Comments on: The future of gaming - I can’t help feeling this is all too real http://simianuprising.com/2006/11/03/the-future-of-gaming-i-cant-help-feeling-this-is-all-too-real/ Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:40:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.9 by: Jeremy Clarke http://simianuprising.com/2006/11/03/the-future-of-gaming-i-cant-help-feeling-this-is-all-too-real/#comment-54823 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:11:52 +0000 http://simianuprising.com/2006/11/03/the-future-of-gaming-i-cant-help-feeling-this-is-all-too-real/#comment-54823 Sky, you are right, there is another side to the WoW coin where people can potentially live happily and successfully alongside their virtual lives in the game. I'm not trying to accuse every WoW player of being addicted, but I do think that a large proportion of players are addicted, many of whom would rather think they just like playing. IMHO, if you can't quit then you're addicted, and a lot of people have big problems when someone encourages them to quit. As always I'd compare it to drugs and their addictiveness. WoW may not be the most addictive thing in the universe, but when you choose chemical drugs to do (at least for me) the most important consideration is their addictiveness, because that is the main danger of any drug, becomming addicted and letting your life/body be overrun by the drug. When talking to people about wow, I emphasize that it is the most addictive game ever produced, and that for their well-being, they are better off playing other games instead, because while they might come away unscathed, there is a huge chance they could get caught up in the world and lose their jobs/lovers/friends. WoW doesn't kill you or your life, but it is the most dangerous game ever produced (due to its mix of time-addictiveness and broad appeal, unlike most games that either end or aren't interesting to *most* people). Sky, you are right, there is another side to the WoW coin where people can potentially live happily and successfully alongside their virtual lives in the game.

I’m not trying to accuse every WoW player of being addicted, but I do think that a large proportion of players are addicted, many of whom would rather think they just like playing. IMHO, if you can’t quit then you’re addicted, and a lot of people have big problems when someone encourages them to quit.

As always I’d compare it to drugs and their addictiveness. WoW may not be the most addictive thing in the universe, but when you choose chemical drugs to do (at least for me) the most important consideration is their addictiveness, because that is the main danger of any drug, becomming addicted and letting your life/body be overrun by the drug. When talking to people about wow, I emphasize that it is the most addictive game ever produced, and that for their well-being, they are better off playing other games instead, because while they might come away unscathed, there is a huge chance they could get caught up in the world and lose their jobs/lovers/friends.

WoW doesn’t kill you or your life, but it is the most dangerous game ever produced (due to its mix of time-addictiveness and broad appeal, unlike most games that either end or aren’t interesting to *most* people).

]]> by: Sky http://simianuprising.com/2006/11/03/the-future-of-gaming-i-cant-help-feeling-this-is-all-too-real/#comment-54812 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:03:35 +0000 http://simianuprising.com/2006/11/03/the-future-of-gaming-i-cant-help-feeling-this-is-all-too-real/#comment-54812 Im a 16 year old girl that plays WoW and i dont see what the big huff up is about ... sure sometimes i would rather be in my room and happily play it but id never seen it as an addiction ... wow has never stopped me going out to see my friends or enjoy the real world. Infact ive met a lot of good friends on wow which i will happy met up with and see at weekends, You should really look outside the box more, millions of people play wow im sure not many lock themselves up in there rooms and throw there lives away to play it. Yes MMO addition exists but i think you need to look at both sides of the point. Im a 16 year old girl that plays WoW and i dont see what the big huff up is about … sure sometimes i would rather be in my room and happily play it but id never seen it as an addiction … wow has never stopped me going out to see my friends or enjoy the real world. Infact ive met a lot of good friends on wow which i will happy met up with and see at weekends, You should really look outside the box more, millions of people play wow im sure not many lock themselves up in there rooms and throw there lives away to play it. Yes MMO addition exists but i think you need to look at both sides of the point.

