It is now seven days, since Sierra cancelled Babylon 5: Into the Fire. In a way, I think we have lost more. It is as though a heart has been pierced and a spirit has poured out the wound. Blame Sierra. It is not foolish. It is not destructive. It is ... human. The developers may return to other projects, and take up new roles. I suppose they could become quite happy with their new position. It is not what they want though. I think they are more lost then anyone else in the Universe. Some believers have refused to eat for seven days, fasting, praying, and waiting. They believe, are they the only ones who do? Sierra has paused in their pursuit of war and everywhere there is a sense of imminent change. Whether it is a change for good or ill, no one can tell, because no one has answered two very important questions. What is the real reason Sierra cancelled the game? and will it return from Z'Ha'Dum?

Ivanova made a nice quote in that episode on what the Hour of the Wolf was, "My father taught me about it. It's the time between three and four in the morning. You can't sleep and all you can see is the troubles, and the problems, and the ways that you life should have gone, but didn't. All you can hear is the sound of your own heart..." "At times like this, My father used to take one large glass of vodka before bed, to keep the wolf away he said. Then he would take three very small drinks of vodka, just in case she had cubs while she was waiting outside."

Many of us feel we are in that hour, the Hour of the Wolf. Sierra cancelled a game that for some of us was way more than a game. They did not give any real reason and this upset many of us. They said it would not make enough profit. Well, since the game was only 6 months, or maybe a little more away from a release, we know that is not the true reason. It would not have cost them that much more to keep the game, and they would have made at least all of their money back, instead of none.

Some have reacted by boycotting Sierra. Others simply let the developers know they are supporting them. But all of them want the game to be picked up and continued. A boycott is a good idea, it will hurt Sierra, but it will also hurt other developers. I don't think devoted gamers could keep a boycott going. With Team Fortress 2 coming out soon, and other good games on the way how can devoted gamers continue a boycott? A boycott on a limited term would be the only option for devoted gamers. Maybe until Babylon 5: Into the Fire is officially picked up by someone else.

The main thing that gets to me is Sierra forced the developers to move and then fired them. I am sorry to get morals involved, but that was wrong. That I believe is the only reason that would justify a boycott. Sierra needs to treat its developers better, the developers are the ones who make the games that Sierra is getting rich off of. Sierra also needs to remember who pays them. It is you and I who pay their wages, we are the boss, the games are made for us, and they need to remember that. It seems nobody remembers who actually pays for the games. What happened to the phrase "The customer is always right"?