The passing of time leaves empty lives...

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3 December 2004 - 3:08pm

Chickensoupcheese

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Joined: 12 Jul 2004

The passing of time leaves empty lives...

I've been around here for, let's say a long while, and I've gone through a lot of changes since I started posting on here. Although my interest in games has more or less disintegrated into a fine powder that I might take a sniff at in the coming holidays (although my interests in reading and writing, and to an extent cinema have surpassed), I keep on posting here, and I don't think I could ever spend time on the Internet without spending time at least looking at topis made on here.

The point of this topic? I would be just intruiged to see what people thought of themselves, what they liked, how they acted when they came to the forum, and how they see themselves now. The influence of adolescence and just growing up in general has significantly changed the type of person I am, both in terms of musical, film, literary and gaming tastes to the way I act, the way I see myself both inside and outside, and the way others view me.

When I started posting on message boards, although I saw myself as rather intelligent, if I were to come across any posts made from the 'beginnings', I'd probably cringe. I was brought up on the musical talents of Meat Loaf and Aerosmith (the latter I've grown out of; the former still holds a place deep in my [musical!] heart), enjoyed everything about RPGs except for the fighting (FFVIII was my favourite RPG, I wouldn't touch FFVII because I hated it whilst I was younger, although I didn't like random encounters!!). I came into the community primarily because of my increasing interest with RPG Maker, and the RPG Maker Community in general - I still have all my old reviews on the computer somewhere, and my old attempted projects (which are staying on here). I was a keen gamer, although I almost exclusively dedicated myself to RPGs and Point and Clicks.

Nowadays, I'm listening to a somewhat dubious selection of music: I've found myself skipping from Enya to Slayer; at the time of typing I'm listening to some classical (music) tidbits. My gaming interests declined due to the increasing amounts of work that I've had, as well as a refound passion for reading and, I would presume resultingly, a refound passion for writing. I have a liking for orchestral music, and still enjoy the music from RPGs, although I couldn't see myself returning to the games. Any games I play from now on will be simple, FPS'; good, clean, simple fun. I tend to play around with language a bit more, and try to come up with pretty profound(-sounding) posts each time I press the Reply button. I concern myself more nowadays with the appearance of things, as well as the content, and prefer to spend time making things as perfect as I can. It means that I take ages to come up with things, although what I do come up with has involved a bit of effort in my part.

I know that the majority of 'oldbies' on here would look back on their early days in this community and cringe. You already know I do. I thought it would be fun to recollect some of the more interesting aspects of early 'Town Life', yet also compare it with how we see each other (and ourselves) today.

EDIT: The title is a reference to 'Rubber Ring' by The Smiths; the empty lives were our own, and the filling is whatever you made it. Post ahead.

3 December 2004 - 6:32pm

Link

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

I first came here on the fact that I found the download for the RTP (or something like that) for RPG Maker 2000. I started looking around the site and thought it looked neat, so I joined the forums, bringing up Rm2k help topics and the like, and wondering how anybody could post once and then leave such a great place. I generally didn't like the computer untikl I found this place, and soon I was on the computer more than video games and tv. I look back at some of my earlier posts and cringe when I think of them. I wasn't concerned much with quality or quantity, although I like to think I never typed like my friends do on MSN. It was mostly this place that got me into music. Of course back then I listened to crap which I can't remember. Needless to say my taste in music has changed much. I have also found a place in my 'musical' heart for Jazz, and orchestral music, which I have found quite good (especially the Fountain of Dream music from SSMB). This place has also made me a very good typer. And also if I compared my posts from right now from when I first joined I would probably cringe alot. I have also expanded the range of books I read. That's my 2 cents. Enjoy.

3 December 2004 - 6:39pm

theblakeman

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

lol....at first i thought this was a 'goodbye' thread

ANIMALS ARE SO CUTE BUT THEY LOOK EVEN CUTER AS THE TRIM ON THE HOOD OF MY JACKET!

3 December 2004 - 6:46pm

Blue Barry Jam

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

I've changed a LOT since I first posted way back on the EZboard. Most of my emotional change, however, didn't come from experiences here, but those changes have effected how I act here.

I remember when I first posted, I only did it every now and then as a guest. I was unbelievably shy, even with people who couldn't even see or hear me, but rather read a couple typed out words. Since then, I've grown much more mature about my "shyness", and although I am still somewhat shy, I simply look at that as part of my personality, rather than a flaw.

