I officially, and I really do mean officially wash my hands off of this game.

For possibly 4 years of playing this game on and off has got me realising one thing - I'm going nowhere. Since I'm going to quit, I might as well come clean and say all that needs to be said about the game.

I started this game sometime around March 2008. Yes, that has been a pretty long time ago. That was when CabalSEA first came out of Closed Beta. I have started off playing this game with friends and I have seen them all go before me, pretty much explains how this game turned out.

What had been the major attraction of this game was how the game revolves around skills, not just our own but the in-game feature of it all. Coming from games like RO and the likes of Helbreath, physical brute type classes like warriors or sword wielding whackos are usually swinging weapons in what we called 'normal attacks'. For CabalSEA case, there's no such thing as 'normal attack', well they do but it's crappy once you've attained some attacking skills. The whole grinding process of RPG has never been so much fun where the ideas of gnashing buttons to see awesome skills being dished out as attacks. Furthermore, the combo-ing of skills allow faster skill execution, all the more fun of the game and by attaining a chain of combo that is at least 15, the people in the vicinity will be able to see this as it will be announced by the game.

The game started off with 6 classes, fairly balanced and have stayed true to that theme. That happens to be one of the few things in CabalSEA I have seen that has not changed, thankfully for them. As for me, I've played every single class and had decided to stick with Force Blader as it was seen to be an 'imbalanced' class at the earlier parts of the game. This holds true up until about Episode 2 of Cabal. Aside from how much this class needs to be reworked and I will not touch on that issue, we can see them in all Cabal Online gaming forum on this any way, the game in itself is bad from many different perspectives on this.

They say it takes two hands to clap, two people to tango. A poor community reflects on how poor the managing team is, so as to vice versa. CabalSEA has fallen from grace, plummeting into a vortex of neverending disappointments. Those who have played in CabalSEA for as long as I did would only be able to see such changes, constantly deteriorating rather than evolving. Not to put all the blame on faults with the management, the community plays a role in making the game so much more of an abysmal than it is.

Year 1 of CabalSEA, it was still going great. Hacking and botting were miniscule as everyone is still comparably average. I still remember how people use to go amok when they get PKed and it becomes such a major issue that from what seem to be a 1 on 1 vendetta into a mob riot, it's a MMO after all. Everyone was still exploring the game and how to maximize their potentials, this too has not changed till date though the significance of this for the stronger players have dwindled.

Most of my friends then gave up playing this game due to the insensitivity of players constantly brooding for a PK. Despite the numerous amount of channels back when the game was all the rage that were made available to us, they were all so full. You would think 48 different 'plains' would help even out players and give every players a chance to enter the game, you're wrong. I still remember the times when my friends and I had to like stalk channels and constantly spamming the channels to just get into it. Given the chance we are allowed to do so, we would never want to relog for the fear of unable to enter the game looms. Some friends left due to that said reason, while some left because to them, the game has lost its appeal.

In the period between Year 1 and Year 2 of CabalSEA, I have made a total of 2 quits or being inactive for the game due to complications in life and how I was unlucky in game, scoring myself a very unfit position in a competitive environment that is CabalSEA.

Year 2 of CabalSEA, everyone has gotten stronger, smarter. Strong players hurdles into a guild, joining nation wars and whooping player's arse at a grandscale. Hacking and botting has gotten far more serious as the game was still under the use of X-Trap. Though it may not have provided much of a protection, it has been a very light add-on to the game, making it playable still by the older generations of PC. That however has reached its toll when everyone (including myself) complained about the security issues X-Trap was giving out. Asiasoft heard our pleas, and that is when they injected the venomous Gameguard. Aside from this huge mistake made by Asiasoft, the game was updated with a new featured called "Runes". Players were able to learn them, giving passive attributes alongside what we can find on pets and equipments.

That alone brought me back to the game, in hopes that I will be able to enjoy the game further. I did, for even the smallest trickle of moment in the pool of sheer fun I thought I had been in.

Year 3 of CabalSEA had been one of the most interesting times that I would consider myself to have been in. 2010 was a year where CabalSEA was more than just the game itself. I got to meet players from both Malaysia and Singapore regions. It was fun to bring the game out of just the virtual environment and getting to know the people behind their pixels. Aside from Asiasoft Game fest that happened in 2009 which I had partake for the Forbidden Island dungeon run challenge, I too joined in the 2010 Asiasoft Gam Fest (ASGF in short) for the 3 on 3 pvp. I was in LasNoches back then where I grouped with 3 other locals which became a trend setter on how we managed our team for the 3 on 3 pvp.

We took home 3rd place but knew that there were hanky panky business for the runner-up which I will not get into details, you know who you are and what you did. The game did not look all that bad, seeing as I thought this victory would be the start of change for the game, I was wrong.

