I doubt that anyone can debate the notion that the MMO blogging community has been a bit stale, tired, and lacking of excitement in recent months. As much as we might not prefer to play WoW as a game now, one of the many effects that it did have was the bringing together of a vast, talented and productive blogging community. I read those blogs for quite some time before I decided to throw my own writings out for the entertainment of others.
I think those years from 2007 to 2010 will be looked back on as the golden era of MMO blogging. Not WoW blogging, but MMO blogging. I realise that there are many other games out there, and that just because WoW is going down the gurgler it shouldn’t necessarily equate to the blogging community declining as well. But the fact is that WoW was so big, and drew in so many players from different backgrounds that its very size enabled the community to become as large and varied and interesting and dynamic as what it was. I can’t see another game on the horizon that will do that for us. And that is sad.
But I am glad to have been a small part of what transpired in that golden age. It was a lot of fun. From blogging wars with devious enemies, (I’m looking at you Righteous Orbs), to polarising debates and great projects that many of us ran with together, at times literally in-game. Friends have been made, contacts established, and enemies for life laid down. Now that’s what I call living, folks!
This post has been in the back of my mind for some time now, but when I saw that Gevlon had decided to leave WoW as well I knew that it was time to post it. What will I do now? Perhaps I will return to EVE. The thought of watching Gevlon up close identify all the slackers and morons who are so sure of themselves in that game is tempting. But I will still be nostalgic for those heady blogging times that we all had, and I can only hope that at some point in the future the fates align to allow us all to experience them once again.
March 14, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Gevlon is leaving too? Awww. I had missed that. I guess it all comes to an end. It feels bittersweet, doesn’t it?
We’ve had our discussions you and I as well but in the end I think we liked and respected each other pretty much.
Here’s for the golden days. Cheers!
March 14, 2012 at 11:15 pm
You were a big part of it of course, Jess. I always valued our discussions, whether in agreement or not.
March 14, 2012 at 6:32 pm
I must say I don’t agree! Whilst there were some fantastic bloggers out there in the 2007 – 2010 era, and people like Larisa and Tamarind are sadly missed, there are a hell of a lot of awesome writers out there right now, too.
From returning bloggers like Apple Cider and Pewter to newer blogs like Player vs Developer, Sheep the Diamond, Mana Obscura, Bravetank and more, to the longtime bloggers who are still knocking it out of the park (Cynwise, BBB, and plenty more), there’s some fantastic writing out there, and there’s rarely a day when I don’t have more blog posts I want to feature than space to feature them.
March 14, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Oh I’m not saying that there are not great blogs out there right now; there are. But the golden age of MMO blogging does seem to have passed by.
March 15, 2012 at 10:55 pm
It’d be interesting to see you blog about EVE along with Gevlon.
Be sure to join the Goblinworks chat channel when you return to EVE
March 18, 2012 at 2:06 pm
I think Guild Wars 2 has a good chance of becoming big
March 20, 2012 at 5:37 pm
I think the golden age of WoW blogging is over, yep. however, MMO blogging has only really started. those few years you mention were mostly influenced by wow – wow bloggers, wow players. some of them were unable to make the switch from wow to other MMOs, others have done it and continue to be successful MMO bloggers, instead of wow bloggers only.
I think it’s interesting and a lot more diverse than it used to be. I can understand why you’d miss the cosy ‘small town’ atmosphere though that used to be the blogosphere. it’s easier to communicate and discuss if everyone has the same topic – easier to have good fights, too.
March 20, 2012 at 11:58 pm
I do miss the fights. They gave my life true meaning …
April 16, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Hi, I’m new here an I saw your post (great read by the way). Do you really think that the golden era has passed? Don’t you think that with new games, new opportunities will arise for good MMO bloggers?