Sunday Thoughts: 13/09/09
A cold heart melted by the warm embrace of the TSA community.Published 13/09/2009 at 14:00 by colossalblue
Those of you who know me will be aware of my general dislike for socialising. You see, the problem is that other people are annoying. I can’t help it; they just annoy me with their opinions and their personalities, staggering around with their expressions hanging off their heads like six-month-old posters on the subway wall. A lot of you might think that I’m intolerant but that’s not really it. I don’t mind what your opinion is, who you pray to, who you fall in love with or what colour your skin is. I just don’t want to be aware of those things. I’d like you to have your own life completely separate from mine. That would suit me perfectly.
There are, of course, a couple of notable exceptions. I’m married so I obviously like at least one person. There’s the staff here at TSA that I like and even a few TSA members that I would count as friends (or at least “internet friends”). A couple of people in the real world rounds out the total number of people I like. You could probably get them all into one game of Warhawk. On one team.
So when we launched TSA Meets last week I was impressed at the way it worked. I thought it would be a good tool for those who like socialising. I never thought I would really care about anything that happened within it. Then, on Friday night, something strange happened. I had half an hour before the wonderful Derren Brown tricked a huge number of gullible viewers into thinking a mix of averages, probabilities and magic had helped him predict the winning numbers on the Lotto. I thought I’d hop online and see what was going on in the TSA Meet for Fat Princess (a game I haven’t touched since launch week).
After the inevitable update downloaded and installed I quietly slipped my way into the game with the TSA members (although I think at this point there were only four of them). I was hoping that I could at least hide at the back of a crowd for a while, try not to be too noticeable and if it was as unbearably sociable as I expected I could turn off and spend ten minutes sulking before the magic show started. Then something really magical happened. I pinged a volley of arrows into ShovellyJoe and saw him expire colourfully, leaving only his hat behind. I had, of course, played Fat Princess before. I’d even played online before. This was different though, I knew ShovellyJoe. Not personally, of course, I mean I’d seen his name, I knew he visited the website. I knew he’d know who I was.
Suddenly Person678 appeared on screen and wedged a pixelated sword into my virtual cranium. I watched the countdown to my respawn and thought of nothing but vengeance. For the next fifteen minutes I played online with people I knew (to varying degrees) and a whole collection of bots. To my immense surprise I enjoyed every minute of it. TSA Meets had made me enjoy the interaction with other people (and one of those was our resident ray of sunshine Zuler, wonders will never cease).
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a hermit. I interact with other people all the time. I just don’t enjoy it. I don’t understand those people that talk to shop assistants about things that have nothing to do with the shopping. I can’t get my head around what makes people join up to night classes or go to a strange pub “to meet new people”. I have already met all the people I need to know thank you very much. So the power of TSA Meets and the wonderful folk who make use of it was a very pleasant surprise to me. I’ve even been told, since that Fat princess meet, that it wasn’t a very good game because there weren’t many people in it. Imagine the fun to be had if there were more people involved who I knew? For the first time I can ever remember I am looking forward to a chance to interact with people.
I’m hoping for more events soon and more people getting involved and setting up their own meets. I want TSA Meets to be buzzing with activity so that I always have something to distract me from work or real life. If you haven’t tried it yet I strongly urge even the most curmudgeonly, grumpy sour-pusses amongst you to give it a go and set up a meet. I may even use that headset I bought.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
Zuler | 13/09/2009 14:07
Team TSA: Writer
10500 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
Yeah, it was a good game, but I was a bit disappointing that out of the 12 or so people I saw signed up at 8, only 4 showed. Hopefully the one I’ve set up for 25th will have more people. I’ve even found a host who can have 20 people!
Oh, and thank you colossalblue!
gybrocker | 14/09/2009 06:30
Member
175 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
il be there… i hope… i live in finland so what time would the game be then..?? i can also host around 18-20 people also…
gybrocker | 14/09/2009 06:42
Member
175 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
oh my psn is gybrocker if you have any questions.
mynameisblair | 13/09/2009 14:08
Member
3879 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
I’ll use TSA meets as soon as L4D gets put in there
And nice read.
Colinbarr66 | 13/09/2009 14:08
Member
1022 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
First time I’ve played Fat Princess was on Friday and it was good fun. The TSA meets feature has been a success so far
Colinbarr66 | 13/09/2009 14:09
Member
1022 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
First time I’ve played online* sorry
Zuler | 13/09/2009 14:14
Team TSA: Writer
10500 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
Trust me when I say that if people like djhsecondnature and BioEye play, it’s a complete blast! If people use teamwork, and it works out, the result is so satisfying and rewarding! That’s why Fat princess can be great fun! Hopefully more people sign up for the one on the 25th.
ShovellyJoe | 13/09/2009 14:22
Member
1203 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
Yeah, it really was great. Shame there was only the 5 of us really. People really should play, it’s great fun!
Oh, and I’ll have my headset ready next time.
rht992 | 13/09/2009 14:15
Member
2860 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
I can totally relate to that (apart from the being married bit) I’m not the best person at socializing. Hell i got dumped not that long ago because i hardly went out (its not my fault i live in the middle of no where and we don’t even get a bus service)
And when it comes to playing online its far more fun if your playing with someone you vaguely know. I remember hundreds of games on COD i was about to leave then all of a sudden i’d get a friend invite and i’d spend the rest of my day hunting him in a death match and spending hours in a sort of unofficial competition to see who could kill my little brother the most in a single game. Makes me think about using my headset too but its still held together with blue tack
Shlomi1995 | 13/09/2009 14:53
Member
488 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
That’s why you must never, ever leave TSA!
