PICTURE: What will a World Of Warcraft player look like in the year 2030?
A star in the virtual world... who cares about reality?
(All credit to Pyxelated from Deviantart for the pic)
posted by Shutar at 1:19 am
Sunday, October 29, 2006
A star in the virtual world... who cares about reality?
(All credit to Pyxelated from Deviantart for the pic)
291 Comments:
I bow my head to the souls already lost to this game.
*bow*
Suckers.
WoW isn't that bad...
Yes, it isn't that bad for people who need a fantasy world to escape to.
No its not a bad thing to play a game but you have to know the diffrence between reality and fiction and you sir are just a person that has a very closed mind to escaping the hectic world through a little rpg probabbly a jock or a lame cowboy
No one can tell you what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.
It's not close-minded to realize the danger of MMORPGS. Everyone I know who plays WoW doesn't just play a couple hours a week - they spend more time in the virtual world than with their friends/family, at school, or sometimes, as someone before me said, even sleeping. Arguing that WoW isn't a bad thing is like a drug addict saying people against drugs are close-minded.
so what.
why is glory in the real world better than the glory in a fake one?
if a game can be designed that has more opportunity for a meaningful life, perhaps it is a good thing.
evolution made us to survive, not to live.
wait isn't that the way it is now??
I need my wow druid fix....
yah thats the way the game can feel at times. great picture
Anything in excess is bad. Self-control and excercising your will power is the key.
MMORPGs are extremely dangerous for people looking for an escape from reality. I was a victim of a mmorpg myself and it was/still is very hard to stay away from it. But I am glad to say that I doing a good job staying away from video games and concentrating on the more important things of life, the real world.
Yeah, and? Maybe not by 2030, but seriously, how long do you think it's going to be until the entire world is the matrix, except better and people are willingly in it?
Think about it...If you can perfectly simulate a world but can do anything you want in it - fly, be rich, do magic, whatever...Why would anyone NOT be in it? You'd need minimal resources in the real world to keep everyone alive and in the game and everyone would be happy, be able to do whatever they want...
Like it or not, a video game is a VERY possible future for all of humanity.
"Like it or not, a video game is a VERY possible future for all of humanity."
... it would certainly lessen humanity's burden on the planet!
"s nah so bad... the guy's got a haircut, don't he?
If you haven't read anything by William Gibson, do it now.
I think it's natural for males to have aggression and anger. We want to search and destroy, to be powerful.
That same kid could have an M16 in his hand, instead he's strung out in the corner. I don't have a problem with it, and he seems to be enjoying it. We all have our place in this world.
Besides, on a long enough timeline the survival rate for all of us drops to zero. What does he have to lose?
As someone else said, anything in excess is a bad thing, I myself balance WoW between my full time job and college. Because of this I probably wont hit the level cap until 2030, but I have fun exploring it in my spare time, rare as it is.
As far as the entire world being a video game, I wouldn't mind it, but there would have to be a good anticheat system in place...
A perfect world cannot exist, as a video game or otherwise, because everyone's veiw of perfection is different. WoW is an example of this, as I am sure we all have small complaints about it, and there are some out there who think everquest, guild wars, or star wars galaxies is better than WoW. So would you really want to enter a virtual world permanantly, with it being some designer's view of perfection? I leave this as food for thought.
As someone else said, anything in excess is a bad thing, I myself balance WoW between my full time job and college. Because of this I probably wont hit the level cap until 2030, but I have fun exploring it in my spare time, rare as it is.
As far as the entire world being a video game, I wouldn't mind it, but there would have to be a good anticheat system in place...
A perfect world cannot exist, as a video game or otherwise, because everyone's veiw of perfection is different. WoW is an example of this, as I am sure we all have small complaints about it, and there are some out there who think everquest, guild wars, or star wars galaxies is better than WoW. So would you really want to enter a virtual world permanantly, with it being some designer's view of perfection? I leave this as food for thought.
At least he has hardcore epic loots
"Arguing that WoW isn't a bad thing is like a drug addict saying people against drugs are close-minded."
