EQ2's "Echoes of Faydwer" not so bad bundle

Not sure of price differential, but the digital download is just the expansion

I am hoping they provide a different reg key for each expansion. It would be nice to be able to pass them (along with the disks) to other people if you already own them. I somehow have a feeling it will all be one reg key though ;(

(Unless I'm missing something, there's no comment field for the last post so I'm making my response here.)

Happy Birthday! I'm still in shock and disbelief that you're stopping. I've always enjoyed pondering your thoughts on a subject even when I don't agree with you. Many times I have modified the doc that covers my own "dream MMO" because of points you've raised. You may feel that you're shouting into the wind, but some of us have heard you, and we're better designers because of it. Good luck in your future endeavors.

Signed: a long time lurker, fan and non-MMO designer,
-Greg R

PS: Don't bite my head off.

PPS: just teasing. ;)

I like the bundle idea if only for the fact that I will finally have a backup disk to the game that will install the entire thing if I ever have need. To me that is worth the $10.
Would be great if they also had all the content from the 3 adventure packs on the disc as well so that even if you don't own them they are ready for play with only a unlock.

This is a great looking new expansion and if it gets the good press that KoS got then this bundle is sure to attract a lot of new players.

Sorry hon, you're not getting off that lightly. ;)

First, happy birthday!

I'm sorry you feel like you have to pack it in. I think it's a mistake, but you know more about your own situation than I do. The blogosphere is going to be a poorer place now, and I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do. Drop some comments in some blogs from time to time to let us know you're still alive.

You will be missed!

This is a sad day indeed, thanks for all your time and very interesting musings!

Eine Rose ist eine Rose ist eine Rose.

Happy birthday.

This is a reply to the Dead End post.

I'm sorry to see you go Abalieno and I hope you reconsider. You've been an inspiration and a joy to read with your intelligent, analytical thought and creative design ideas. Your theories and thoughts on MMOGs are highly developed and interwoven beautifully on this site.

I wish you all the best in the future!

--Alcaras

You really should reconsider. You'll never be happier than pursuing your passion, and clearly from the archive you can really tell that you're into this stuff. It would suck because I come here all the time to read your musings since it does focus *strictly* on the game design of these games. Lum and Raph's sites are hard to read by comparison. Your blog design is very nice.

Honestly, you have to keep at something if you truly want it. You don't do anything beyond this point, you WILL fade into obscurity.

I also think it would be both a mistake and a great shame if you stopped sharing your thoughts Abalieno.

I've been reading your ideas for a long time now and I've learned a lot as a result. Your ideas don't exist in a vacuum either - there are many of us who spread the ideas in other places. I've seen 3 posts on the EVE-Online forums expressing sadness at your "Dead End", I've seen several posts on the EU WoW forums saying the same things.

Your ideas and thoughts are an important contribution to the huge debate going on about MMO design and game design in general, and even if few actual devs read your blogs (which I doubt tbh, I think you'd be surprised how far your ideas are penetrating) then the feedback from players of their games who've been influenced by your ideas isn't insignificant.

Your reasons are, of course, your own and none of us have a right to argue against them, but you will be missed.

All the best in whatever you do in the future, I hope it makes you happy :)

Take care,

/Apocrypha.

This is definitely a sad day. Only a few websites have places up on my browser's bookmarks toolbar. "The Cesspit" is one of them.

I enjoyed your rambling, your bitching, your excited rants, your wonderful essays and analyzations... I will truly miss it all, Abalieno. I truly will.

Please, continue posting. At least find a way to post somewhere so that I can read all of your notes. I really loved it. It was always so refreshing to see such a great opinion on the internet, and your ideas and thoughts have always been awesome ones that have stuck with me.

If you no longer post, then know two things: One, your thoughts have been nothing short of total pleasure to read. And two...

I hope your dreams are realized and come true.

Fare thee well, Abalieno. Don't be a stranger, please, I beg you.
-Cameron

So uh, yeah...this is awkward for me, the first time i've left a comment on a site in over 4 years?! So perhaps it means something when I decide to post in response to your decision to stop writing. Take a break if you need to, but your absence will definately be felt. If it really has to be goodbye, please know you've been exceptionally talented with what you've been doing and I've really appreciated it. I have a feeling many more people feel the same way...

Think of it this way maybe?

How would you rather put a recap on your life as? That you always worked toward your dreams. You never gave up, did all you could to get there, but you just couldn't. (Or maybe you can!) No matter how hard you tried, you just couldn't make it. But at least you knew you tried your hardest gave it your all, and never looked back.

Or:

You worked hard toward your dreams. But thought they where simply out of reach so you gave up. Didn't push on, didn't inspire others to do the same. Didn't accomplish your dreams. Didn't work toward the thing you loved most.

I for one will always go for the first, no matter how unattainable they may seem. As they are MY dreams, not everyone accomplishes their dreams, but that is sure not going to stop me from giving it my all!

That's my 2 cents. I personally agree with everyone else here, I would be very sad to see you go.