Like you, CSC, my interest in video games has severely lessesed over the years. There's still a few games that I get into, but not nearly as much as before. I, too, have gotten more into writing, although I am extremely lazy about it. I often times plan out short stories in my head, knowing exactly what happens in what order, every character trait thought out perfectly, but I never right it down. That's partly because I constantly have things on my mind, unlike several years ago when I first joined.

Gosh, I was so immature then. It's really good to see how much as I've changed for the good, and I'm glad that some of you guys have changed for the good, too.

PS. I think this is possibly the best topic made on the Town in many years.

3 December 2004 - 7:07pm

Magi

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Joined: 12 Jul 2004

Of course I've changed. A lot of us have been here for ages it seems. While most people have moved on from the primary aim of the community, it's good to see they still hang around. I still make stupid posts like I did in the past (with an intention to do so of course,) but I cringe while I look at my oldest remaining posts on the proboards where I would casually use the word 'lol.' The elitism phase of the community struck me about a year ago, and the perfectionist typing habits remain (not that it's a bad thing.) As my life has slowly become more demanding, I've noticed I have less time to do the things I once enjoyed, and things I once enjoyed I realized I no longer achieved the sense of satisfaction out of them that I used to. I realized that I was forcing myself to conform to the community standards of game making, and it slowly began to suck out the enjoyment of creating a simple game.

After this revalation, I decided I'd lay low in the community for some time, and I did just that. Alas, the community didn't change even when I lurked the game making scene. In recent times I've called it quits on RPG Maker/Game development, yet I do use UnrealEd 3.0. nonwadays instead. It gives me the freedom to do what I enjoy most (mapping), but in 3 dimensions. To me, this is a new challenge with new things to explore. I've also found most communities outside of RPG Maker aren't filled with this pathetic elitism we experience. Sphere, Unreal, and web communities like Gamasutra are always more than happy to help each other out, and the prime focus of their communities are to help one another improve. Not only over the years have I discovered this, but its changed my stance on game development. A game, no matter how simple; cannot be easily developed by a single person. Each element of a game relies on a role of a multiple individuals to help the progression of a game. In the RPG Maker community, it's the opposite.

If anybody hasn't figured it out by now, it isn't likely I will pick up RPG Maker again. I think the reality of it is that as you age, you just can't devote to such ambitious and huge projects like this. It's the reason Kamau left us as well. Remember though, just because my interest in RPG Making is next to nothing, that doesn't mean I don't plan to contribute to the advances of the RPG Palace. If anybody has checked the front page lately, you would find that I've added in four new pages: The sections about Rm2k/2k3/XP, and a staff page. I have the same intentions to gear this community toward the RPG Maker series still, but it will require a full effort of the community to accomplish this. When I initially joined RPG Town the day I downloaded RPG Maker 2000 off of the old RPG-Palace, I couldn't have even begin to imagine what things would be like now. I didn't even think many of us (myself included) would still be here, and yet we remain here now. I'm sure Maxy, Jacket, and Paul would never have found themselves to be in the same position as I either. Though, it's thanks to their efforts as well as the community we're still here now.

I'm not sure what the rest of the community thinks of me, but it doesn't matter too much. The reason I'm here is because I enjoy what I do, and web design is a small hobby of mine. While I see some of us remaining here only for another two years at the most, we might as well work together to restore the Palace; this time as a community.

3 December 2004 - 11:09pm

ZimZim Da Great

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Joined: 25 Oct 2004

Since I obviously can't compare myself now to when I joined about two months ago, I'll just say what I think of myself and like. I don't really like to do much, which is why I post here; I've got so much free time. I don't like video games much, though I did a few months ago and far before. I don't know much about computers, and only go on to search, a few sites, mostly this, AIM, and play an old game, Civilization III (which I couldn't play until recently, due to an inexplicable computer messup). I don't really like reading and I don't watch a lot of TV. I pretty much lie around thinking about general stuff. I'm pretty lazy, don't feel like there's anything worthwile doing, and I'm good at thinking, except due to my laziness to read and learn about stuff I suffer at debates. Ya... a brief description of me.

3 December 2004 - 11:20pm

CherryCrack

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

You know...

In my earlyearlyearly days in the town when I was like

...ten

I was a moron and now that I look back on my posts I go "dude<lecringe.>"

THE TIME HAS COME...!!!
Sharkie's Favorite Image (1/21/06)
/notes: fap...fap fap. If this isn't a man, I'm i

3 December 2004 - 11:22pm

theblakeman

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by CherryCrack@Dec 3 2004, 08:20 PM
You know...