If you are against drugs, yet have never tried them, they yes, you are closed minded. make decisions for yourself by experiencing life, not by judging how you view other's experiences.
if if you really want to me open minded, may i suggest trying magic mushrooms once... only once.
I can see one of my friends like this one day.
I'll try anything once except heroin... because you can't try heroin just once... ;-)
Who cares what happens. Because almost all projections are wrong. Will there be a growing segment of the population play more MMOs. Yes. But there will be a peak and it'll stabilize. MMOs are still a new genre to the short life of the video game entertainment business.
Television was thought to rot brains about 20 years ago when it was about 30 years old. Video games are about 30 years old as well. In 20 more will we hail it as just another form of entertainment like a movie and music along with the boobtube?
So take a step back and look at what happens. You can't make a true projection of popular culture. Popular culture exist to evolve and change to allow people of the "now" choose what ways to relax from life. And 6.5 million people around the world choose World of Warcraft. An Estimated 50 million people agree to MMOs in general. But in 10-15 years something else will be popularized. Remember rollerblades in the early 90s.
Entertainment and pop culture are the reason we do things in our spare time. A more true analysis would be to look at what we consider entertainment as opposed to the harm of that entertainment.
i've bin strung out on alot of crap in my time but wow was the worst...no single addiction has sucked more of my time effort and money more than wow. Escapism has it moments but an unending virtual reality in which there is no dominance, and no real success...its not a pretty place to be
people against drugs are close-minded ... reaches for asprin
Hi my name is Anonymous and I'm and WOWaholic. ;-p
It's pathetic. If people want to spend their time playing games then let them do it. This world is to full of people who want to help other people because they don't know what to do with themselves. GO SOLVE WORLD HUNGER AND LEAVE OTHER PEOPLE ALONE IF THEY WANT TO SPEND 23 HOURS A DAY PLAYING A GAME. Damn it just pisses me off.
so what.
why is glory in the real world better than the glory in a fake one?
if a game can be designed that has more opportunity for a meaningful life, perhaps it is a good thing.
evolution made us to survive, not to live.
ummmmm ... WoW dude. My perfect Saturday? Smoking a joint, 12 Hours of WoW and the occassional blowjob.
World of Warcraft is a fad, not unlike the 60's drugs and free love culture. 30 years from now most people will have gotten over it and have only a bunch of weird memories and stories to bore people with. The generation of 2030 will be dealing with stuff so far evolved from WoW.
2032
Housewives shock in blue
What in the world is it coming to
What in the world
2033
Cannabis in tea
What in the world. Acid is free
What in the world
If daddy could see today
he'd be turning in his grave
If mummy could see the way
The boys and girls and the manner in which
they talk to their parents
2034
Women fight the wars
Men are too bored, they're scrubbing floors
Men are too bored
They're staying at home
doing the chores
What in the world
Do you remember when this life
was in perspective and the grownups were respected
They'd give up a seat on the bus
Open your door with no fuss
2035
The whole world's one beehive
Throw us a line you might be in time
Throw us a line
What in the world
Who gets the girl
What in the world
-- The Dukes of Stratosphear
© 1985 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.
I played RUNESCAPE for like three hours a day for like 5 days in a row, and I was scared at how far I got into that game, although my numbers are amateur compared to the average WoW player. It's scary.
It's all about control. I play WoW a lot. I never lose sleep, my grades don't slip, and I have a wonderful relationship. Playing WoW for fun is a lot different than playing WoW like it's real life.
Everyone who plays WoW is not a socially inept addict...
That is, "NOT everyone who plays WoW is a socially inept addict."
Clarified.
Isn't there something more that you fail to see in this painting?
There is an underlying question of whether he had everything and lost it to a game (and so we should feel bad for him), or he never had anything and sees hope and joy in another place (and so we should feel happy that he has escaped).
Interesting that most people seem to choose the former view.
The problem with wow is that it takes people who are naturally goal / achievement orientated and focuses their energy in what is essentially chasing the carrot on a stick, at the end of the day the great new sword or such is just another step on a treadmill that will eventually stop when the server is deleted and a new game released.