Over the course of gameplay, I have spent not less than 10b alz on cores for upgrading, another 10b alz for crafting and God knows how much more for the equipments I have. Crafting has not yield me any income as by the time I got to where I am (Mithril Suit currently), I was not able to catch up with the competitors let alone the demand for them has been lower than expected. This is just virtual money, right? No.

I have spent not less than RM 8,000 on this game alone, which I have now looked and reflect how stupid this is. This has to stop. About less than a quarter goes into Asiasoft 'legitly' by purchasing @-Cash for their in-game products, and the rest on what else? The in-game currency of course, alz! I can actually say any players who are pretty decently equipped till date will have at any time bought alz, hacked or both. It's a sad fact how this game is turning out. Rich gets richer and all tricked out, poor gets poorer, shrinks and will eventually withered out of the game.

With that much expense you would think I am recognised for my strengths or valor? Far from it I say, far from it.

It had been my final straw yesterday where I spent on cores to upgrade my freakin' equips. The failure rate was fucking abysmal where using enhanced cores dropped my +11 blade to +5. All for the cost of, 1 billion alz, ding ding!

Regardless of who's at fault here; ESTSoft, Asiasoft or the community, one thing is crystal clear - this game has gone off its deep end, and it is about time I hightail as far away from its impending doom as soon as possible.

This will be my last 'quit' from this game. I will never as to so close to step foot into the virtual environment that has caused me to waste my last remaining moments with my late father, my late uncle and my late grandmother, spent a fortune in which I could have used it to make a down payment for a car or pay for tuition fees in otherwise saved me from the trouble of applying for a loan, graduating with a better degree and in otherwise, sanity.

There is more that can be said about how much fail that goes on in this game, but I will spare you from this until I have the time to document my biography. Goodbye CabalSUCKS, it was nice when it lasted.

That harboring feeling. It's not as I had thought.

I always thought I can live on my own, that I can easily be alienated and still survive in my own island but the terms have changed. I have changed.

It's not easy to maintain a relationship. No, I'm not talking about soulmate kind but for friendship itself. Maybe I'm more outspoken when it comes to empathetical sense of value and that I am a little more sensitive than others and I shy away from what seem to be a foreign emotional exchange but that is no reason for me to change into something I'm not that fits you perfectly, no?

It just seems hard enough to maintain so many connections and I do treasure every one of it, bless you. It feels like I'm drifting away from all that I've known, all that I came to know.

What happened to the days when we went out for Blueserver gatherings? What happened to the days we sit down at Starbucks and just talk about absolutely nothing? What happened to the times when I thought I could trust you with something that I thought was embarassing?

All that was, all that have been were to naught?

When can I say that when I need a helping hand or just support to when I'm feeling down. It's as though I've lost that in all of you.

In a simpler means, I just wish all my local friends were still in contact, it seems I have better relationship with long distance friends. A sad but strange fact, I think people have better term of friendship if they were miles away, not the opposite.

So think again. Are your close friends really close to you?

I know, it hasn't been long since I started driving. Roughly only about a year or so and I'd found out the typical Malaysian drivers that are on the road currently. I know it's stereotyping but seriously, their driving skills are best off being displayed elsewhere, not a busy highway or on constantly crammed up road used by everyone.


To begin, let us highlight several classes of drivers:


The Butt Sniffers

Have you ever taken your first step onto the big road? Thinking, what the heck, let's try the big boy's lane for a change and rev up to a higher gear, seeing yourself speeding through the traffic, passing by everyone. "So long suckers! Haha!" was the first thought you had in mind as you see everyone slowly slides behind at your view and enjoying the cruising.

But wait, what is that coming from behind. Someone must have hit play on the Jaw's theme as you sense a slight chill inching its way towards you. Then you turn to look at your rear view mirror. A big ass SUV or anything of equivalent size and power, surpassing your speed and catching up to you. Oh, they can sense the fear alright. So close, they could almost hear you scream. They can tell fear and panic from the ogling eyes you have by taking multiple glances at them.

Fresh meat!!!!

Oh yes, they want your blood alright. They will stop at nothing, and I mean ... oh wait a second, there's a way to get them off your ass, literally. If someone's been tailgating you for more than 15 seconds, they're definitely hoping you'd move aside and continue sniffing more asses in front of you who aren't on par with their speed. Just to annoy them, start slowing down. Though, I won't guarantee if the new blood who loves sniffing asses would break in time but for the seasoned road bullies they will slow down and back off or just cut to another lane given the chance, speeds up and overtakes you.