In my earlyearlyearly days in the town when I was like

...ten

I was a moron and now that I look back on my posts I go "dude<lecringe.>"

[post=155031]Quoted post[/post]

AHAHAHAHA

ANIMALS ARE SO CUTE BUT THEY LOOK EVEN CUTER AS THE TRIM ON THE HOOD OF MY JACKET!

4 December 2004 - 5:28am

Porkchop Express

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Joined: 17 Jul 2004

It’s true the RM community is very elitist these days however there a peaks and troughs I think we can assume when many of the old members have left new people will take it up and the cycle may repeat. This is just one take on what could happen, member flow could stay even but I doubt it.

I don't think I've changed that much on the town, I was never a shorthand typist I've stayed interested in the same topics of discussion that come up. I think most of us stay now due to the members we know not the RM series the "state of gaming development" topic has made me realize this. However I think my gaming habits are moving in reverse I seem to have shunned 3D to return to good 2D games of old, its strange sonic has not lost its appeal over the years!

Oh course life pressures have affected things, I should really be working now
The time that I used to have for game making has slowly been worn down but other things and I think that we are all experiencing this any of us have been using the program since at least rm2k, so we have used it for at least 4 years and of course things become stale. However perhaps the appeal is on hiatus but is not gone fully, however it’s too early to say.

The community still seems aimless to me, if interest in rm2k is truly gone perhaps we should remove that forum and open up new forums for topics we are now interested in
Surely tradition should not hold back our enjoyment?

Its nice to see many of our members are still here, this shows the forum still has its appeal which at one point I feared was lost to me. I am enjoying this incarnation of RPG town however I would now class the Proboards as our spiritual home, I have made the most posts on that forum and have the most memories of it and I'm sure most of us are the same.

Although I wonder how the town will keep progressing, it certainly will be interesting!

Please excuse this mess, the thoughts when from mind to keyboard!

4 December 2004 - 8:55am

#10

Shiguru Wazzat

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

This was my first serious forum, so it's safe to say that when I first joined I was the pinnacle of n00b. I still am now, but a controlled, mature n00b

EzBoard:
I remember joining in October 2002, towards the end of EzBoard, and making posts wherever I could. I think I actually made a topic on how I got 100 posts in about 3 days. Back then, the only thing that was important to me was post count and stealing ideas for my game, the Search for Shakiro (which was actually a promising idea, but I was t3h lazay). Thankfully, I began to look at other members posts, and realised that compared to them I was ChibiGoku with a larger vocabulary of swear words.

ProBoards 1:
Still slightly n00bish, I had come a long way in just 2 months. My use of 'lol' had decreased dramatically, I figured out what repugnant meant, and I finally lost my obsession with fat people in ghostbusters costumes. Unfortunatly, a crappy intarweb connection combined with AOL meant I had to leave for 2 to 3 months.

ProBoards 2:
Hurrah, I came back! With a new found use of BWAHAHAHA (thank you, FFIX) and a pair of shiny spectacles, I got my internet back with NTL broadband \m/. With n00bness at an all time low, I posted like a myg0t fanboy, and only left once because I wanted to play Half Life.

ProBoards 2 - Present Day:
The delightful and oh-so-charming Shiguru you see today has been in the making for 2 years. I'm the product of insulting guest posts, then defensive member posts (one such incident on Jackets forums sticks out), making empty promises to further my 1337ness, failed attempt at RM2K glory, and a sexual harrassment case against Curt.

4 December 2004 - 10:59am

#11

EvilMufasa

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Joined: 16 Aug 2004

I haven't been here for long... but I've been doing the whole forum thing for about two years. I think posting on a forum is great for any young person... or old, for that matter. The first forum I visited was a site called ProjectH20, I had gone there after talking to OldSkoolRPGer at my school. And I must say, I had no restraint on my total retarded nature. I'd make stupid topics, replies, and polls... of course, OSR was the king of the strange polls back then.

Being on those forums helped me alot. I matured greatly, in a mental aspect, as I was able to participate in debates on all topics. It was a great community... but it fell.

OSR told me about this place... when you were still on your second proboard. I just lurked about the place. I even made an attempt at an RP, but it was already dead. So I've been here since then, I suppose. I don't really know anyone here all that well... I've been able to make some aqcaintances... but that's about all. My attitude and style of posting is a direct product of past times at forums. I hope I've made an alright impression.

4 December 2004 - 1:31pm

#12

Chickensoupcheese

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Joined: 12 Jul 2004

Imagine my surprise when I came back a day after posting a mini-essay to see all the replies!