]]> by: Johan http://simianuprising.com/2006/11/03/the-future-of-gaming-i-cant-help-feeling-this-is-all-too-real/#comment-36428 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 02:01:01 +0000 http://simianuprising.com/2006/11/03/the-future-of-gaming-i-cant-help-feeling-this-is-all-too-real/#comment-36428 Can't tell you how right you are... Can’t tell you how right you are…

]]> by: Jeremy Clarke http://simianuprising.com/2006/11/03/the-future-of-gaming-i-cant-help-feeling-this-is-all-too-real/#comment-23475 Wed, 04 Jul 2007 14:11:10 +0000 http://simianuprising.com/2006/11/03/the-future-of-gaming-i-cant-help-feeling-this-is-all-too-real/#comment-23475 Go confront some people with WoW/MMO habits that are stopping them from getting on with their lives. The ideological shift hides behind just having fun playing games, serving as the justification when the behavior is challenged. Maybe the players already felt that way, but I can't help feeling that four years ago there werent' nearly as many people who thought that real life was too lame to worry about. Were you searching for MMO addiction when you found this? Check out <a href="http://wowdetox.com" rel="nofollow">WoWDetox</a> to hear some stories about how gaming has changed people's lives. Go confront some people with WoW/MMO habits that are stopping them from getting on with their lives. The ideological shift hides behind just having fun playing games, serving as the justification when the behavior is challenged. Maybe the players already felt that way, but I can’t help feeling that four years ago there werent’ nearly as many people who thought that real life was too lame to worry about.
Were you searching for MMO addiction when you found this? Check out WoWDetox to hear some stories about how gaming has changed people’s lives.

]]> by: Sage http://simianuprising.com/2006/11/03/the-future-of-gaming-i-cant-help-feeling-this-is-all-too-real/#comment-23380 Tue, 03 Jul 2007 23:09:17 +0000 http://simianuprising.com/2006/11/03/the-future-of-gaming-i-cant-help-feeling-this-is-all-too-real/#comment-23380 I think you know entirely too many "crazy" people (or 12-year-old boys with nothing better to do than play video games). I can't say I've "experienced a massive shift in lifestyle and ideology." Go outside the box a little more. I think you know entirely too many “crazy” people (or 12-year-old boys with nothing better to do than play video games).

I can’t say I’ve “experienced a massive shift in lifestyle and ideology.” Go outside the box a little more.

]]> by: Simon http://simianuprising.com/2006/11/03/the-future-of-gaming-i-cant-help-feeling-this-is-all-too-real/#comment-5884 Fri, 03 Nov 2006 22:12:02 +0000 http://simianuprising.com/2006/11/03/the-future-of-gaming-i-cant-help-feeling-this-is-all-too-real/#comment-5884 Good note, man. The power of video games is definitely becoming harder and harder to ignore, but I think the industry is aware of its ideological influence. I was listening to a podcast from the IGDA (International Game Developer's Association) on the education of future game developers, and a big part of the new curriculums involve producing well-educated individuals who will be more intimately aware of their creations. Now, one thing that I think needs to be said on the part of WoW is that you get your most bang for buck by playing casually. The bottleneck in end-game content is there specifically to deter people from pouring in an unhealthy amount of time into the game. It's scary that despite this, people still push themselves through ridiculous amounts of playtime for minimal reward. Now that the expansion's coming out with content that will easily outshine whatever phat lewtz they've gotten, those people are realizing how much all of that work was really a waste. Good note, man. The power of video games is definitely becoming harder and harder to ignore, but I think the industry is aware of its ideological influence. I was listening to a podcast from the IGDA (International Game Developer’s Association) on the education of future game developers, and a big part of the new curriculums involve producing well-educated individuals who will be more intimately aware of their creations.

Now, one thing that I think needs to be said on the part of WoW is that you get your most bang for buck by playing casually. The bottleneck in end-game content is there specifically to deter people from pouring in an unhealthy amount of time into the game. It’s scary that despite this, people still push themselves through ridiculous amounts of playtime for minimal reward. Now that the expansion’s coming out with content that will easily outshine whatever phat lewtz they’ve gotten, those people are realizing how much all of that work was really a waste.

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