TSTO Anonymous: Fuzzy Thoughts About Burnout

With all the excitement of events this last few months… I’ve been remiss in holding our regular TSTO Anonymous gatherings. Arguably, the Addicts Open Threads acts as a meeting point for us to meet, commiserate, complain, joke, etc. but I enjoy the occasional chance to just ramble about the game with my favorite peeps. Lately, I’ve seen more and more grumpiness in the comment thread and I wonder if we’re folks are getting burnt out?

I know if you told me back in October 2013 that I’d be still playing this game years later I’d have probably checked your hand for a crazy stamp. But time flies when you’re having fun and here I am not only still playing but also writing about it. Loving The Simpsons helps me keep on keeping on but it truly is this wonderful community that makes it worth it and still fun. As a vague premise, we’re gonna call this meeting to order with the topic of Simpsons Burnout and see where it goes from there. The coffee is all ready and it’s time to gather.

Hello… my name is Joe “The Wookiee” Riot and I am a TSTO Addict.

So… over the past five months since we held a meeting, I’ve watched tons of episodes. One of the things I do is take a screenshot whenever something strikes my fancy. Amidst these images are ones I think would fit in with TSTO Anon. I decided to share the images and based on the image, just ramble a little on some thoughts about burning out on this game. Hopefully it all ends up cohesive.

We’ve been writing these silly posts for a while now albeit less frequently than originally imagined. I always wondered where the meetings were held. Obviously it’s all done digitally but I like to have a mental image to make me smile.  Then I was watching “Walking Big and Tall” (S26:E13) and I found the answer. While this makes me smile, feel free to show a different meeting spot if this one doesn’t fit the bill. Hopefully these meetings aren’t depressing though.

2015 brought lots of content but events always have their downsides. All of the tappin required during an event can definitely lead to burnout. I’m always a fan of the events where I don’t have to be completely engaged throughout it. When I see the majority of folks earn the prizes and items, it makes me happy. Of course, then the event is over and you’re spent, right? Just hoping for some TSTO downtime to recoup and recover.

But then there’s the lulls. Here on the site, we see lots of comments of folks waiting for the next big thing.  When’s the next level? update? character? etc.? Add to that requests for posts that take a bit to come up with and I can vouch for Alissa, Bunny, and I when I say we enjoy the piss out of a good downtime or chill update like Deep Space Homer. Heck, posts like this don’t get written when we’re crazy busy with content (possibly good or bad depending on your viewpoint). I enjoy the chance to catch up on other geek passions and spend time with family and friends.

You know… some days you sit on the couch and other days, it feels like the couch is sitting on you.

But we are the skyfingers! TSTO is often an escape from the hustle and bustle of the world. Internet communities offer a place to not worry about bills or work or weather or relatives. We can just send our barflies on 8 hour drinking tasks and talk about game based on a silly cartoon.

There’s a lot of people who visit this site daily and we’re all doing the same thing. Playing a mobile game about a yellow family who we may or may not identify with. We take this game one tap at a time and best of all… we do it together.

If you’re really bored you could always take up crossword puzzles, solitaire, board games with the family. Pass the time with other fun Simpsons stuff if that’s you’re cup of tea. Design your town… nuke it ’til it glows… take part in the Open Thread… take up knitting… try writing your own From the Mouths of Addicts post or a better TSTO Anon than this one… solve world hunger… whatever floats your boat. TSTO can be a perplexing and frustrating enterprise and sometimes it’s good to take a break (especially if the game isn’t fun any more) but I find the Addicts here to be a diverse bunch hailing from different decades, countries, and walks of life.

Thankfully, this place for the most part is a happy place or at least I find it that way. Familiar names and avatars grace the comment thread and there’s way more than just three moderators willing to help out frustrated tappers. When the bullys of reality come knocking, this site is here for you whether your burnt out or not. This is the place you can find people that know the next image is a Newton’s Cradle made entirely with nerds/geeks.

We don’t have any outcasts, burnouts, rejects, or losers here unless you count the guys in the following pic. This site is home. Which animal do you identify with?

Being a TSTO Addict is about coming to a fun place where we can geek out together about whatever. For the record, I’d probably be like Bart in the following picture.

It probably needs to be said that we all have to be semi-cool with first world problems considering we all have access to the internet. Whenever I’m frustrated with life in general, I try to think about how good I really have it. Things could always be worse and I know there will be plenty of new things in 2016 to celebrate. When all else fails there are new Simpsons episodes and Star Wars in December!

Now who needs a hug?

So let’s wrap up. How is your game treating you? Despite any let-downs or glitches, is it overall something you enjoy? If you don’t like down times, what else can you do with the free time? If you’re happier during events, what sort of event would you really like to see? What’s your favorite part of your town? Who’s your favorite neighbor? What hobby/passion have you possibly been neglecting? TSTO is definitely fun but I can promise it will never be exactly what any of us want. We’re all too different for that to be possible and the signs for Springfield really do tell us what to expect.

You could always pass the time doing fun mazes.

Seriously though… I hope the game is still as fun for you as it is for me after alm0st two and a half years. If burnout is an issue, we’re all here for you. We end this meeting like we normally do with the TSTO Serenity Prayer.

“EA, grant me the serenity to accept the updates I cannot change, the courage to recommend the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Sound off in the comments with your thoughts on burnout, The Simpsons, the site, or whatever you think is related.  We generally only have one rule when it comes to communicating with each other.

TTFN… Wookiee out!