Of course, this only applies if you're not traveling at 70 kmph on a 110 kmph highway, if so then you're categorized as the next class of drivers:


The Hakuna Matata

Remember my previous post on Tidak Apa attitude? This happens to be another aspect that most Malaysians are succumb to falter to as well. Cruising at the right most lane at 60 kmph at average on a highway. This don't just happen on Sundays, practically everyday. Honestly, no one likes driving that slow on a freeway let alone on any other road. I mean like hello, we drive to get to the destination and not for the sake of having been riding in a automobile, most of the time anyway.

The Hakuna Matatas' will most likely rival the Butt Sniffers at a heated battle on the road. Usually, the latter gives up and just overtakes them as the Hakuna Matatas continue to take their own sweet time. All I can say is, most of these kinda drivers come all the way North of Malaysia, if you catch my drift (lame road related pun intended).


If these two classes of driver aren't enough to make you think twice about crossing paths with them, here's another:


The Rule-breaker

Pretty straight forward what these kind of drivers are like. Above all, they are the ones that causes the most trouble and accidents for everyone indiscriminately. Not only are they endangering their own life with their recklessness, they have no regards over the safety of others which makes these rule-breakers a major concern in road safety. Common actions include swerving to the left and right, moving in and out of lanes without signalling and basically everything else - without a warning.

Be aware that they'll do anything to keep themselves ahead of you. Either join in their ways or just move aside and see them speed off into oblivion, like the goodie good two shoes you are, just like the next class of drivers!


It's the Law!

Yeah yeah pip-squeak, we know how you love the rules so you will NEVER break the rules. In your perfect little world where everything has to be in order and stuff *goes on and on with more obedient sarcasm*

Taunt aside, these drivers are a rare sight in Malaysia. Even if there is, it is because they are under loads of oppression or being constantly scrutinized by someone that they should stick with the rules, or else. Not saying this is bad or anything, but I would say it is close to impossible to find these kind of drivers that is 100% bona-fide wholesome goodness.


These 4 classifications are just but the usual ones you will see on the road, there could be more out there, waiting to be explored by yours truly. As for where do I stand in this here classifications? None, or all. I'm a little bit of all of the above, as sure some people out there are.

So which class do you belong to?

Ahh, the luxury of time is now within my grasp, but not to say it has me all relaxed, as the time spent may not be to my preference. In any case, I have gotten extra time to make this blog entry so, here I am.

It's been a week since I started my new job at Yakimbi. Things look promising as I am currently doing what I've always wanted to - a job that actually pertains to the hired job title, copywriter. I mainly scrutinize the use of grammar and what not, but it's fine by me as it brushes up my skill and keeps it an on-going thing. Grammar Nazi may be a titled that will conferred to me real soon, as I'll most probably imply those grammatical rectification not only in my job, but to my friends too *shrugs*.

Anyway, what this blog entry is about is probably a comparison of things for both my previous and my current job.

A quick summary of my previous job. Was hired as Copywriter, August 2010, dealing with client-tele and mainly web and content management roles. Not much of copywriting there. Constantly pressured to finish every single thing when I have limited knowledge on. Left due to a clash of interest. No dental.

A summary of current job. Was hired as Copywriter, January 2011, dealing with a lot of content but within my job scope. Job is done based on per request by colleagues, very minimal. A lot of 'time' but unused for personal stuff. Pay is definitely higher though. Nope, no dental lol.

Weird aye? First I had too much on my plate and now I'm practically starving for job. I know, I'm whining. Too much job, I complain. Too few job, I too complain about it. Ah well, I just needed to let this go so, here it is!

Aside from the job load perspective, another comparison that would sound like a vice versa is traffic. My current job location is in Solaris Hartamas/Dutamas (whichever sounds relevant to you). The traffic connecting from here to Mont Kiara is fine, but Mont Kiara alone is the f**king problem. Have you gotten stuck in a jam that lasted for err, an hour and you barely made your first 2 kilometres? Yeah, that's the traffic for ya. The traffic back at Taman Mayang was so much better, and so much closer to home. Ah well, there's gotta be some trade-offs to get what I want.

All in all, I find there to be so much difference in the places I've worked. However, I'm not complaining about my current job as in the job of interest, fully attentive and would like to see where it takes me.

Oh wow, it's been awhile since I last posted something. Over the new year, there's been a lot going on lately.

Had a really swell time with my pals from Singapore during Christmas, thanks for serenading the festivities with some of your crazy antiques that has become the subject of a lot of injected humour during our time in game.

Had the time to catch up on the world of movies as I've watched Tron in 3D and The Tourist during the New Year's Eve. Both of the movies were okay in their own special way.

Aside from real life, virtual life has been hectic as ever. Playfish Forum Team is currently a mess that requires some spring cleaning, Cabal's still having overpriced items even if it's Char bound on equip and that I may be taking on bigger challenges to maintain this blog as well. Oh time, where art thou?