And after dedicating all those hours you will have nothing to show for it, but memories of how great you were in a virtual world that no one cares about anymore.
For me, after a year, quiting wow was the best decision I ever made. Sure I had a job/degree/gf but you'll never realize how much time wow is taking until you quit. And believe me there's so much more to do.
If you play on a daily basis... You have a problem.. Sorry.
Some of the above commenters have been accused of being 'narrow-minded' toward the effects of playing MMORPGs such as WoW in excess. I would by no means consider myself to be a narrow-minded individual, but I endeavour to be discerning in what I choose to do with my life. in this case I choose not to waste my time in a fantasy world of no real consequence; I'd prefer to get out there and make real friends in real situations. Even relationship on WoW are 1-dimensional and do not give users the full gamut of what life is really about.
Don't just nail someone that disagrees with you and label them as being narrow-minded, as it may be you who is need of more discernment. Get off that computer, go get a real life.
I'm not sure what the point of this painting is. It is a very good rendoring...nice colors and all. But the boy is too well kept to have spent all his time playing video games. He has a cut hair. His toenails are trimed and clean, suggesting he has bathed recently. his clothes are worn, suggesting he has ingaged in physical activity. I have no idea why he has mummy wrappings on under his clothes. I guess this painting's statement must be economic. His house is crumbly, his clothes are old, and he has no chair. I guess he must have spent all his money on the monthly connection fee?
Whoever is hating on WoW...you guys are dicks...i have a full time job and full time college...and i still play everyday. Its not like we dont have lives. And its not like we need to "esacape into a fantasy world to avoid our daily troubles" its just a fun game that you can play with other people from other parts of the country/world.
A mans love of cars turns into an obsession that costs a man his family and ultimately his life.
Another mans love of cars turns into a piece of history in the automotive industry.
A mans love of sport turns into an obsession that ruins his life, his health and his reputation through drug abuse.
Another mans love of sport turns into a career that yields him adoration and a rich life.
Are cars wrong, is sport wrong?
why is glory in the real world better than the glory in a fake one?
Well for one thing gaming hasn't even been around for anywhere near the average lifespan. Sure it may be fine for a few years, but what happens when someone has put 70 years into a virtual existence? Or what about before this, when they come to their senses after say, 10 years, and want to rejoin reality but can't figure out how.
[QUOTE}
If you play on a daily basis... You have a problem.. Sorry.
[QUOTE]
As opposed to watching TV?
I play WoW about 2-3 hours every second or third day, if I had the time, I'd play 2-3 hours Every day.
Where's the difference between playing WoW for 2 hours and watching TV for 2 hours or having sex for 2 hours or playing sport for 2 hours or swimming for 2 hours or riding for 2 hours.
Use what little intelligence you have...
Consistently watching TV for 3 hours a day is MUCH WORSE than playing a Fully interactive game for 3 hours. At least in the game you are building communication skills and having fun with others, as opposed to sitting on your fat ass watching crap.
I am working on attending UC Berkeley with straight A's. I have a very committed relationship, a job, and a subscription to WoW. I spend my time doing what is fun for me. I have been a gamer since I was five and I have some great memories. So the person I am playing with is across the country, does that make the friendship false?
Because I make the choice to game daily does not make my life any less meaningful. I develop relationships with people in the game and form a sense of community. Sure, it is obscure but there is still an entity behind who I interact with.
What else should I be doing with my time? I have a large friend-base. I sing. I see my mother regularly. What else do I need?
Reality and the game reality are different. However, the gaming realm is not a fake reality; it is just seperate, it still exists. It is just not the all-encompassing reality. This does not make the subordinate reality invalid.
Though, the most fun thing about many people's posts is that they cannot prove that their perceived reality exists while they bash "fake realities."
Life is a game my friends.
I am working on attending UC Berkeley with straight A's. I have a very committed relationship, a job, and a subscription to WoW. I spend my time doing what is fun for me. I have been a gamer since I was five and I have some great memories. So the person I am playing with is across the country, does that make the friendship false?
Because I make the choice to game daily does not make my life any less meaningful. I develop relationships with people in the game and form a sense of community. Sure, it is obscure but there is still an entity behind who I interact with.