You can see an underlying pattern under the development of people's 'Townie' experiences - as we've grown with the Town, our grammar has improved, our ideas about life, the universe, everything and Douglas Adams have matured, and the quantity of schoolwork and extra activities extra-forum have increased somewhat. That combined with the fact that the whole RM2K community has gone down the pan a little, as you say. The reason why I came into the Town was because of RPG Maker, and the ambition that I had (I actually spent about a year passing in and out of 'World of RM2K' before beginning to post at t'Town)); I gave up because the emphasis had changed to producing a great game from merely having fan producing a game.

I'm not really a gamesplayer anymore, although I would still play anything that people in this community made gameswise. I think what Magi hinted at and what Fred essentially said is a point worth making though: perhaps it's the time to take the emphasis off 'RM2K' and the like, and perhaps elevate the other main makers that are around. I'm not particularly knowledgeable myself, but I know of things like Sphere and the like.

When I dedicate time to things now, I have to be sure that it's worth doing, and that I'll get something out of it. I'm (making an attempt at) writing a little novel at the mo, which I find entertaining. It also helps me to improve my writing generally and I've found myself using newly-discovered vocabulary (from readng) that encapsulates my thoughts perfectly. I gave up on the games because I just wasn't enjoying them, and with my limited time amounts, decided to veer my interests for the most elsewhere.

4 December 2004 - 1:53pm

#13

Curt

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

I started out here with no idea what RPG Making was. I think I searched for RPG maker with no knowledge of RM2K. As it popped up, you can imagine and relate to the feeling I had when this glorious program from god appeared on my machine (the same kind of feeling I had when I found ROMS).

My first game attempt was called Revenge of Time, a Chrono Trigger sequel. Like most people, I felt I had to have a totally noob game design "company" in order to have the game...so I believe I came up with some lame name that...er...I can't remember. *shrug*

After a reformat without backup, my game design would never be the same. I never really could get back into it, even though I wanted to desperatly. I still have SOOOO many ideas for RPGs and how I would do them differently, but alas, I don't have the time or will to make them.

One of the funniest memories I have that some oldbies should remember is when a member calling himself Gogeta787 joined. He stayed for a month or two, then said that a friend of his had stolen all of the games off our harddrives and was selling them, including mine, saying mine was a number 2 seller (mine being RoT, before the reformat). What was humorous was I had like 10 maps done, but he said that somehow this kid was selling them. We eventually got wishmoo involved who called the kid. Kinda funny, concidering it was one big lie. Fun though, a sense of power and emergency throughout the community. Brought us together for one of few times.

Lesse...um, never really got into the Proboards. Not enough time/not really knowing anyone.

The first Invision I kinda got into, but not anywhere as much as EZ. Nothing can match EZ.

That's about it.

Oh, and l337 for me originated at EZ. Woo!

<span style='font-family:Impact'><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>[center][img]http://www.sonymusicstore.com/coverimages/SME_0101_C2K_065774.70Q_

4 December 2004 - 6:15pm

#14

The Hitman

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Joined: 22 Aug 2004

I remember what I was like when I first started posting...(flashback sequence)

I, like many fresh RM n00bs, flocked here for the Legion Saga section. And unlike many said n00bs, I ventured into the General section and never looked back. I was near-spammer and violently immature. I remember this one time, I thought I was so cool because Omen and I had this fight and tied up the boards. I thought I was going to get kicked out after I read the replies to it. Luckly, I got on everyones good side when I told a spammer off (I think his name was Raging Go-somethin').

After a year of traveling to different forums, I came back a little while ago, fresh and mature. I attribute my maturity to my new girlfriend, who changed my mind on a whole lot of things. I haven't touched RM2K for about 6 months now, but am planning a game that will be made eventually. I don't have much time on the compy anymore, but when I am on, I stop here first.

...(end flashback)... ug, it hurts to think back that far. Pass the chips.

4 December 2004 - 6:59pm

#15

Exeox

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Joined: 2 Sep 2004

How right you are CSC, I think we've all changed. I've changed too, I still remember me in the 'ol days on other forums. O.<

Currently Playing:
Pc: Championship Manager 01/02
Xbox: Worms 3D

5 December 2004 - 7:10am

#16

Shiguru Wazzat

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

You mean when you'd never played Halo, loved school and had a religious cat?

Oh the horror!

5 December 2004 - 7:25am

#17

Exeox

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Joined: 2 Sep 2004

I still have a religous cat....