FRUITofDOOM leaving is enough.
CaptainMurdo | 13/09/2009 14:57
Team TSA: Writer
1867 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
We should get another game of Halo going. That was great and I’m seeking revenge!
Funny article though. =D
gazzagb | 13/09/2009 14:59
Master of speling mitakse
2760 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
I cant wait for more TSA Meets, as there only seems to be KZ2 and FP meets running atm. Hopefully, MW2 will bring many hours of fun within the community.
Manorhowze | 13/09/2009 15:01
Driving God
2033 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Plenty of DiRT and Burnout going on too. Also looking forward to MW2, gotta get myself headset for that too.
toutski | 13/09/2009 20:36
Legend
4165 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
Was good getting ‘DiRTY’ with Manorhowse, tom_lord, ColinBarr66 and Ryan1991 last night. Ohh err!!!
Looking forward to more!
cc_star | 14/09/2009 08:27
Team TSA: Writer
7879 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
@GazzaGB
It’s a community tool for community use – just set your own TSA Meet up
FRUIT0FDOOM | 13/09/2009 15:12
Member
490 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
Meeting people (IMO) is great. You will never learn everything there is to know about yourself or life on this rock we call Earth in the (hopefully) near 90 years you shall spend on it. Everyone is the sum of everyone they know in their life and everyone they will ever meet. From the mother/father that raised you to the postman – everyone will teach you something different about yourself or the life you live. People are essentially walking books that each have a story to tell and information to give, as you do to them. Given the choice – i’d happily spend 30mins with everyone i could ever possibly meet. Life is just too damn short.
The TSA meets are a great idea and anyone looking to meet great gamers and people in general should attend.
Boomshanks | 13/09/2009 16:59
Member
1305 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
I think this demonstartes why you were such a good community manager.
FRUIT0FDOOM | 13/09/2009 17:27
Member
490 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
It can get a little too much too though. In some ways I envy Cb’s ability to be as selective, I think that requires more sophistication and brain power than just simply listening to everyone. A balance needs to be struck as time is precious and their are many people that would like to take your time for granted. Such as that person in the street that wishes to ask you a few questions from a questionnaire on a clip board. Most people say no and continue on to go buy something. But what if you took two minutes to speak to that person and they informed you that they have seen the game you are about to buy £20 cheaper at another store than the one you were heading to? On the other end – what spending two minutes answering the questions and speaking to the person actually meant that the last copy of the game you wanted was sold to somebody else in those two minutes and you missed the opportunity to buy it? Cb’s outlook and mine are different but by no means better than one anothers on this subject
SpikeyMikey23 | 13/09/2009 15:18
Member
901 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
MW2 should be great for tsa meets. Should have full games running for a long time hopefully. Im hoping that operation flashpoint2 will produce some really fun meets!
Ryan1991 | 13/09/2009 15:48
Member
2001 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
MW2 will be great for TSA meets and I will be there in every meet.
Great read Cb.
C_S15 | 13/09/2009 15:37
Member
1566 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
More Left 4 Dead, Halo 3 and Modern Warfare 2, then I’ll use it a bit more =-)
cc_star | 14/09/2009 08:30
Team TSA: Writer
7879 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Errrm
What are you waiting for, just set your own up
C_S15 | 14/09/2009 08:31
Member
1566 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
I would, but ones not out and the other isn’t on the list. I have no excuse for he other though. I’ll get to it though.
Kevling | 14/09/2009 11:56
Member
2038 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
There’s a thread here (http://www.thesixthaxis.com/forum/tsa-network-clan-games/tsa-meets-game-additions/) for requesting games to be added to the TSA Meets list.
Roynaldo | 13/09/2009 15:51
Member
2993 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008
Ha, your a funny fella CB. Im not too good with new people myself but when it comes to online players/friends I have a ball….most of the time.
Killzone Boots are frickin awesome when you get 10+ players on, then you can move on and get into serious business with clan games too.
Ive had some moments online that will live with me forever.
It is possible that you have now seen the light and progress to be an outgoing man instead of a man in a shell of his former self (assuming you wernt anti-social when you met your wife).
Timesh1993 | 13/09/2009 16:19
Member
1181 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
I enjoy meeting new people, I could it all day.
Good read as well.
legalisemurder | 13/09/2009 16:39
Member
320 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
I’d be up for some unreal instagib action.Hardly anyone plays that.I’d play cod and kz too depending on how seriously people take it.I usually have a decent kill/death ratio but i like to run and gun.By the way,nice pob pic manorhowze.He was a legend.
Dexter17 | 13/09/2009 16:55
Member
3285 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
Havn’t used TSA meets yet… might set up a game of Call of Duty : Modern Warfare sometime.
Boomshanks | 13/09/2009 17:00
Member
1305 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
I REALLY want to use TSA meets, but my internet is so crappy. I’ll try and get better internet though.
I have never entered a match with fellow TSA’ers and that bugs me out. I want to enter too.
Damn you internet