So this post turned out quite subjective and maybe rough in one or two spots. Love me or hate me. Both is in your rights.
What it is that I perceive by playing PSO?
A short journey back into childhood. Back to the time when there was homework only (and that was done in a wink of time, or not at all). Back to that day when my dad forbade me to play videogames for the rest of the day, and I went to bed several hours earlier, just to get up at 4 in the morning and play PSO. Boy, I'll never forget that moment when he came into my room in the morning. He was _proud_ of me. He was proud that his lessons about logic and all that stuff that fathers teach their sons had had some effect. He didn't say this at all. But I know he was proud. Playing PSO is meditating. It's diving into the past future (back then, photons and stuff made so much more sense. If you know what I mean) And, always on this server, *looks to schthack* there's a great community with cool guys, stupid (not too stupid, though) jokes, and this great atmosphere, which is created by people who, somewhere, think a bit like me. And yes, there is some sort of plateu which I try to reach. A plateu from which everything else will become much more - in search of a better word - easier. A plateu, which makes you a super-hunter. But I never have and never will run around in the lobbies and cry out for help, and beg for stuff and say things like "if i had some better weapons, than i'd deal sooooo much more dmg." And then, after somebody nice actually gives you stuff, you go like "ooooh! *flood of digital tears and some inside laughter* Do you have a high pow mag? i'm too weak for those weps!"
Every time I see such things happen I wanna throw their controllers at their heads. Or vomit. Or, sometimes, both.
Besides, being pulled up like that takes the fun away. The fun of running at seaside, remembering how one got his first lockgun (it was better than my buddies sniper!) and listening to this beautifully arranged soundtrack. AND it doesn't give you anything for later on. Still not much meseta, probably not many pd's and, especially, no feeling for the monsters, the latency of the server and the game mechanics. So I think it is very stupid and childish to beg around.
But then again, it really may be the way of generations yet to come. They did few to get way too much. They've grown accustomed to getting handed everything into their laps. (and then being patted, too, probably) I remember how hard it was to convince our parents to concede us some videogaming. And I damn well remember the smiles on our faces when we finally played. Maybe this is the point where the younger ones do actually perceive something totally different, and that might be why they get offended when we tell them a "no" (or something more dircetly )
My five cents are: If we are to accept those kids with their standards, then they'll have to accept us as well. ( I reckon there were some discussions about individuality and stuff..)