Thank you for your comments!

Ysharros I agree with everything you say, I don't think we can ever re-capture that "first" experience but at least it was good to be around when mmorpgs first came on the scene!  Now they are so diverse no one single answer will suffice. With such a rainbow of colour we can either get a work of art or in trying to please the masses or a pool of muddy brown! Lets hope the devs give us a work of art. 

Anofalye it sounds like your experiences with raids has not been too good but do you not think in a world that was large enough and raiding was not completely the end game there might be a place for it. I feel its more the lack of content in other areas, which puts too much emphasis on raiding that's at fault.

                        Ammie

 There was a time when nearly all mmorpgs were exciting!   It didn't matter if it was a bit of a grind fest or the   world looked as if God gave up on the 3rd day.  Just playing with someone from another country and finding new friends was awesome!  Together you would do quests, kill monsters and explore your world, then afterwards, maybe sit around a camp-fire  discussing tactics or laughing at images of a bad pull that caused a complete wipe, relating how "Johnny" once fell through the scenery and landed on a different part of the planet whilst the whole team had to wait patiently  for his return, chatting about RL ....  and never once,no matter how daft you were, whether you were a timid tank or a tanking priest were you called a "noob"

How does Vanguard compete with the myriad of  memories gamers have? things that to them once made their game great!  Maybe brave new frontiers and more "campfires" are part of the answer to all those vets out there ( and we all know if you go back to your first childhood home, it looks less impressive than you had imagined) a return to your old game is not always the answer, for me that has been more of a trip down memory lane!

We also now have a whole new generation of mmorpg players with different memories, a magical world of great colours, super scenery .. Absorbing quests (you only have to look at the earlier comments of WoW players to see that) strong raids, which require hours of patience and planning, super instances .. and of course the great day when you finally got your hands on a hard earned mount or purple epic!!..  but somehow along with the quest mainly for items, the community has lost its importance as individuals and become more of a necessity for completing of the end game! Many times I've seen players in a guild level all the way to 60 then leave because it was the only way forward for them, then making it impossible for the guild to create enough level 60s for end game,sadly, somehow loyalty lost its importance somewhere along the way.

Houses and cities!! how great these are for bringing in social interaction .. A place to meet friends, hold competitions, create guilds, sell your crafted items and hang that special picture you found, then invite "Johnny" in to admire it!  But above all it's a community to call your own and be proud of..... Even if you do have to learn a new word.......... Diplomacy!!!    Vanguard sounds as if it will definitely deliver on this aspect!

Crafting!! Ah yes .. Sometimes even the greatest hero enjoys a respite from battle with a little knitting ... especially if the item he makes is a much-needed item!     Vanguard seems to be delivering on this aspect too!

Emotions .. There are so many emotions and attitudes in game now, in one sense this is really meaningful, it shows us how much importance players are putting in to the games, reminds us not to forget the guy behind the keyboard, we can actually have some input into creating enjoyment for others.... but it can also go the other way, divide communities, create unhappy playersand even make or break a game. The forums are proof of that! This one is down to us not the devs!

Balance ... So how on earth do devs. balance everything, I don't envy their task ..how do you create a game that pleases old and new .. Considering a lot of new need instant gaming gratification whilst older players know some things take time ... and we all know the more players, the more money and hopefully the healthier the game!

Would be great to hear any ideas on balance ... and how well do you think the Vanguard devs. are doing?

Ammie

   XoxxxxxxxxoX now that was funny!!!! ;))

     and Fizzle have you ever considered it might actually be Doctors/Teachers etc .. playing these game too!!

     after all its much more fun than TV !

   Firstly, of course women gamers are growing in numbers ... Without needing a survey I've seen it myself and that applies to "serious" mmorpgs too.  Sure guys did have a head start with their Xboxes and Playstations that often "mummy" and "daddy" paid for .... the money argument is totaly irrelevant! but amazing how its brought into a male/ female discussion!

  Secondly, why do I get the impression, that some guys (not all I hasten to add) still need to put women in the "Bingo" "kitchen sink" bracket. Guilds are run, items are crafted and battles are fought extremely well by both sexes .... and guys don't be scared, your not going to get your purple epic stolen but... I can't guarantee you won't get your righteous orbs pinched!!

 Shae had every right to be defensive, but even then she was subject to name calling! there is definitly too much sexism in these online games ..Guys, wake up!!!  remember when you used to laugh at women drivers ..untill the insurance companies proved you wrong!!

 Surveys are only a guide-line and stats change yearly in these games, as for mmorpgs. of course more and more women will play .. after all these games are great fun!

 Maybe one day we'll see guys in bikini armor, now that would be cool!!!

                                 Ammie