Currently Playing:
Pc: Championship Manager 01/02
Xbox: Worms 3D

5 December 2004 - 7:25am

#18

benos

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Joined: 29 Oct 2004

i came here, now i will leave rpg making forever, if thats certain. LOL. jk.
Nah, seriously, i am. but who knows. well i lost my best hobby past time.

5 December 2004 - 1:28pm

#19

Curt

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by benos@Dec 5 2004, 07:25 AM
i came here, now i will leave rpg making forever, if thats certain. LOL. jk.
Nah, seriously, i am. but who knows. well i lost my best hobby past time.

[post=155114]Quoted post[/post]

wat?

<span style='font-family:Impact'><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>[center][img]http://www.sonymusicstore.com/coverimages/SME_0101_C2K_065774.70Q_

5 December 2004 - 2:09pm

#20

Nivo

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Joined: 5 Dec 2004

Hi, some of you probably wont know me, heck.. I dont know most of the people that I can see on here. I just thought I'd have a look around the new RPG Palace after I spoke with Ayn, and am very suprised that it got running, well done Magi and Maxy.

I remember when I first joined RPG Town when it was EZBoards, I joined because I was interested in RPG making and thought I could make the best game in the world......how wrong I was, I never even finished one I got the link from Kamau's old RPG Palace and met some good people. When I joined I was about....13 or 14 and was insanely stupid, some may say n00bish, but the town has matured me into a better person, i hope.

If anyone wants to get back in contact add me on msn at

5 December 2004 - 2:33pm

#21

zumbum

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Joined: 16 Jul 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by benos@Dec 5 2004, 12:25 PM
i came here, now i will leave rpg making forever, if thats certain. LOL. jk.
Nah, seriously, i am. but who knows. well i lost my best hobby past time.

[post=155114]Quoted post[/post]

Whut?

5 December 2004 - 2:36pm

#22

Shiguru Wazzat

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

I remember you, Nivo!

You had an avatar with a guy with a long moustache, and I played Age of Empires with you once. Good times.

Stick around and post

5 December 2004 - 2:56pm

#23

Nivo

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Joined: 5 Dec 2004

Hi Shig... I remeber everything apart from the moustache avatar??

5 December 2004 - 3:20pm

#24

Magi

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Joined: 12 Jul 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by zumbum@Dec 5 2004, 11:33 AM
Whut?

[post=155135]Quoted post[/post]

Oh come on. I was able to figure out what benos was saying.

Hey Niv. It's been a while, hasn't it?

5 December 2004 - 7:13pm

#25

Kaiox

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

Meh, I can say that I came at the decline of PRoBoards and that I was mainly thrown around joing and rejoining every new version of the Town there was. I wish I could say that I've gotten more mature and that I cringe when I think about myself in the past. I can't. You could say that I'm the only one who was on the decline when everyone else got more mature. as I realized that the Town was very relaxed, you could say that it was there when I got spammy. And thus, you see me here befure you today. I have had several names here. First one being Ultima and I was an absolute brat, more so than I am now. And I was banned immediately. I got a new computer and I rejoined as Innosuke. I didn't post much but rather lurked the whole time unless I found a post that perked my interest. Such as Inquisitor's "13 year-olds shouldn't be on the Internet" post. I was a strong opposer since I was a 13 year old myself. I am fourteen. I actually came into existance when I joined the board before the shelter.

Unlike most of the people here, I didn't come here out of love for RM2k, I came here because I was a Legion Saga fan. and I mainly stayed in the Legion Saga section. and I slowly went to other forums more often.

How do I think of myself. I know that I'm annoying and that I spam quite a bit. I know that everyone here would agree with me (If you don't I will have to shoot you ). I also think that I take insults very easily without too much trouble, and I would never insult another's race. I never would. You could say that I'm a relaxed kind of person and such, but that about covers my personality up a bit.

???????????

6 December 2004 - 3:40pm

#26

Nivo

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Joined: 5 Dec 2004

Yea hi Magi, has been a while hasnt it? But its pretty cool to be back, I think I'll stick around for a while.

6 December 2004 - 5:17pm

#27

Kefka

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

I started toying with RPG Maker 95 about a year before 2k came out, so I had a fair amount of experience in using it; however, I didn't know anyone else who used it, and having (very) limited internet access, I never had many opportunities to look up communities or forums or anything, for that matter, relating to it. So, three years and two dozen games or failed attempts at them, I discovered that my friend Cliff actually knew about this, and so did his brother, who actively used it. Until then I hadn't talked to Blake at all. He introduced me to the forums. Thanks Blake!

