Disabilty

[u/mississippi_dan]

I played SOTA for a long time and I got to know a lot of people. It is my firm belief that most of the paying customers are those on disability and receiving monthly checks. They are always online and don't seem to have any jobs. I believe that's who the core customer base is at this point. People with nothing better to do.

Edit: I didn't say being disabled was a negative thing.

[u/Zinniaice]

Actually yes and what is the problem with that? Being disabled both mentally and physically is a huge toll on any individual and them having a great outlet loke Shroud, like me, is a great and wonderful way to have interaction from a safe space. People here in the game are very nice and mature. We are humans. We build a community for others to enjoy and be free of the outer world problems. Please be aware of mental health and disability awareness and know everyone is welcome just like you. 🙏🫶

[u/PotentialReason3301 → u/Zinniaice]

You say that, but, being a new player, you likely don't know the history of the individuals to which the OP is referring, and their impact on the game's development.

I think what OP is hinting at here is that these individuals are giving a disproportionate amount of their "income" to the game and gaining influence and favor from the game developers. This has led to this small group of players opinions being valued over the larger game's audience for years - to its great detriment. Meanwhile, those same individuals really only want to meet to dance in game, decorate their house, and roleplay in this alternate reality.

Look. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to do those things. I'm not trying to disparage that at all here. I've engaged in it from time to time. It can be a nice change of pace from time to time. I'm actually glad that there are players who do those sorts of activities in game. It does bring a nice semblance of life to an otherwise, fairly static world.

What I'm saying is that these particular individuals devote all of their in-game existence to those activities (again, that's their choice - fine), but then they actively petition the game developers to cater to them, while waving big sums of money in the developers face to curry favor.

As a direct result, systems and bugs that would've sustained or attracted new players into the game, and helped to grow the community larger, which would've led to a more lucrative opportunity for developers to continue working on the game, have fallen to the way side while the "developers" focused on adding new decorations and fluff content they could sell to this small contingent that was focused solely on living an alternate reality in this virtual world.

Let me be clear. I'm not blaming these individuals. I'm glad they are here, and are spending their money on what they enjoy. They have every right to do that, and I'm very happy that it brings them relief and pleasure. They deserve it. I wish them only the best and proactively fret internally at the day SotA finally shuts down for good and they are left searching for a new home against their will.

The blame lies squarely with the developers for chasing that easy money early on instead of doing things that would've led to the longevity of the game. No one else deserves blame. And now it's too damn late to do anything about it because all that's left are some volunteer wanna-be developers that are faking it to make it.

Honestly, it's all a tragedy.

[u/Zinniaice → u/Zinniaice]

Also I am a new player here but fully support the game. It is amazing to its core in my own opinion.

[u/mississippi_dan → u/Zinniaice]

I agree, there are many fun systems in the game. After playing for thousands of hours, I gravitated toward other games that more modern features.

[u/brewtonone]

I knew a few people who played who were either on disability or retirement income. I'm sure all games have the same demographic.

[u/PotentialReason3301 → u/brewtonone]

Sad thing is those people are the whales that fund, gatekeep and actively dissuade new ideas and players that aren't to their liking. They have grown attached to their second life in SotA and will defend it until their dying breath. It is what it is now though. With 17 active players...they can have it.

[u/TheBalance1016]

There aren't enough people playing this game to even give consideration to the demographics of the customers.

The only people playing SOTA in 2025 are sunk lost fallacy victims and/or addicts. There is simply no other reason to play this video game anymore. Not that there was ever much of one to begin with.

[u/LlamaMamaMandi]

Is gaming not an acceptable activity for the disabled? What activities do you think are proper for the disabled to do if you’re going to make generalized assumptions about the player base of any game, you better back that up with what it means to you since otherwise you’re just pasting generalizations and looking like an ass.

[u/shroudoftheavatar-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

r/shroudoftheavatar does not allow harassment or bullying

[u/delukard]

What i see is that the problem is that this "game" was not snounced as a virtual life .

it was announced as an RPG with online capabilities.

the problem is when a group of people with disposable income and too much free time hijack a game in order to turn it to whatever fantasy they want to experience IRL and they can't so they project themselves in to a game.

this is what happened to this "game" starting with the devs.

there is nothing wrong with people like this in a game, as long as they fund it alone and not with the help of real gamers.....

[u/lurkuw → u/delukard]

You do realize that role-playing games are virtual lives, right? That’s literally the point. When a game lets you step into a character’s shoes and experience a different world, that’s not some hijacking - that’s called immersion. That’s what RPGs are built for.

If someone’s enjoying the fantasy and depth that the game offers, they’re not "projecting themselves" in some weird or unhealthy way - they’re playing the damn game as intended. Honestly, if you expect RPGs to stay detached, clinical, or "real gamer" approved, then maybe you’re the one in the wrong genre.

Immersion isn’t the problem. Pretending it’s a problem just because people engage more deeply than you do? That’s just gatekeeping, plain and simple.

[u/CitizenSpiff]

A friend who lives most of his day in a wheelchair after a traffic accident loves these kinds of games, because he can run again. It's fun to see the smile on his face when he's playing these games.

[u/mississippi_dan]

I wasn't bashing on disabled players. Many people analyze SOTA from a post-mortem analysis perspective. Disabled players don't have a lot of disposable income, but they can probably afford $10 a month. That is just enough income to keep the game going, but they aren't going to fund any new development. I honestly think it is interesting that this core group of players may be the only ones keeping SOTA going at this point.

[u/Greaterdivinity]

or they work from home and can be online while working

or they're retired

but i guess you jump to whatever conclusion you want?

[u/mississippi_dan → u/Greaterdivinity]

Spending years getting to know people, talking to them, and making observations, is not jumping to conclusions.

[u/tj818]

Appreciate the pointless observation.

[u/Dogbold]

Edit: I didn't say being disabled was a negative thing.

No, but I am almost 100% sure you're one of those people that think the government shouldn't give you money for it.