Also, mainstreaming back to real life, quitted my previous job and started a new one, something that FINALLY made sense to the position I've been employed as, a copywriter.

Sorry, another no image post again, but will have more posts to come. This is definitely my year.

Food. Food. Food.

That's the first (three) things that came to my mind when I was told if I would like to go on a one day road trip to Penang. Other than another intention of helping out another Bro, I thought it'll be nice to have a day off and splurging on food to take my mind off of stressing matters.

The day begins at 7. Waking up that early is definitely something I hardly do often, let alone have the discipline to do. After scrambling for the phone where Shalom called to make sure I was getting out of bed, I head on to the showers.

Daniel came to pick me up at about 7.15 or so and we left to Centerpoint's McDonald's, where we all had our breakfast. Daniel parked his car at said place and we hoped on over to Martin's car.

There, the 5 of us - Daniel, Martin, Shalom, Ken and I began our trip to Penang. Not a tight squeeze at first since the 3 skinny dudes are seated at the back. Well, nothing much happened in the car aside from the usual stuff.

We arrived in the shores of Penang island (as in, after the bridge) at about 1 or so, just in time for lunch. We were to meet with Charis, as she would be more familiar with Penang than any of us blokes from PJ would. Though, the only advantage I have in Penang is that I can speak basic Hokkien.

Our first stop after Charis joined us was at a hawker site that was famous for their Char Koay Teow. We all had a serving of it and I must say, it's been a long time since I had the taste of Penang's version of that dish and yes, it's good. Accompanied by drinks, I ordered Nutmeg juice and everyone decided to follow in the notion, since I made the order in Hokkien.

So after our first round of food indulgence, we thought of trying out the other spot where Charis had mentioned to be also a good spot for Char Koay Teow. Yeah, I guess people might be thinking we're crazy for going on a second round but heck, we're the tourist. So we went over to the shop, find ourselves a seat and went to order. It was true to its name for being popular, the attendant told us we had to wait an hour for the dish to be prepared. Whoa!

Decided not to waste our limited time at Penang, I suggested we went to try the famous Cendol over at Lebuh Keng Kwee. I was rather lucky to tell my forgetful self to note the road where my last trip to Penang had taken place about a few months back.

We came and we had our fill of Cendol, though they were missing a few ingredients in it. There was suppose to be leong fun and Sarsaparilla in it, which I'm sure would've been used up or something because I'm very keen on how stuff like these would taste. Semi-disappointed, we left and head to our next destination - the Botanical Gardens in Penang.

It was weird how 5 guys and a girl went all the way to this side of the island just to see monkeys ... beats me either but oh well. After having a stroll in this reserve, we decided to chill out at a Starbucks. Martin asks for suggestions on where we could find one, since it's scarce in Penang. I remembered there was one that was nearby the Gurney Hotel or rather, within Gurney Plaza itself.

We made it there and Starbucks was full, so we took the next best option - Coffee Bean. We sit and chillax for awhile before moving on to our next eatery. Seeing we're all here for the local hawkers and at that time, it was about 4 and most hawkers are either closing up or just starting to setup for dinner and we needed to kill time before having dinner.

While we were chatting and having a cuppa, the wind started to blow violently. It was one of the most windiest experience I've encountered in Penang. We were having coffee al fresco and at that time we thought it was best that we made our way into the mall from having our hair blown into smithereens!

We explored a little in the mall and managed to kill as much time as we could. It was about 7 before we left for an eatery that Charis said to have a numerous amount of choices. It was called the Red Garden, a food court of some kind. Making it our last eatery spot for the day, we decided to order various of dishes such as Ikan Bakar, Hokkien Mee (Prawn Mee), Oh Chien (Fried Egg and Oysters) including Assam Laksa.

It was pure indulgence, though wasn't as good as the usual spots I know in Penang but it would have to do. After we had all stuffed ourselves, we thought about going somewhere before we call it a day. I was thirsty after all that eating and suggested to go somewhere we can go to have a drink and sit down to talk some more.

I was rather amazed at the fact that Penang has a street filled with clubs, pubs and lounges. Night life is booming even in Penang, gotta salute to that. We had a cup of Paulaner, which was another brew that was foreign to me and chatted as we go.

About half passed 10, we decided to take a leave. There was but one more thing I haven't had in Penang along the trip, which was the Chee Cheong Fun. Everyone spotted a Chee Cheong Fun stall but I was rather full from the brew that I couldn't have another bite of anything.

As we bid farewell to Charis and leave the shores, we were on our way back to PJ. It would've been nice if we could have food brought back but we know what would happen if we did ...

Till the day we meet again, Char Koay Teow, Assam Laksa, Hokkien Mee and everything else in between.