What happened to you, Riot? :(

8 years.

It's been 8 years since my friend told me about this awesome game called "League of Legends."

I watched him play it some and it looked pretty cool, so I decided to install it. We had a blast together, mostly playing bots and a few normal games when we were feeling brave.

Over the years he stopped playing but I kept with it. I had gotten involved with the community. Invested in the game, and the players, and the company behind it.

I had a HUGE respect for that company. They were always on the Forums, responding to player posts, engaging in banter, addressing player concerns and just staying in close contact with the community. It was great! It was so wonderful to have that level of transparency and feeling of connectivity from a game company that I loved so much.

Over the years, Riot has changed. They've grown MASSIVE. Global! I'm so excited for that, it's great to see this company and game I love so much be spread to so many people, to impact so many lives! But with that growth has had to come sacrifices...

I don't feel that same sense of connectivity and comradery with Riot anymore, and what little communication we get now feels... synthetic. That's the best way I can describe it I think. The way in which Riot interacts with the community felt organic. A game made by the players, for the players... now it feels synthetic. Manufactured.

I miss the unscheduled discussions with Rioters about the game, about art, about lore, about bugs and player behavior and... what happened? :(

I feel so sad. I want to say I feel betrayed but I know that Riot doesn't really OWE me anything...

It just feels like a friend you once knew has grown more and more distant over the years, and now on the rare occasions you get to see them, it feels awkward and forced, like you know you're supposed to have things to say to each other, but you can't think of anything.

A lot has happened in my life since I started playing this game.

I graduated college, I started a career, I got married, started a family, got divorced.

Through all that, this game has been a constant in my life, and I will always have a place in my heart for League of Legends, but...

I miss the days when I felt like I was important to Riot. Like what I had to say mattered, and someone at the company was listening, whether they agreed with me or not.

It's gone though. I feel it. In every fiber of my being I feel it.

Where are you Riot? I'm still here. I'll still be here, waiting for you if you decide to come back. I know you cared once. I know somewhere in the mass of red tape and corporate propaganda you still care, maybe you've forgotten.

I hope you come back. I really miss you Riot.