But yeah... I used to be so much spammier than I am now, making more than my fair share of nonsense/l33tsp33k posts and topics, but I'm fairly sure I'm over that now. Not that I have anything, really, against them.

<div align="center">[/CENTER]
<div align="center">[img]http://img316.imageshack.us/img316/7302/tfaymwos1ud.jpg[/img

7 December 2004 - 4:23pm

#28

Link

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

Nivo...Nivo...Nivo...Ah ha. I remeber you. Wecome back.

7 December 2004 - 8:54pm

#29

Kaiox

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

I really hate it when an oldbie comes back and I don't know the person while everyone else is saying things like "Hey I remember you!!"

???????????

7 December 2004 - 9:19pm

#30

Mr. E

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Joined: 15 Jul 2004

If we get off our lazy buts, than this community could come back. I love playing RPG Maker games, but making them has sort of lost my interest. I still work on a game every so often, but not half as much anymore. Most people have stopped making games too, so there aren't many out there...

I don't seem to remember a Nivo. But alas, welcome home!

Mugglenet.com

Awesome website. Harry Potter fans: go there now. That is an order.

8 December 2004 - 5:25pm

#31

Nivo

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Joined: 5 Dec 2004

Thanks Mr.E and Link... Good to be home.

By the way, Kaiox Im Nivo.. Now you know me

8 December 2004 - 5:27pm

#32

Kaiox

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Joined: 14 Jul 2004

Yes I do. Welcome home... with me to "ruin" your stay.

???????????

8 December 2004 - 5:39pm

#33

the_nackster

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Joined: 7 Dec 2004

*sigh* Well I for one can remember when the RPG Arena was in its prime and rm2k still in beta. I've been a part of the rm2k community since I was 12 (im 16 almost 17 now) so I have obviously seen many changes in myself and others. I remember not being able to understand switches (lol) and it wasn't until I was 14 that I had a firm grasp on variables. So obviously I have matured greatly. I never posted here altough I wish that I had, as there are many people here I know from way back in the arena and Devscape days.

8 December 2004 - 5:43pm

#34

Magi

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Joined: 12 Jul 2004

Quote:

Well I for one can remember when the RPG Arena was in its prime and rm2k still in beta.

Yeah, I remember you. You're not affiliated with those Rm2kete guys are you? I think they want to kill me.

8 December 2004 - 5:55pm

#35

the_nackster

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Joined: 7 Dec 2004

lol, Naw, I know them all though.

8 December 2004 - 7:33pm

#36

Kamau

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Joined: 17 Jul 2004

Ahhh, nostalgia.

It all began when I was starting college, a time that feels so long ago for me now as it has been over 2 years since I left. Discovering RM2k truly was a life-changing event for me (who says slacking off in I.T. lessons isn't productive?) as it lead me to greatly enhance RPG Palace and the Town and to create the Legion Saga world, one of my proudest achievements to date.

However, leaving college brought another major change in my life and my social groups changed, my lifestyle changed, my schedules changed, and it became harder and harder to find the countless hours I used to spend working on my games and website. I believe Magi has really hit the nail on the head for me...

As my life has slowly become more demanding, I've noticed I have less time to do the things I once enjoyed, and things I once enjoyed I realized I no longer achieved the sense of satisfaction out of them that I used to.

Somehow, at some point, I lost that special something, the thing that made me strive to continue to create better and and better games.

Nevertheless, Legion Saga is my adored creation, my bastard, obsolete, Frankenstein's monster of Suikoden. But I am Frankenstein, and I love it regardless of how shoddy it may seem or how much abuse it gets for being a rip-off or unoriginal. I will never truly 100% abandon LS, I can't, which is why I haven't offically admitted resignation from the RPG Maker scene.

Personally I feel that the years I spent working on LS have hindered 'social progress' and a number of friendships suffered as a result of that. Well, it's nice to see who your real friends are! I spend much more time these days conversing with people I know and can honestly say I care about the welfare of than I do chatting to 'RPG Maker buddies'. No offense to you guys, you're all great, but I don't believe it's healthy to block out the real world in favour of a pseudo-world. Both? That's fine. Just Internet? It drags you down and reduces your people skills to the minimum and that can have a dire effect on important things in life such as getting a job, keeping your friends, etc.

