What's your MMO history?

[magdahmhara]

Started with Trade Wars in 1994
EQ
Dark Age of Camelot
WoW
Eve
EQ2
City of Heroes
LOTRO
Warhammer
Aion
Star Trek
Star Wars TOR
Guild Wars 2
Final Fantasy 14 ARR.

[Zantetsuken]

Ultima Online - from 1997 until I found EQ
Everquest - moved to FFXI when it was released.
FFXI (from NA launch to Abyssea and cap increase)
FFXIV 1.0 (alpha test through server shutdown)
ARR (beta test until now -- just canceled my auto-renewal on my sub. Will be quitting when sub runs out in about 2 months)

Every time I've quit an MMO in the past, it was because something more immersive came along.. I really enjoyed FFXIV 1.0 despite its issues. But the (WoW inspired) 'MMO-as-themepark' model that ARR has prompted me to quit.

Like a real themepark, the entire experience gets old and tiring really fast. Every path is paved and girded by safety rails, the 'fun' is mass produced, pre-packaged and shoved in your face, the souvenirs and trinkets are junk that is quickly discarded or forgotten, and finally, the whole place is largely populated with gluttonous, entitled, and generally whiny children.

I wanted to explore the world of Eorzea, discover it's mysteries, conquer it's foes, reap its rewards and generally enjoy an escapist (final) fantasy life.

Because ARR provides none of what I hoped for, I'm out. The bus-loads of slobbering kids can have the place -- it was built for them, after all.

[ApolloGenX]

Legends of Kesmai
Ultima Online
Everquest
Guildwars 1
FFXI
WoW
EQ2
Warhammer
CoH
LOTRO
AION
TERA
Guild Wars 2
FFXIV 1.0
FFXIV ARR

I still play on a private Kesmai server sometimes, though.

[Hurlstone]

FFXI: - My first ever MMO, I got it the day it was released in the UK. I was a Tarutaru Red Mage... ah, memories. Stoped playing some years ago, as I found it a bit to grindy with little solo options (If it ever goes F2P, then I will be back!)

WoW: - Probably my most played MMO of all time. I still play, although it has been a while since I last logged in.

SWTOR: - It has the one thing most MMO's seem to lack, and that is a strong story and putting that up there with other aspects of gameplay. I will probally still play it for as long as it continue, but I fear I will go F2P from no on, given how much I have fallen in love with FFXI: ARR.

Honorable mentions included Guild Wars (Didn't like the gameplay...) CoV/CoH (I loved the creation proses, but it just never hooked me) Guild Wars 2 (Same problems as the first) and The Secret World (I adored the story and atmosphere, but didn't find the gameplay very engaging)

[Black91CRX]

FFXIV ARR is my first MMO. Probably explains why I like it so much.

[Wadoka]

Oho. A DR player huh. Been a long, long time since I left Elanthia. Some may think it doesn't qualify as an MMO but I think it counts based on the sub alone.

My left wrist doesn't work so well any more because of all the time I spent typing "att tr" (attack troll) into the command line

I was the third or fourth Cleric in the game to get Resurrection when that quest became available

[Canddi]

I really enjoyed FFXIV 1.0 despite its issues. But the (WoW inspired) 'MMO-as-themepark' model that ARR has prompted me to quit.

Like a real themepark, the entire experience gets old and tiring really fast. Every path is paved and girded by safety rails, the 'fun' is mass produced, pre-packaged and shoved in your face, the souvenirs and trinkets are junk that is quickly discarded or forgotten, and finally, the whole place is largely populated with gluttonous, entitled, and generally whiny children.

I wanted to explore the world of Eorzea, discover it's mysteries, conquer it's foes, reap its rewards and generally enjoy an escapist (final) fantasy life.

Because ARR provides none of what I hoped for, I'm out. The bus-loads of slobbering kids can have the place -- it was built for them, after all.

Zantetsuken has it right again!

[chocomaid]

Ragnarok Online
Flyff
Cabal Online
Perfect World
Dragon Nest
Vyndictus
AION
TERA
WoW
FFXIV

Thanks for making me remember! A nice trip down memory lane.

[Baneus]

EQ2 2008-2009

WoW 2005-present

Vanguard 2007-2008

LOTRO 2008

Warhammer 2008

EQ2 2008-2009

Rift 2011-2012

SWTOR 2011- present

FFXIV:RR 2013-present

[Gormogon]

I really enjoyed FFXIV 1.0 despite its issues. But the (WoW inspired) 'MMO-as-themepark' model that ARR has prompted me to quit.

Like a real themepark, the entire experience gets old and tiring really fast. Every path is paved and girded by safety rails, the 'fun' is mass produced, pre-packaged and shoved in your face, the souvenirs and trinkets are junk that is quickly discarded or forgotten, and finally, the whole place is largely populated with gluttonous, entitled, and generally whiny children.

I wanted to explore the world of Eorzea, discover it's mysteries, conquer it's foes, reap its rewards and generally enjoy an escapist (final) fantasy life.

Because ARR provides none of what I hoped for, I'm out. The bus-loads of slobbering kids can have the place -- it was built for them, after all.

The way I see it is that the biggest offender in FFXIV ARR is Square-Enix's own restrictiveness. Everything they create they seem to approach it from a "restrictive" angle for the sake of being restrictive.

CSS = Limited
Summoner's egi = because "figment of the primal".
Limit Break = because roles.
Coil = Difficulty and lockouts because they don't want to see to many people with it.
Relic weapon = long grinds because too many people with Zenith
Story related collaborations = "it has to make sense".

And the list goes on and on and it's really sad because removing that restrictive barrier would really allow Square-Enix's creativity to shine instead of being such a doom and gloom experience.

I don't see any effort of, "Even though we want this content to have longevity we'll at least make it an enjoyable long term experience by..."

That is what truly disappoints me.

Since content that doesn't take that restrictive approach is really enjoyable. Such as Hildebrand and Main Scenario quest lines.