I have to admit it…I often forget that TSTO is not a way of life, but is merely something we do while the rest of our lives are happening. There are times, like right now, when it feels a bit more consuming, because the “fun factor” gets over-run by the “grind factor,” and I lose sight of some of the good things that EA has done in an event, that are actually designed to provide entertainment, and not grief.
Yes…they killed crafting. Mostly. Yes, there is now far more content to buy with game cash…but that is offset with the Item Limits, and a dearth of room around our Zoo. There are loads of new characters, including Sarah Wiggum…but most are one-offs that nobody has really heard of, or can’t remember. There are loads of new decorations and animals, but it really is an entire event based on just smidge of an idea. They are giving us more free land tokens…but we can’t use them around the Zoo Zone.
In the last paragraph…we see examples of the classic “Everything’s Great!” that a Bliss Ninny (not a derogatory term) may portray, along with the overly Pragmatic, “BUT!” that seems to come with every positive being offered.
The fact is. I wish I WAS a Bliss Ninny. It is the sad irony of being a crankier-by-nature kinda person, that we often wish we were not so.
But, telling us that we are being cranky doesn’t help…trust me on that.
“Just be happy…how hard is it to wake up each day and just decide to be happy?” I often hear my bliss ninny of a wife say to me. She is clearly of the “glass half full” sector in the world. She is one who can disregard pragmatic reasoning in even the most dire and obvious circumstances, and simply say, “Oh well…it’ll all turn out!” And it usually does…because I find solutions.
The pragmatic, cranky types have to step in and fix the problems, or answer the hard questions, or simply take control so others don’t have to.
It’s like that with this blog. There is a reason that Alissa (along with some helpers) has built as blog that is the “go-to” solution for countless TSTO players worldwide. She and the team, along with the community we have built, provide answers for those too confused or perhaps too lazy to figure out for themselves. EA is simply awful at documentation and support. Period. Without this blog, and this community, the game simply wouldn’t be as fun, or as easy to play for most who come here.
But, there’s the rub…
When you do something for more than 5 years, people just take it for granted. And when you take something for granted, you start expecting more, and more, and more…until those who provide the service, start losing their “bliss ninny” view, and slide into the dark, angry hole that is the opposite of bliss.
But, like the opposite of love, the opposite of bliss is actually apathy. People who are pragmatic (and perhaps seen as “cranky”), are not apathetic. They are passionate about the problems, and are always looking for solutions to fix and make things better. Apathy would be bad for this blog…or any endeavor in life. Because, “Meh…I don’t care,” is a stutter step away from “screw it…I’ve had enough…I quit.”
But, we endure. And continue to play, and provide, and know that MOST of the people who read what we write, actually appreciate our efforts to help, and improve the game playing experience.
This is NOT a plea for attention…or another, “why don’t you love us?” backhanded attempt for adoration and praise. Quite the contrary.
What this is, at least for me…is to remind you that We Are Players Too…
And, just like every other player who whines about something they don’t like in the comments (and there are plenty), we have the right to like or dislike something in the game, even at the risk of offending a Bliss-Ninny who simply loves everything, no matter what EA shoves at us.
Let’s make one thing clear… when you whine about a post, or how we write something, or how a calendar is laid out, or if we are quick enough for a “Should You Buy” (which are 99% opinion by the way), you aren’t doing yourself any favors.
You may have noticed that Alissa is far more quick to say, “here we go again” when someone whines. And I am more inclined to revert back to my old reactionary self, and simply say, “bite me,” or lash out at someone who doesn’t take the time to consider HOW MUCH TIME we put into every post.
But, I will say that the last round silliness over when to start the calendar, and how to do the math, brought me very close to simply blowing it off in the future. They take a LOT of time (not the math) in the execution of the calendar, art, stats, and graphics. But, I have a new solution that I’ll share next time out.
As just a pragmatic wake-up call, this is a very, very, very simple game by any standards. In every event since EA has gone to Three Acts, to “Get It All” you simply have to log in 4 times a day, for between 30-60 seconds…and do the primary event action (clearing and sending people on tasks). The rest is almost inconsequential. People become obsessed with finishing as fast as possible, so they can gather a few Free Bonuts. But, it is very, very, very rare, that you can’t finish an event, even without neighbors, and without dropping a single donut on a Premium character, or to rush the game. If you can’t log in 4 times for less than a minute, your life may in fact be too busy to play this game. Simple? Repetitive? Perhaps boring? Yep. And placing the things you win may be a bigger, more time-consuming task…but is NOT required to finish the event. M’Kay???
It is the rest of the optional, “you choose to tap” stuff that can take more time.
HERE’S A WARNING….
With Alissa ready to give birth any day…and the events becoming more and more similar and simple, our patience is going to be even shorter. I still work full time…as do Safi and Joe. Alissa works full time, and is going to be a new Mom with Riley at her side. We are not likely to have our Bliss Ninny Hats on…and will likely not “live up to the standards” that you may wish (two posts a day instead of three…and maybe not as much detail in the posts we do).
So, give us a break. It’s a game. It’s not even a very difficult game. It’s mostly just grinding every 4 hours…for a minute or two. Unless of course, you are a blog writer that provides information to tens of thousands of players. Then, it can REALLY be a grind, and very time consuming.
TSTO is supposed to be a form of entertainment. Stop taking it so seriously. It’s a game. It’s always been a game. It is not a way of life. It is not a culture. It is not a religion. It is just a game…
And, there are no right or wrong ways to play…only in whether you take it as it comes, rather than whining about what isn’t there. We’ll call that the Bliss Ninny- Pragmatist Compromise. It’s a great way to live life.
OK? On that note…I’m going to step away from the keyboard, and let the weekend wash over me. Enough TSTO for a bit.
Time to find the Bliss in the REST of my life!
This guy knows how to smile through the rain…My Grandson Jake!
The perfect combination of Bliss and Pragmatism!
And if THAT didn’t make you forget about the stupid calendar…or not enough land…or Item Limits…or anything to do with TSTO…
TRY THIS ONE ON FOR SIZE…
There…don’t you feel better now? I know I do!