What else should I be doing with my time? I have a large friend-base. I sing. I see my mother regularly. What else do I need?
Reality and the game reality are different. However, the gaming realm is not a fake reality; it is just seperate, it still exists. It is just not the all-encompassing reality. This does not make the subordinate reality invalid.
Though, the most fun thing about many people's posts is that they cannot prove that their perceived reality exists while they bash "fake realities."
Life is a game my friends.
I am working on attending UC Berkeley with straight A's. I have a very committed relationship, a job, and a subscription to WoW. I spend my time doing what is fun for me. I have been a gamer since I was five and I have some great memories. So the person I am playing with is across the country, does that make the friendship false?
Because I make the choice to game daily does not make my life any less meaningful. I develop relationships with people in the game and form a sense of community. Sure, it is obscure but there is still an entity behind who I interact with.
What else should I be doing with my time? I have a large friend-base. I sing. I see my mother regularly. What else do I need?
Reality and the game reality are different. However, the gaming realm is not a fake reality; it is just seperate, it still exists. It is just not the all-encompassing reality. This does not make the subordinate reality invalid. It is just not the all-encompassing reality. This does not make the subordinate reality invalid.
Though, the most fun thing about many people's posts is that they cannot prove that their perceived reality exists while they bash "fake realities."
Life is a game my friends.
"It's not close-minded to realize the danger of MMORPGS. Everyone I know who plays WoW doesn't just play a couple hours a week - they spend more time in the virtual world than with their friends/family, at school, or sometimes, as someone before me said, even sleeping. Arguing that WoW isn't a bad thing is like a drug addict saying people against drugs are close-minded."
How is it really all that differnt from how much time people spend in front of the television. At least they are interacting on some level with mmorpgs.
"It's not close-minded to realize the danger of MMORPGS. ... they spend more time in the virtual world than with their friends/family, at school, or sometimes, as someone before me said, even sleeping."
Then their friends and family shouldn't suck so much. Who'd be playing a game if the alternative was more appealing? You think WOW is evil? No, the rest of their life is evil and the only reason people think it's bizarre to want to escape it is because they haven't tried WOW yet or they don't have crappy friends and family.
I love the ... "everyone I know" type of rational. You know the 2 million people who play WOW? I play WoW. I play about 4 to 5 hours a week. It's a fun game. I play with a couple of friends once or twice a week at the most.
That being said. I fear this game a lot. I know I have an addictive nature and that's why I play it in such extreme moderation. I've read about those crazy folks who died, let their children starve etc. over this game. Thats just sad. I quit playing for about 4 months after I read a couple of those articles. It just made me sick. I'm back in the world (of Warcraft) now and I'm enjoying it.
Here's the way I see it. It's like beer. One or two, once or twice a week isn't really going to hurt you. Too many beers too often and it'll kill you and possibly the people you love. Also, some people like the taste of beer and some don't...I think it's more of an acquired taste, give it try...if you don't like it...don't drink it. If people need help quitting help them, if an intervention is needed...intervene.
Just be careful not to make blanket statements that will hurt feelings and just cause people to fight.
And last but not least...typically you hear stories about the stupid people...the ones who take it overboard. Their stories are more interesting. No one wants to hear about the guy who has a life and only plays the game in moderation on the side. Where's the fun in that?
I'm the anonymous poster above. I didn't realize I posted as anonymous. I just wanted to add one thing. I like the picture. It's cool.
I'll say as soon as possible discard the real world and literally emigrate towards virtual reality. Move out. Ignore economy and real world problems. Leave the real world to the people who give a damn and the fundamentalists. I am gone, first chance.
Well the real world already is a sort of virtual world.
The whole economy concept we created is not something very touchable and the only value it has is what we think it has...
I IMPLORE YOU TO RECONSIDER!
That's a guy?
at least he is skinny : /
I know at least three people who think
I'm weird because I don't spend hours and hours playing wow. It's fun , but
come on get a life.
