never played the game on my computer. I think at that time my computer did not have a graphics card that would support it.....and it wasn't important for those months, because Real Life was fun for us both.....new experiences, new love, new memories to be made.

Then, when we moved to Indy and were all settled in......he started playing his game again.......I watched......and I saw the excitment he had for the game......his childhood memories were of FF7, playing it during his hardtimes....so that's his connection to the game........

He had a Dragoon then, level 40ish........he left his character in Quflm towers.....he wanted me to farm giants for him.........and specifically....DO NOT DIE.....lol.......well I did, I didn't know about that one special Giant...but I fell in love with the game, it was fun.......

and we upgraded my computer, bought me my copy.......and I fell in love with my Taru....Soranoyume........hence, my name here.........I loved every minute of playing with Japanese late at night, to talk my own language, to people far away and interact with them.........I enjoyed it immensely......we never played without the other.....we leveled up jobs together, it was always Sora and Alafarus........and I enjoyed my time with my husband, he was my protector on game, teaching me everything, he loved the fact that I played, and he always watched out for me. Our computers were side by side where he could always look over and help me in a jam......thats love...lol

Then........Vanguard Beta form came out........our friends in the guild left to play that game........I wouldn't play......no cute characters, Sora doesn't play.....lol

Final Fantasy was no more for us.......then he tried Guild Wars, then a couple more, and he plays WOW now.........I have played WOW with him, he has 70s in that game.....I have a 25........the magic is not in WOW for me......

so I wait.......patiently......paying 2 dues on Final Fantasy, not wanting to lose our characters......because I know that someday he will return to Vanadiel......where it all started for us........

He's on his desktop and I use my laptop now to be in the same room laying on the bed as he plays WOW I do my own thing surfing the web......lol my desktop has gathered dust......lol

and he's talking about the expansion and the 2 new jobs.......

my first and only love is FFXI......and maybe I'm immature, but I don't desire to play any other game, it was the most difficult time for me to learn everything in that game.....I have almost every job opened and leveling.....I can't see me playing anything else......

we signed on this month earlier, and those feelings flooded my heart to the point of tears.....it was our game, our special place, such sweet memories......people who do not game can never understand.......

and wow.......this is the most I've ever talked about myself.....haha

Rozie, you brought feelings from deep within.........thank you for reminding me of my love for Shin and the game.

love,
sora

Sora, I have a secret. I have a collection of FFXI soundtracks and I always play the Chocobo music when I drive to the airport to see my YM. Doubt we will ever get married, but if we do, I STG am walking down the aisle to Windhurst music...lol!!

Funny isn't it Sora?

I was just chatting with Angel the other night and said that when I ever I feel really upset with Dev or somewhat disconnected from him... all I need to do is dig up those early logs and I literally fall in love all over again.

I get teary-eyed and all mushie gushie for him remembering how things were and felt.

It is such an intense thing to share a love for a hobby with someone that you love. Gaming is like traveling to another foriegn city, experiencing all those new locations, cultures, and customs with your very best friend. It is incredibly romantic and boding.

It just really can't be explained to someone that hasn't experienced it.

I don't post pics of myself, but here is some of my YM's amazing custom work. He's Lynxx and I'm Rozeera (my name was created for my Zabrak character in SWG but it sort of fits, so I've kept it.) The truth is, I look a lot like Rozeera, but without the tail. Now in the game I am not a ranger. I'm a lvl 59 WHM (we never managed to get the limit break done...lol).

http://www.toymania.com/customcorner/cc14/ffxi.shtml



I'm posting this Sora, because I wanted you to see his Giga. Is that the monster you were talking about?

Damned we needed this forum!! BTW. I made her outfit, broke her thumb putting it on, cried, thought he was gonna be furious. He hugged me and laughed "Its only a thumb. I can fix it."

em/ deep bow to Angel

I've seen these before and they are soooooo awesome!

/me *pouts in corner green with envy*

Gosh.......I love you guys..........it's so good to know there's someone emotional and sentimental over game memories.....

sora

In answer to the stupid question: Yes.

My husband and I met while playing Neverwinter Nights 1 on a PW run by my son-in-law. He was a bard and I had made a new bard myself. I had not been much of an RPer up until then, so Calliope was my first true attempt at RP.

We met in game when his bard, Casio, offered to take Calliope under his wing to help her out with her bardic education.

We still play NWN2, still on a PW run by my son-in-law, but not as much as we used to due to the fact that the new version of the game is a B** to play. The original makers sold it to Obsidian and they totally F'ed up the multi-player aspect, so with crashing constantly and a very un-user-friendly chat interface, well, we have more fun on LOTRO.

...

So here's the stupid question for those of you in a relationship. Do you have a fondness or feel a connection to the first game/place that brought you together? Do you have a treasured account that you continue to pay for, despite the fact that you might go months without going there?...

I used to, but not anymore - about 1 yr ago I let my DAoC account expire (RIP :( ) - it took me like 2 years though in which I kept paying for an account I never used ;)

But eventually I let go :p

I'm feeling so whistful now... I might log into There tonight just to look around. We'll see.

Its true,

Final Fantasy VII was the gateway to bliss as my parents fought tooth and nail over my upbringing and custody of me. Without FFVII I would probably be a lot more messed up then I am right now.

I got into Final Fantasy XI the day it came out, DRAGOON!!!!! was all that was on my mind at that moment, I played soooo much that night I don't think i was on the phone with sora but more then 2 hours, thats not a lot of time since we could talk for a good 5-7 hours a night.

When sora and i moved to Indiana I taught her how to play, I still remember those nights, kneeling beside her at my computer till my knee hurt, just to make sure she got targeting n' such down. All the way to her very first party, Where I made sure she knew what she was doing. I raised sora from a tetris freak, to a Final fantasy XI goddess, She was one of the best red mages on our server. SO good infact, people came to know her server wide, and while she never hit 75, nor did I she did achieve 70 levels, count them people, 70 LEVELS in one of the most complicated gaming style in existence today. She fought hard and she earned the title, Sora... the explora....

I love you sora, thanks for sharing Final Fantasy XI with me.

I wish you would join me in World of Warcraft.

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/608/soraalafbt5.jpg

Love,
Shin

Oh Shin, great to have you chime in. Now we just go there as a couple and very rarely. His BLM was so awesome until some of the newer updates, that he could power level anyone and I'm a pretty good WHM, so we started picking up new jobs and power leveling each other into the thirties just to do something together while we are 1300 miles apart. We played Fantasy Star Universe online for a brief stint with the other guys, but the storyline was sort of boring. FFXI rules and now.......shared mog houses!! em/ sigh (But we haven't set that up yet.)