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odd debate: mmorpg's + addiction
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
basically mmorpgs' (massive-multiplayers-online role-playing-games) im on about here, i play world of warcraft myself, i'd admit im somewhat addicted to it and play like 3 hours a day which in the big scheme it works out, on my main character alone i have spent about 70 days online playing him in the past 18months, so i have spent effectively almost TWO MONTHS of my life in the past 18 montha playing a video game, and im not even hardcore in the sense of the game itself really
anyway, in the game i play the player vs player system is a function of time not skill, and rewards no lifers better, in fact to achieve to achieve the highest 'rank' you just have to be willing to play 12-16hours a day for 12 weeks MINUMUM to have a chance at it, as it works on a percentile system which uses your 'honour points' to works out a 'standing' compared to the other players on the server you play on
in my 'guild' at www.doomcraft.net for world of warcraft, we've had people quit because they see it as a 2nd job not a game, surely this isn't healthy, and the company who makes the game has nothing to say half the time
in the far east people have died from games like these from body failure due to lack of food, sleep or water, murders have been done between real life friends who have taken VIRTUAL items from eachother
what i'm wondering is, would those who created video games be proud or not at forcing this level of obsessiveness for the sake of profits.
just a quick bit of information, the video games industry is worth more than the film and music industry put together these day - when i was younger i used to want to go into it, but these days im not really that interested as companies who make fun silly non-serious addictive games are on the decrease whilst licensed sports and racing games, mmorpgs, pointless violence games (doom, quake etc i love and they are quite skillful and silly, but the recent GTA series and othe rip off have had only violence, not much skill and are quite dull in gameplay itsellf
simply, do you kow anyone who plays games like these and what do you think of their behaviour towards it, is it similar to gambling addictions?
anyway, in the game i play the player vs player system is a function of time not skill, and rewards no lifers better, in fact to achieve to achieve the highest 'rank' you just have to be willing to play 12-16hours a day for 12 weeks MINUMUM to have a chance at it, as it works on a percentile system which uses your 'honour points' to works out a 'standing' compared to the other players on the server you play on
in my 'guild' at www.doomcraft.net for world of warcraft, we've had people quit because they see it as a 2nd job not a game, surely this isn't healthy, and the company who makes the game has nothing to say half the time
in the far east people have died from games like these from body failure due to lack of food, sleep or water, murders have been done between real life friends who have taken VIRTUAL items from eachother
what i'm wondering is, would those who created video games be proud or not at forcing this level of obsessiveness for the sake of profits.
just a quick bit of information, the video games industry is worth more than the film and music industry put together these day - when i was younger i used to want to go into it, but these days im not really that interested as companies who make fun silly non-serious addictive games are on the decrease whilst licensed sports and racing games, mmorpgs, pointless violence games (doom, quake etc i love and they are quite skillful and silly, but the recent GTA series and othe rip off have had only violence, not much skill and are quite dull in gameplay itsellf
simply, do you kow anyone who plays games like these and what do you think of their behaviour towards it, is it similar to gambling addictions?
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Comments
Anyways onto the main topic. I think that these games can become addictive, like anything else. I mean look at us on here to all hours of the morning.
Oh, and I only play computer games with other real people in the room. Call me old fashioned, but that's the way I like it.
Anyway, I guess they play off peoples addictive/competitive nature, but I guess they can';t be blamed as they can't actually force anyone to play...There are also the monthly fees so it's not like there are no deterrants to the game.
I don't think random game companies are going down the drain, I don't really know a lot about whats new etc but you still see a few strange games doing well lol ;p Also the money is still in skill games, e.g. counterstrike has tournaments for pretty decent money if you're any good.
4 guys, football/racing game and pack of beer = fun night in
ETA: Remember Lou on Neighbours.
SOE ruined it with the New Game Enhancements. I still keep logging into forums in the hope of a rollback. Is this me going cold turkey?
Absolutely!
It's like Cocaine or Heroin, you know it's doing you damage yet you still go back.
Yep....football manager...one more game...one more game....i cant help it. i NEED it! UP THE MIGHTY HARTLEPOOL
i disagree. just becauase you aren't addicted doesn't mean other people aren't. i drink but not very often, i'm not addict, yet some people are. i occasionally put money on football, but i'm not a gambling addict.
people can be tv addicts, so gaming addiction is definately a addiction. i wouldn't consider myself a game addict either as i don't play that often.
i could be wrong but i don't think that's what he meant........it is a load of bollocks though, i used to spend far more time playing computer games but that was when there was time to kill, if i put in the same hours nowadays i'd have no social life so somethings got to give......i think it's sad that people would rather be in their virtual world then out there making friends in the real one, you only have one shot at life i'd hate to look back at 50 and think "damn I must have clocked about 20 years gaming time on that WW3", or any other game for that matter.......don't get me wrong I don't mind having the odd Pro Evo or Burnout session when I'm catching up with friends like old times, but I just don't get the same satisfaction out of single player games like i used to.......
Changed for acuracy.
Meh. Yeah, sure, games may be addictive. But fuck, if you actually do get majourly addicted like some people, I think you need to step back and take a look at your life... why it has happened. I manage to fit games and rest of life together fairly well.
Unless I end up on a HUGE Battlefield mega marathon, then that just destroys time and I realise I've spent 2 days on it ;(
It's depressing watching people around you spending all of their time in front of the computer. I agree, you can sit an hour, perhaps 2 in rare cases, in front of the computer, but not anything near above that, IMHO.
MMORPGs are the worst. Having one character throughout the game, making him stronger all the time, is apparently the most addictive game - at least I think it is though. Lvling and those sort of things are critical and I admit I am crazy about such games - Diablo, Guild Wars etc. Games where you have stats like Warcraft III really destroy me. But I know that I control the computer game - the computer game does not control me. The question is, is the youth today experiencing that the other way around?
I've known a few people whose life consisted of their real job, playing games, sleeping as little as they can before needing to get back to work before they could play again. It's highly unhealthy and it's alarming that young people are spending their prime like that but then of course I am reminded that it is one of those things the individual is responsible for. I think most eventually realise what they're doing and quit.
I personally know I have the personlity to get addicted, so I'm staying well clear of games like those. I'm sticking to games I can play when it suits me. But then again, I'm not exactly the target group.
Not only that, it is an entirley STUPID argument.
Let's assume, as the evidence suggests, they are addictive. Then you CERTAINLY won't fucking stop paying. Does a smack addict think "Oh, I am spending too much on heroin. I had better stop, because I just lost my job so cannot afford it anymore." No.
TBH, I am glad I don't pay a monthly fee for playing an MMORPG online, as I can't afford it yet. But when I get a job, EVE looks SO tempting.
yeh that was good, I got out a few months before they destroyed everything, as I was rich and bored... but it was good while it lasted!
as for WoW, I also love that game, (but can't play at the moment 'cos of my graphics card breaking) usually play atleast an hour a day I think.
thing is, I think anything that is satisfies ones urge to succeed is bound to be adictive, and video games make this possible with less effort than would usually be required to feel a similar sense of fulfillment. :chin:
oh yeh teh_gerbil, I played eve online for a bit, and it is amazing.. I forget why I stopped, but I decided it best to only play one mmorpg at a time