8 December 2004 - 8:20pm

#37

Magi

Offline

Joined: 12 Jul 2004

I think you have made a really strong point about the current issues as well. RPG Making was a hindrance on my social life as well, and unfortunately I'm still trying to pick up where I have left off. Like everybody else, I find it hard to just abandon the community. While I've finally been able to realize and understand that there is indeed a real world outside (I was shocked when I heard this), there's just something I can't give up here. I'd like to also add that this has been a life-changing experience. I probably wouldn't be the same person I am today if it weren't for my interests in game development at a relatively early age. I never completed a project myself, but I do feel that I got quite a bit out of the experience, and it opened the doors toward other interests of mine like computer graphics and some programming.

Quote:

There's something I like a lot about this quote. I think it really is a good reminder of what the community really should be about. It shouldn't be about conforming to other's standards, but creating your vision. I really have to respect how you held to your ideas despite criticism towards the latter of the time you had spent in the community.

Quote:

I started toying with RPG Maker 95 about a year before 2k came out

You've really been around that long Kefka? I didn't even know you had touched RM95. I guess you're one of the few who can agree with me how much more limited it was. My internet access around the time you downloaded RM95 was severely limited too. I was only able to download large programs via a friend's DSL connection at that time. (14.4 bps wasn't even enough to download 2MB in a reasonable amount of time.)

I think after this thread dies, I'm going to sticky it in the RPG Town Anthology, or even something completely different.

8 December 2004 - 10:03pm

#38

Anonymous

This looks like it will be pretty long. I don't blame you for not reading it, but I figured I'd just go ahead and give off the whole thing. If you want to cut the whole thing in half, I'll put a large asterik at a better part to begin reading. If you're interested, you're welcome to read the whole thing.

The seed that grew into what is currently known as The Jacket was planted in the long summer of 1998. During this period of my life, I lacked the one thing that I assume many people had found or were beginning to find at that point in their lives around me: a true friend. Now, I had and do have many friends. Great friends. But I lacked the friend or growing friendship which allowed me to talk to one person and for them to understand me or at least care enough to want to understand. But I guess that at that age, this is not something I or anyone else was conciously aware of. So I looked for distractions. Granted that at the time I was not thinking that distractions were what I needed, but I found them nonetheless. I wanted something that would put me in a position where everything was like a storybook. Just sort of a secondary existance, I suppose. So I found Final Fantasy VII. I had never touched an RPG before and was not fully aware of what one actually was. But I played it anyway.

I was thrilled with the idea of living another person's life. I was able to visit another realm for a short time to lead another person through their happiness and tears, in hopes of reaching their goal. I enjoyed that I could feel different things about characters in the game, as though I knew them. I was angered by Yuffie. I wanted to know more about Vincent. I wanted to meet a person like Aeris in real life.When I defeated Final Fantasy VII, I did not know exactly what to do. I had found a great deal of entertainment in following and playing these characters, but then it was over. And I did not know of any other games like this one. So I began to wonder how it would be if I were to create my own game like that. The title came to me the first day I thought about it. With the story about the Cetra or "Ancients" still fresh in my mind, I created the title "Ancient World". When I would think about it occasionally, ideas would flood my mind about personal references to put into the story to make it as real to me as possible. I would act out ideas with the friends I was staying with everyday over the summer.

But I'm digressing, I believe. On the whole, this was just the "seed", as I put it before. RPG's did not become a major part of my life as I found more to do with my friends, watching sports and other ways to enjoy my free time.

It was in 2001 that the seed burst open and began to grow. My thought process from just a year before had changed dramatically. As I entered the final stretch of my school days, I began trying to find ways to channel ideas and thoughts that I had. Upon browsing through some of my games, I once again became interested in Final Fantasy VII. I enjoyed it, but it was the "Final Fantasy Mythologies" by John Brittenham that pretty much changed the whole thing for me. In a near heartbeat, I wanted to do something like that. And I remembered Ancient World. I started writing down ideas. I then discovered RPG Maker online. Just as pretty much anyone else has, I downloaded it and toyed with it for a while. Later in the summer of 2001, I found some websites to read about other games being made and such. To make a long story shorter, I began messing around with putting Ancient World into this format. Late Summer/Early Fall, I found Kamau's RPG Palace. I was intrigued by his work on a Final Fantasy VII sequel and actually sent in an application to take over for him when he said he would be turning it over to someone. I glanced at the forum a bit and really didn't give it much thought.

Looking back at when I first found the site and knowing it was popular and being new to the entire idea and concept of RPG Making, I don't think I could have ever thought I would be an administrator here.

