Prior to last round, I didn't play IC for over 3 years. I only really came back to take a peek at where the game was, and made the mistake of sticking around for a second round.
Don't have the time, desire, nor interest to play again.. A lot has changed in those 3 years, and considering the changes to the game, the players, and the general attitude of the community, I'm done. I just don't see it getting better..
The community has stagnated -- there's no fresh blood and with such a small community incest runs more rampant than ever before.. The smug, egotistical, and arrogant elements of the community are over represented to the point that this game is simply no fun to me. There aren't enough players for there to be a healthy 'middle class' in the galaxies, which exacerbated issues with farming, naps, and power balances... Maybe this game still is fun for some people, but they must play for different reasons and get different things out of it than I do.. Seems to me that the community has given up on making an effort to welcome newcomers, be social, and make the game fun.. Everyone's just clinging to what was and unwilling to make the effort they once did..
I suppose it all comes down to me representing a class of player who has been gradually squeezed out of the equation.. The kind of player who likes to join the chat of the family he's at war with to chit-chat - been banned from 10's chat since the beginning of the war despite asking to get unbanned a couple times.. Why? Because I joined their chat twice over 2 days, offering to leave if asked.
RIP IC, you were fun while you lasted
