Hail Citizens,
Like much in Life, perspective matters. Is the glass half full, or half empty? Do you only see the cloud, or rejoice at its silver lining? We are beings of Reason, Passion, and
Will, and are often ruled by one of those 3, or the waxing and wanings of some combination of those 3 components.
Perhaps money spent paying to play Ultima Online could have been better spent elsewhere, but would it have been? Perhaps time could have been better spent elsewhere, but would it have been? Moderation and Virtue are both positive influences in life, rather real or virtual. Addiction and obsession are both negative influences in life, rather real or virtual.
I began "investing" resources (time and money) in Ultima Online upon its Launch in 1997 when I was 42 years young. Much of the time and money were shifted from Television, movies, and pc solo games over to UO and I often evaluate the amount of time and money "spent" on UO in order to balance them with the rest of my life.
I have many "virtual friends" within Sosaria, and have met several in real life and now call them not only virtual, but real, friends. The only "enemies" I call by that word in Sosaria are unruly animals and other creatures of evil.
Ultima Online provides an almost infinite number of choices to its Players as to how they choose to enjoy it. Numerous skills which may be combined into, again, near limitless "templates." Warrior, Mage, Bard, Author, Poet, Crafter, Realtor, Entreprenuer, Sailor, Fisher, Hunter, Gatherer, Gardener, and on and on and on. Protagonist, antagonist, mediator, chronicler, modifer, collector, hoarder or sharer.
Play a role, be a he, a she, or an it. Virtuous, reprobate, fallen or redeemed. I believe a large part of UO's wide appeal and endurance are its enduring, yet expanding, world and its lack or absence of any "end game solution." It is a virtual though persistent world which marches forward, both while we are present and while we are away. The more a Player limits their choices the more the risk of boredom may arise or increase.
All of that aside, UO was designed to include a multitude of Players, per Shard. Real or imagined, widespread perception is that player populations are down on all or almost all Shards, some more than others. As much as I enjoy the virtual world of Sosaria, and am able to do so by myself, I find nearly infinitely more enjoyable when well populated with far more Player Caracters than at present.
I do not consider my time in UO lost time, anymore than my time living, however, I'm not sure I consider that time an "investment," either. EA holds ultimate control over Sosaria. While I may have and play a role in Sosaria and its potential future, EA controls its destiny. I have yet to hear any official representative from EA declare their intent to raise player populations, per Shard, let alone their vision or plan to achieve such a goal, nor to perpetuate UO from one generation to the next.
I hope EA and its employees have such intents, goals, and plans. I welcome them sharing those with "we, the Players," soon, and over continuing months. Having spent much time enjoying Sosaria over the past 13 years, I'd very much like to spend even more time enjoying Sosaria over the next 13 years, and hopefully beyond.
I will believe that to be likely and possible more easily if and when our populations once again begin to grow. Stagnation or steady declines will almost certainly result in UO's demise, even if Sosaria continues.
As I perceive or see the glass half full, I remain an optimist in believing UO's best days remain in its future. I hope I am proven correct. If not, I shall treasure my memories of UO as long as humanly possible.
Lord Elladan of Trinsic/Baja