Doomsayers have always had something to complain about. Before WOW it was "THE INTERNET!" before that it was computer games before that it was TV, and before that they said it about radio. Before the Radio people complained about the effect Coffee was having on the younger generation and how it should be banned. Good that we didn't listen to them!
1. VR and RL coexist
2. either one takes over
3. fusion
[first] one is what we have today. our VR is very primitive and has no special I/O, .. buttons ha-ha.
once VR surpasses RL simulation it will be a matter of technology. if we can crack/hack our mind/perception of reality on all major levels they can coexist. for example if we can have a VR trip that is 5mins but in the mind 5hrs.
[second] one is the dilemma faced in weak social areas. our social system is very primitive. it is a political matter.
[third] one is ultimate end _solution. we would call it argumented reality today.
further keys
* Fusion of Silicone and Neurons
* Nanotechnology / Synthesizing
* Mind Agents
* Mind/Body Disconnect
* Singularity (technological..)
projection
1. we get to a point where multimedia cannot get any better and we stay there until next step.
2. the NET reaches a status of perfect communication system.
3. we can jack into our minds conscious systems, perception and trough that perfect fusion with the NET is possible.
4. the second INFOwar / fifth world war comes to its height.
5. singularity. like a virus we now spread the galaxies.
peoples dont ignore this important matter!!
if u watch this ull see what i think of wow..
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s1766080.htm
its a video game show in australia, they interview the guys from pure pwnage.. and they ask the question "what do u think about wow and how it affects ppl"
he answers, wow isnt a game. its like that the person playing it is like 'looking after a pet'.. and as the pet grows older they grow stronger with the pet as in the terms of relationship..
now thats something scary to think about.. watch the small clip taken from the interview and ull get me more..
pzzzzz
great picture, weak subject matter..
I've seen that interview before... he said its a hobby... and thats all it really is to me.
can anyone tell me how to get past Razorgore?
also WTB +15 agi.
Huah !
"Your lights are on, but youre not home
Your mind is not your own
Your heart sweats, your body shakes
Another kiss is what it takes"...
Iam remembering an interview with Raúl Rojas, who is a professor for AI at the Freie Universität in Berlin/Germany(more info here: http://page.mi.fu-berlin.de/~rojas/)about the possibility of Data the android from StarTrek. You know, switching on/off his emotions.
His reply was: "Such a complex intelligence without emotions would be rather unlikely, cause there has to be a immediate relation between intellect and emotion."
Guess there is a similar immediate relation between body and mind.
powerful image, 60% sadness, 40% paranoia
I'll just state for the record yes I am fat, yes I do play WoW, and no, I don't play just WoW. @ the fourth statement from the top from anonymous: everyone has their addictions and escapes. So you don't play video games. Do you drink alcohol? do you party? watch TV excessively? my point exactly. Lay off the gamers already. Everyone already wants to blame their problems on video games.
I say it is a waste of time. As 99% of games. Just those involving mainly thinking or puzzle solving are of some value to me which are basically just brain excerices.
For me all of you gamers are just terrible victims or even slaves which found themselves in this situation just because of difficulties in finding your place in real life. That's the problem: games don't seem dangerous at all and not many gamers think of themselves as slaves. Even if some do, it doesn't bother them; they agree for this type of slavery because it doesn't seem to pose a threat. What's more the game developers do a heck of a good job into convincing people to switch at least partially to the virt reality.
I'm actually a bit worried about the social problems this "game-addiction" phenomennon could bring.
I am myself a heck of a geek (in the meaning:tech-oriented person :)) though I excel at sports. I've played many comp games when I was a kid/teenager but now if I get tempted into playing I get real mad at myself for wasting my time. And believe me I'm not telling you all this just for stupid flaming.
"I was a victim of a mmorpg myself and it was/still is very hard to stay away from it."
you weren't a victim, you were just too weak willed to balance your real world commitments with your gaming. I play WoW, you probably guessed, but I also go out with my mates, read a couple of books a week and work over 40 hours a week, If I don't have time for WoW in the day I don't play it, its that simple...
