Åke Vader is a Swedish QuakeWorld player with a history that dates back almost all the way to 1996. While he may not be the most competitive player anymore, he can be spotted on the xs4all free for all server and in the odd 4on4 mix game.
Contributions to the QuakeWorld scene has mainly been through the European Quake League site once upon a time, the now put to rest Refragged news site and countless posts in the QuakeWorld.nu forum. His occupation is within quality assurance engineering and in his free time he tries to stay fit and enjoy all that life has to offer!
It's December and christmas time. People are shopping like mad men and everything should be fine and dandy. I can't feel the christmas spirit nor do i have any energy - or desire - to play Quakeworld. What the fuck has happened?
It's been two weeks since the Dreamhack tournament and i'm not sure if that's what drained all my Quake energy, but it's somehow gone totally. I don't think i was that hyped about the tournament just before i went there, things just felt very nice when i was at place and the show was finally on.
For the last couple of months or so i've had a hard time playing Quakeworld. It's just not as super fun anymore and i often end up asking what the hell i'm doing on the server, thinking of countless things i *should* spend my time on.
How do the lot of you out there cope with feelings like these? Do you take a break and then come back with a surge of energy in your Quakeworld game? It feels like i had that break the last months though, so i fear this might be the final /quit for me when it comes to "serious" Quakeworld gaming.
imo its all about the clan, if you have been in a clan before and you arent right now (or inactive clan), your qw motivation goes down. I often nowdays play alot of end vs some close friends of mine or 2on2's. The only 4on4 mixes that I play is dm3 and its not even close as fun as with a clan vs another clan.
Either be serious and have alot of fun or take it easy with some friends.
Know that feeling. I try to play some other, totally different game (that is singleplayer, not FPS, etc.) for a while (week or two) and later come back to QW.
If you wanna enjoy the game play, you should think over which games you actually like and only play those games. What i mean is, if you dont enjoy duels on dm4, e1m2-mix or 16-player-ffa-on-dm6, don't waste hours on it.
Dont spend hours on gametypes you dont link, just because it is the best you can find at an obscure time of the day. Instead come back @ primetime when you scheduled some prac/cw with your clan. If you dont find an suitable opponent, you can always do some internal 2on2 with your friends.
have to agree with most of what is already said. for me I often lose motivation when I try playing on a day where my skillevel is down to zero. some days were just not meant for playing qw however I still get the "kicks" from qw when I play a really good game, so that's why I try playing at least once a week to stay in proper shape and have my "kicks" a bit here and there..
however, I should also stop playing too much lousy ffa and start playing some more 4on4, since it's the real stuff.. it's not often that you don't enjoy a good 4on4 prac game, although you are not playing your best
Funny you should say it Ake. Past two days I was seriously thinking of quiting for good. Inactivity and enthusiasm in the EQL and lack of activity in the scene in general. Most people look to the Div 1 games for inspiration. For the big duel finals and EQL div 1 games I pull up the stool, and some popcorn and watch the matches with fascination. It may as well be Superbowl Sunday or whatever coz it really rocks. I enjoy watching even more than playing. With these matches gone and with para even talking of giving up I feel it hard to justify spending the time at the keyboard coz the truth is I suck I may as well learn a new language or learn an instrument or something if everyone else is leaving. However I still am and will always follow what goes on and be obsessed with QW.
I know I will be drawn back as always but I fear that eventually you get to stage in life where you cant justify it.
As long as the scene doesn't dwindle though I think I will stay on. Alas though I fear that the end is nigh and fast approaching
Sure, the EQL has been a bit inactive the last month or so, but when the playoffs start next week, I'm sure the league will start kicking again. Also, there's QH-LAN coming up in two weeks, where the finals will hopefully be played. As if that weren't enough, the second Ownage tournament (not counting the DMM4 tourney) is to be arranged this spring.
The semi-announced adieu of ParadokS doesn't necessarily mean too much. I'd be sad to see such a seasoned and great player leave the scene, but in the end, it would only be one top player. There are plenty of other stars, both regarding 4on4 and 1on1.
Also, if the elite starts dying off, think of it not as a great loss -- which, by all means, it is --, but rather as a chance to advance yourself.
