Resolution fulfilled on the 20th of January 2010 (around 1+am)!

Some screenshots I took:



My guildmate was urging me to level on a Saturday instead, cuz I would be flooded with many pms from people and more megas. But I didn't want to because I just wanted to level asap haha.

Of course many thanks to everyone who had been a part of my maplestory journey to 200 - my dear bf, Jo, maria, the whole guild DesTInyZ which I've joined for close to 2 years and all the buddies who have trained with me thus far. And especially to my dear bf because he actually logged in and trained with me for close to 6-7 hours straight for my last level when he doesn't really play anymore <3

Indeed, it takes a lot of effort to reach 200. Throughout my 4 years of playing this online game, I've met with many ups and downs. There was indeed a period of my introvert-ness and addiction especially when I entered university and had "a lot of free time". It takes a lot to keep going despite everyone around me getting negative with me playing the game because I was too addicted and didn't keep up with my responsibilities in real life. (not in a gd way btw) It had caused friction in my relationships with my family and my bf at some point of time.

Looking back, I do dearly regret for getting so addicted with this game. Sometimes I regret at my money spent on the game, but sometimes I don't because if I didn't I would have done it anyway. On the bright side, it really did bring gaming satisfaction compared to despairing over the slow rate my exp bar was filling up. Definitely I regret shunning from my work and social life playing this game. But I never regretted playing maplestory, ever.

Let's face it. This game is virtual, it's a bunch of worthless pixels that are not worth sacrificing reality over. That I do agree, but I don't believe that abstaining from playing it is the "model" way to go. The people behind the screens that we make friends with, the emotions that we experience and the interactions we experience, they are all REAL. People can cry, laugh, fall in love, forge such strong friendships that transcend the boundaries of a virtual world. I have met up with my guildmates on several occasions, and they are a bunch of people just as normal as you and me, except that we play maplestory and you probably don't. (though my bf always thinks that they must definitely be all fat) Of that, I truely appreciated the values of having met some people who have gained my respect and learnt from in terms of values, views in life and their character.

Values? Maybe one may scoff at how maplestory would be able to do that. But it's true. Although it's a virtual world, morals over how we should act and behave bind as just as reality would. I have learnt how to be more tactful towards people in situations that I had never experienced before, be more outgoing, be kinder to others, and I got advice from adults regarding certain aspects of life. It's kind of brief, but I find it hard to describe just how much there was to gain. I won't say that maplestory is a great platform that everyone should go for because they will become a better person, because it depends on the individual. I happened to be lucky because I was introduced into a dependable guild that was mostly filled with adult players. Even though people comment that maplestory is filled with childish players (that are really kids) and that the community sucked, I always had my guild with me to not be like them but I never had the discipline that they had :'(

In the end though, taking a leaf from many of my guildmates, I took a hiatus from the game last sem because I didn't want to bring down my grades. Resetted my priorities in life and that sem went well (for once in my uni life). It was a hard lesson learnt, seeing my cap like this but I'm glad of my self improvement. So thus I learnt that if you have discipline, it's ok to play every once in a while - the hard way. I always knew that, but it was until I experienced a fall that I truely learnt.

Surprisingly though, quitting from the game for half a year had cured that itch to click and play maplestory every single time I'm free. It's only when I have nothing to do that I click on maplestory now, and even online I just leave my character there, afking. Even if I don't go onto maple, it doesn't feel like anything because I probably got used to not playing maple during my hiatus. In a sense it feels great to break free of this bind. Except for the promise that I made to people that I would attend some boss events regularly (else I would get kicked out), I could always go out freely and enjoy myself. And of course, being 200 now means that I have no reason to train ahha. (not that I want to, a bit sick of it) Now I mostly just farm a little money and logoff, or do my quests.

So more or less that ends my maplestory endless training. Of course I would still login to chat with my buddies, play a little here and there and attain those small goals that I set years back when I was still dreaming of being 200. Definitely won't sell my account. I believe I said it last year that it is a stupid move, and I think it still is. My character is mine and I don't believe anyone should claim her with just the mere offer of money.

There may be a day where maplestory closes down, or that I quit but I would always remember this experience in my life. Maybe when I have a child, I can show him/her this blog post of mine to tell him/her just how much I had gamed and what resulted. Good learning experience for him/her haha.

Labels: maple life, resolutions

/