Theres a South Park episode about self-perceived 'victims' be it of alcohol / drugs or video games, suggest you watch it, but realise that as you're laughing you are laughing at yourself!
from my experiences and observations only here is my take on all this,
i picked up wow a year ago today. i stopped about 3 months ago
i got introduced to it at work where a good 15 out of 25 employees played, i quickly got my gf into it, and her sister into it, and eventually my dad into it. while i was still playing i'd never felt so strongly the feeling that I was somehow acomplishing something by playing, even though i wasn't. its not never about escapism, it's about perceived progress.
everyone wants to make progress in their life, but playing wow isn't real progress, it's just 1's and 0's on a magnetic disk somewhere in California. So people argue things like "you don't need to make progress while you play" or "it's no different than watching TV for X hours a day" or even "I am making progress by developing communication skills"
to which i have to say (answered for the most part in order)
Yes your right, you don't have to. you don't have to do anything to help make progress for yourself or the world. go ahead and play. not that posting on a forum about a video game is making the world a better place. but your not really accomplishing anything. i don't go around righteously defending the large amount of time i spend on the internet as something that "you don't understand if you don't play." seriously, if you stop and think about what you are doing, what are you doing with those 4 hours a day.
and for those of you comparing it to television...well television is is the crown jewel of wasted time, but that still doesn't mean spending time playing wow is somehow good for you when compared to WoW. Thats like saying, "well at least i'm not strung out on coke" when your strung out on heroine. don't do either. go support a local musician or artist. watch a film that provokes discussion, or a documentary that educates you on another part of the world. make yourself muffins, feed birds at a park. do jazzersize. you can enjoy your time and still feel like you've progressed as a human being
and yes games are fun and they do, on a whole, help develop things like hand-eye coordination and reaction time, but the whole building communication skills thing is TOTAL BS. Think about it, think about anyone you know who plays and can you honestly tell me that they are better communicators in real life because of the time they have spent playing with others online in wow. I can't, and I have at the very least 20 on my phone that i know well, who play or have played WoW alot, and NONE of them are better communicators because of it. If anything, they are worse, cause it's all they talk about way too much. My own dad is annoying the crap out of me always talking about some stupid item he just got. and my coworkers have to update me on all the armor sets and class reviews 3 months after i stopped playing!!! shut up, i don't care anymore, neither does the rest of the world
So people might even say something like "well i may not develop RL communication/social skills, but i am developing online/electronic/VR communication skills" or something along the lines of "everything will be like the Matrix eventually" or "who says real world accomplishments are better than VR accomplishments?
If it ever gets to be like the Matrix while i am alive, kill me. because the real world in the matrix didn't really look like a world i want to live in. "well who cares if you can get plugged in and the VR is better" yeah, and i'm sure if we all pretend everything is better most of the time, it will make up for how shitty we feel when faced with reality for the other times.
and you know why real world accomplishments are better than VR ones, cause they are tangible. you can touch the plant i grew, you can receive it's oxygen to help you breath, or use it's roots to cure a disease. you can't erase real world accomplishments because they are or have the ability contribute. you don't even own anything you acquire through WoW accomplishments, blizzard owns it all, every last 1 and 0.
the people that i know that still play don't seem to do much except that. they have varying level of other personal success, but for the most part, they go to work, they come home and play, then repeat. they occasionally get out, but when they do, they just seem like they wish they were home playing because "such and such is going on right now." some seem happy, some seem bored, and some seemed depressed. it depends greatly on the person before they started playing
i used to be one of them, i went through all the different stages and felt good and bad about how much i played for the duration of my subscription. but it really clicked when one day i accidentally deleted my level main character.
last time i had checked i had been logged on for somewhere around 25 days time over a period of 9 months or so. 25 days i spent in that game. "building relationships" and "having fun" thinking i was accomplishing something. and it took less than a second to erase it all. i guarantee you i wasn't thinking "well i had fun just playing it" and i dont know anyone who would.
balance and moderation are the key to most interests or hobbies, but games are different because of the amount of direct interaction. group that with never-ending goals and social elements and you have something very capable of one-demensionalizing a persons life very quickly
i can walk down the street and and talk with real people on my way to work, where i make real products that can be used, or write a letter to someone far away to read, and listen to band make real music by plucking strings together in harmony.
