What did the Matrix Online mean to you?

As I sit here remembering the old days I am reminded of what it was that kept me here all those years ago, what is there to keep me here now? The Matrix Online, although a brand new MMO that had a continuing story line, was one of the first MMO's I was partaking in.

At first, I was interested in the Series from the movies, with all that could be done, and all the fun that could be had with a game that is derived from it. I signed up to do the Beta for MxO with no expectations. I found myself in a all consuming world of a community that was helpful to one another, a desire to make MxO one of the best MMO's out there, and a dedicated Dev/GM/Admin team to boot.

Later down the road the Beta was over and the game was launched, month after month we had fantastic stories being told by cinamatics and through the news paper. Even some posts made on the forums from event characters made it all tie in to something wonderful to be apart of. Slowly the game lost its luster.

Over time players left, the game changed and everyone had to get used to the new style and combat system mechanics. We over came that and learned how to better fight under differant stradegies. The story started turning and some lost focus, more side stories were introduced to hold us over for the next time a patch shows up. Then I found myself more bored than actually having fun. Once I reached level 50 and got most of the items you can farm for, all was left was to wait for the next patch with the new missions and story.

The first time I left I felt sad to do so, but knew I could not just stand around waiting for fixs to made while I could spend my money else where. I waited a full year, came back for the christmas event to see old faces and see what new things I can try out. Sadly it was not what I was expecting. With even more story and new content than I could farm for, I started to realize what it was that was missing. My friends. Those who I had come to respect, and talk to daily. From zionists in other factions, or just the usually ribbing of machinist who I tend to target in PvP. As time passed more and more players left, increasing the void that was left.

And now with the latest patch, I felt at home for the first time in years to see all the old faces returning and friends I havent seen in years, but sadly that was short lived as well. For now most are unsubbed again and can not phanthom re subbing to a dead game.

For me it was more than just some Game, it was a great community filled with friends, dedicated players and workers who knew that this was a project we all were apart of. Do I think it was time well spent or wasted? I dunno, but I did enjoy myself for what it was worth. No matter how the future handles MxO, I was glad to be apart of it, through all the bumps and turns. For now, I will always remember those who partipated and those who took part of the Matrix Online.

It's sort of lame how the topic of this thread is composed in the past tense. How about what does it mean to you? Because the years some of us have put into this game aren't going to transform or anything even after the very end. If anything, MxO is highlighted in my mind for its community of undying angst.

But it is more than that. Even now, it plays upon my psych and imagination. All the magic tricks have been laid down, and we can all speak less seriously, but I've got to say... there hasn't been a game that has enjoyed my attention for as long as this one. And there probably never will be.

The Matrix Online represents a time in my life where I was an empty slate. I was fiery, I had all of these dreams, and I was real nerdy for The Matrix. I think that this place was a type of playground. I loved being ironic (ex. my character being a hardcore Machinist while my actual ideals are saturated with free will), and here was the first "place" where I realized true paradox... and all of that played into the fiction. The Matrix Online enabled us to sort of mutate the original story with our own visions.

Now I sort of understand why they killed off Morpheus so quickly.

Well, besides all the excellent experience I had typing madly to other fanatics, MxO lead me through a crash course in Photoshop. Seriously. I wouldn't be where I am right now if it wasn't for all the signatures and "enhanced images" I made for the RSI forum. Of course, I regret that none of those images can be included in a portfolio, but anyways...

Good stuff.

Foxdie, doesn't it feel like the end of Revolutions? When no one knew there would be this game, where all was uncertain and unfinished?

I concur with PBlade on his statements. I've been playing this game near constantly for three to three and a half years. It's been a constant thing in my life as well, despite the rather rough RL that I've had over that timespan. I've met a lot of good friends whom I'll end up keeping well past MxO's demise once it gets here - many of which I'll probably see again in another universe.

A lot of my personal skills have evolved over my timespan of playing this game, such as communication, logic and even improved my personal writing ability (as I am now close to 200 pages into a novel I've been manuscripting) as well just the general knowledge that were others out there like me who enjoyed the trilogy.

All in all, my time in my MxO has been positive, with a few rough points here and there. However, when you deal with people from different walks of life, that's to be expected. Life just wouldn't be interesting without hurdles.

Before I start I will say that everything will be in past tense as well. I left for 2 years, just coming back for Rare's farewell and the rest of my sub (I'm going to get my $15 worth). Not one thing has changed, you still farm, farm, farm, pvp, crit missions and thats it. 

Now that the negative is out of the way, The Matrix Online was something unique. It had the best community I have ever seen in a game. I was gone for 2 years and came back earlier this month and it felt as though nothing changed. This community was one of the most vocal and passionate I have seen for its size. I think the reason everyone stayed was because we wanted something more. If there was ever a game made for an MMO it was the Matrix. I think all of us saw the potential and kept hoping for more. Even as of today proof of this is happening, by expecting  "the surprise" to be something monumental. But that said, it does a lot of justice to the community that alot of us came back not so much for the game, but because of the community.

I will never forget my early time in Shadows of the Infinite with Serious and the rest of the original gang. There were a lot of ups and downs especially towards the latter but I look at it overall as a great expeirience. Then my move to Morpheus' Legacy with some of the most dedicated and skilled gamers I have ever played with. They taught me more about team-work and sacrificing for the greater good than they will ever know.  MxO now is a great memory to me, yes I still am here for the remainder of my sub, but I got my closure during the final PVP on vector until we battled and strategized until we could do no more.

So with that goodbye my MxO friend you will always be remembered as the game that had more potential than any other but in the end it finally had to come to a close because the even with an unbelievable community the game just DID NOT live up to its potential.