When it comes to the subject of getting tired of the game, I actually believe work and school, ironically enough, are life-savers. I haven't been able to play more than what has been absolutely necessary (and not even that) the past two months as a result of preoccupation with studies, and I'm sure that's why I'm sitting here now, reacting to these despondent trains of thought. I'm hungry to play and feel generally enthusiastic about the game. I don't feel like this constantly, but, you know, for some reason, these feelings tend to come back, time after time. We all have our ups and downs, in all areas of our lives, and Quake is no exception.
After eight years of hearing them, I can't take these judgment day prophecies seriously anymore. Activity oscillates back and forth, but I'll always play this game.
The above reply was directed mainly towards pleuraXeraphim, although it does function as a reply to Ake's blog entry as well.
Also, when it comes to taking breaks from QW to replenish the motivation reserve, I find I tend to take them unconsciously, not because I necessarily want to, but because preoccupation with other activities forces me to, and this is, no doubt, part of the explanation as to why my breaks serve the motivation replenishing purpose so well -- I refrain from playing the game not because I choose to do so, but because I find myself forced. (Then again, that might mean that my motivation wasn't low to begin with -- but not necessarily!) What has also spurred my enthusiam regarding Quake lately is the revelation that I don't have to play like a maniac to get better -- it seems I develop much more rapidly and steadily as a 1on1 player if I play moderately instead of rabidly collecting playing time under my belt. I'm not so sure about our (AV's) recent 4on4 practice habits though.
nice posts ncr what is all this talk about para quitting? I think he will go on playing.. maybe not as active, but it's not like he's quitting for good? I will never care what top players are still in the game, as long as there is someone to play with I will always play this damn game
Aquashark. Good point. Im not saying we should all take the first flight to eastern Africa. But having a few more maps to pick from in pracs would help a 4on4 a bit. If aerowalk wouldn't be played in duels. I wouldn't be playing many duels at all (it is easier to find 3 maps both players enjoy out of 5).
like with anything else, everyone needs a bit of a break from time to time and also there has been a big drop in activity of late, but as ncr pointed out there are some big games coming up which should spark everyone interest again ( chin up pleura ). By and large I think eql this year has been good, except maybe for league reviews etc but ive enjoyed div5 and I think its prolly been the most active div5 in along time. Bring on the playoffs
I really don't think it's the maps for most people, seeing how people have been playing soccer etc on the same fucking map for ages My motivation went down after putting in like 700h for quake in some 4-5 months and then realizing that div2 games simply aren't gonna get played. Trust me, I waited patiently and kept playing / staying online. Didn't happen. And since competitive 4on4 is the only thing I really love in qw for an extended period of time, there was no other choice but to leave completely. I have such bad self-control when it comes to qw that even without good 4on4 I would have spent intolerable amounts of time on other gametypes, configging etc. Simply not worth it without the 4on4 payoff.
I've played one quad in the last 8 weeks or so? And seeing that no more matches in div2 have been played after I left either, I'd say my timing wasn't that bad.
Happened to me after playing 3 - 5 hours a day for a month. I just got tired of the game and didn't feel like it was worth my time. I took a break for about a month and a half, and it helped. Now the game feels really good again, and I'm doing better in 1on1s and 2on2s too. Break isn't a bad thing, just remember to come back
The thing i miss the most is probably some proper 4on4 gaming. After Veterans disbanded things just weren't the same. Being busy and tired due to real life also sucks a bit. Being a QW "project admin" is still quite appealing though and i'll try to start something new (oldish) soon, so stay tuned...or something.
Does anyone know if its4real is still alive btw? I haven't seen him (on IRC) for like eight months. :\
QW is a sinking ship and the current qw.nu crew needs to be tempered for it not to sink completely, and all we're asking is to ban Renzo and others who just don't get it
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however I still get the "kicks" from qw when I play a really good game, so that's why I try playing at least once a week to stay in proper shape and have my "kicks" a bit here and there..
). By and large I think eql this year has been good, except maybe for league reviews etc but ive enjoyed div5 and I think its prolly been the most active div5 in along time. Bring on the playoffs 
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