I registered being a basic newbie. Not crazy, but I had some tendencies of not thinking things through before I posted. (Re: My first thread which was about remaking Final Fantasy VII entirely on RPG Maker 2000. Re: Re: Psygon flaming me like mad.) I went back to the Town periodically but did not become completely interested in it until February 28th, 2002. I had just spent a trip with friends in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and had purchased Final Fantasy Tactics, which immediately grabbed me and threw me into a desire to create a world of my own. The very day I got back, I went back to the Town and after a fair amount of thought into a name, re-registered under "The Jacket". I began writing ideas and plots for the story of my game constantly and had found something to hold my interest and imagination as my life became more stressful and painful.

With a few of my friends leaving this area and a couple becoming seperated from me, I turned to the Town for "friendship". I began talking to rpgmt first. He and I talked quite often and discussed game ideas and the like over the course of a couple of months. When summer of that year hit, I was beginning to hype my project Ancient World and had made more friends on the forum. I was talking to Zeephos alot and had even began talking to the RPG Town moderator often on MSN, PaulC. (Oh, the conversations we had and the destruction to one's mind they could do.)

I lost all interest in the outside world. I was constantly engulfed in posting on the forums and trying to make a game. This was not good. A few of my grades began to slip, and I was grounded once or twice for long periods of time, and I managed to get them back up. I returned as the forum was hitting a peak and not long after, we moved to Proboards. I loved it. I posted all the time and had a great time talking to people, especially on a forum that was better looking than the old one.

In December of that year, I changed, as a person, permanately. Upon taking to heart the ignorant words of a holier-than-thou religious person, I severed all ties with internet forums. I became obsessed with what was evil and what I should do to get it out of my life. The un-thought-out concepts of removing my television, video game systems and computer were all becoming very real and possible to me. I buried myself in religious material and went on the internet only for friendly matches of Yahoo! Pool.

It clicked one day. "What am I doing this for? Why should I give up the things I like to do? Because another person said so?" It had not crossed my mind of making my own decisions as to what I believed to be right or wrong. I began watching TV again, began playing video games again, and jumped back onto the internet. I resurfaced on the Town under a temporary name as SimFreeze, just to see how long it took before anyone recognized me. Eventually, I began posting again as The Jacket, and worked my way back into my own comfortable position.

The rest of the story of my time here lacks as much detail. The most major change I've undergone was in my philosophies on life. I've become more aware of social problems, injustices and have become more of a cynic concerning many aspects of the world than I ever thought I would be. This was all, perhaps, the result of my interest in the music of Tupac Shakur.

To put my metamorphasis as a person into one word since I joined the Town would come down to the word "Maturity." Not in the sense that I don't say "Lol" or such things anymore, but that I've come to realize that there is more than this forum and these sorts of communities. I'm not going to make a living off of a blockbuster RPG, as I thought in 2001. But I don't know if I'll ever stop yearning to go back to that mentality. Alot of things trouble me as a person, and as was the case when I was younger, I lack someone who would understand me if I wanted to completely unload the thoughts I had and the things I had to say.

I never had burdens on my mind like this as a child. I would give the world to believe again that my greatest worry was coming up with a name for the main character in a story I was writing.

I'm reluctant to post this, as I don't want to come off in any fashion other than just talking about who I was and who I am. This is just the way I've seen things and a couple of things I've wanted to get off my chest. Probably a little more in depth than what the thread was created for, so I apologize.

9 December 2004 - 12:22am

#39

EvilMufasa

Offline

Joined: 16 Aug 2004

I won't hesitate to say that I respect you more after reading that.

9 December 2004 - 12:57am

#40

Blue Barry Jam

Offline

Joined: 14 Jul 2004

I didn't believe I could possibly respect you more, Jacket. I don't know if you remember it or not, but not too long ago, when you were contemplating leaving the Town, and I IM'ed you with the link to the town, you smiled. I asked why, and you said, "I'll frown when I'm dead, I'll smile now."

You don't know how much that one phrase changed my life.

9 December 2004 - 3:26am

#41

Zatham

Offline

Joined: 15 Jul 2004

EDIT: I was unsatisfied with my post, so I have withdrawn it until further notice.

On hiatus. Blame holloway.

9 December 2004 - 8:24am

#42

EvilMufasa

Offline

Joined: 16 Aug 2004

Ok, next order of business.

Let's make him our messiah!

10 December 2004 - 5:25pm

#43

Kaiox

Offline

Joined: 14 Jul 2004

Wow Jacket. That was one very refreshing post. And I can't believe that I nearly wrote Hacket. But don't apologize for that post. I really liked it.

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