To anyone considering this game, the short answer I'd give is to find a better place where your time, efforts and self get more respect.
The longer, more complicated answer is that several factors lead to me writing this. Factors many already mentioned in previous reviews, each with their own nuance.
This game lures people in to a degree by it's community growing more complicated alongside the timesink and expectations that grow as you get further involved. While it might be said by some to be a 'casual' game, it's similar to a collaborative storytelling project.
The biggest problem I have with the game, despite harboring care for the community... lies in the very people that run it. While no one can be perfectly neutral, as time has gone on many, especially the higher tiers of admin became enmeshed to the point of resembling a high control group.
I wouldn't go as far as to say it's intentional, keep that in mind, however I believe that several factors fed off each other to create this restrictive, people-pleasing environment and the cluster of ooc cliques that litter the game.
And unfortunately as the game is, by it's nature of being a collaborate 'project' and live, despite the lockdowns each month... the community for better and worse is tied into the game's being. You play with the community, at the community, through your characters and people hold expectations based on your online persona... and the community is so often fueled by paranoia. To the point many go anon with their characters, or least try to.
Hard to be anon when many play the game of avoiding problem people, tend to group with the same cluster of players and wind up waiting, waiting, waiting on admin to make up their minds on if your circumstances with frustrating individuals not only applies as 'a problem', but if it's an urgent enough issue for them to bother doing more then stern red text of 'hey don't do that thanks'.
The way the game is run means effectively that there's no real consequences and it combines with the enviroment nursed by paranoia. Yes, there is moderation and it's not absent given you can wiggle the right way, but it might as well be, if every single choice involves the same clique of nepotism.
The game became divided between those 'in' the sandbox and those out of it, simply. Those outside the box are expected to pop in on demand when those within want, and by their terms. If you're not in, well, best try to find somewhere to exist and hope they don't railroad you into their idea of 'fun'. For their plots. Not yours unless it happens to align.
Add this to the fact many keep anon and don't feel safe (which they should feel able to) in this environment-- and communication becomes a vulnerability, a threat instead of an opportunity. Instead of being a way to communicate and come to a degree of understanding those pulling the strings of this game, least a few... seem to actively resent collaboration on an out of character level. Despite... wanting people in on their sandbox.
Whatever the intention of the game's layout is, or was, ceases to matter when the results burn people out and turn them away. Or at worst, create hostility, bitterness, venom.
I'd like to believe that things might improve, perhaps even to more closely resemble the fond memories I do have of this game... but I don't know if it will bounce back. I have my doubts, and as more people who saw what it used to be, leave, to be replaced by sycophants...
I see less and less reason to return, even if I miss it.
This game appears to be entirely dead, the only evidence of a website being what I can see on archives. Bit of a shame given it looked like it could be interesting, maybe even right up my alley, but tis what it tis.
Game is literally gone and the domain is up for sale. I'd say this game is as good as gone, if the last review is anything to go by. You can't play a game if it doesn't exist after all.