and the end of the day, or hour or minute or second, what i have done is done, you can't erase it period. the same can't be said for WoW. it's all fake, so stop making excuses and trying to say it all a matter of perspective. it's a matter or your perspective is skewed when you play that game. just like drug addicts make excuses and say they is nothing wrong, so do WoW players, and they don't even notice other parts of their life dwindling
quitting was the best thing i ever could have done for myself. WoW is fade,a nd dangerous one than that. Your probably safer picking up backyead wrestling for your free time.
feel free to contact me if you are interested in further dissussion on the topic, and as i am not a lame ass hiding behind a viel on anonymity
Wow is great.But that doesn't mean I play it everyday, or I play each day more than 1 hour, or I just leave it for 3 weeks for a nice vacation somewhere, or that I don't hang out with my friends, etc. It's a great game, very fun to play, but not a replacement for the real world.
I don't know what people are talking about. I have multiple 60s on WoW, I have a great job in the IT field, have a girlfriend that I just moved in with, go to college pursuing my Bachelor's in Internet Security... plus I go to the gym everyday. I'm a guild leader on both Alliance and Horde side on my server, and still get 8 hours of sleep a night. Tell me how this is possible if WoW is so bad?
So we are all going to turn into mummies?
Where is the picture of the "sports fan of 2030" drooling in a corner with his VR helmet which puts him right on the sidelines of every game he wants to watch? People love to bash what they don't understand.
Imagine you are 45 and you are finally beginning to realize that your youth is pretty much gone. By then, there is no WoW. You look back and try to have joy over the things you did when you were young. Two cases:
1. You did sports, went out with friends, played chess, played the piano, had girlfriends almost all the time, did your best in relationships and sometimes failed, read like insane and just overall learned a lot.
2. When you were 19, you started playing MMORPG games. You spent 2 days out of every week playing. (48 hours) You really tried to keep everything else up but you lost your edge. Maybe you got good grades but you never went beyond what was expected. You met with your friends but didn't feel like it most of the time. You were late sometimes. You definitely did not play the piano and went out less often and learned less and definitely read much less. Oh and believe me, you are one of the lucky ones in this scenario.
Stop giving good examples of WoW/life coexistence guys. The game triggers the same reward mechanism in your brain as drugs. It is not chemical and so it is easier to quit but when you are into it it is similar. Us humans can typically have 1 or 2 passions in life at the same time. If WoW is your main passion, try to justify it all you want, you WILL loose your edge in everything else. You will become mediocre. And like someone else said previously, once the server gets deleted and noone plays WoW anymore in the year 2020, it's like 15% of your skill/experience/personality pool doesn't exist.
Umm. Hello?!?! SERIAL EXPERIMENTS: LAIN??
"Use what little intelligence you have...
Consistently watching TV for 3 hours a day is MUCH WORSE than playing a Fully interactive game for 3 hours. At least in the game you are building communication skills and having fun with others, as opposed to sitting on your fat ass watching crap."
THANK YOU. Before I had a WoW account, my wife and I would watch TV every evening and on the weekends. Now, instead of spending that time watching TV, we play WoW together. She has a full time job that she excels at. I'm a senior in college and have a part time job. I get good grades and get my work done. I live in the same city as my parents, and see them a few times a week. We play every day. WoW does not affect our real lives in any way.
I'm sure there are people who play WoW nonstop every day, and I do feel sorry for them. But that's not me. If I wasn't playing WoW, I'd just be watching TV. What's the difference? I don't play WoW to "escape reality." I've been a gamer since I got my first Atari 2600 in the early 80's. For me, this is just another video game to keep me entertained. But instead of my wife sitting there watching me play (which she does enjoy), she gets to play along with me.
All the haters out there just generalize the game, compare it to crack, and generally have no idea what they're talking about.
I guess it’s a combination of things. Work was taking up more of my time and WOW felt like a second job when just one job was already enough for me. But ultimately it came down to this. If I put in 10 hours pumping out presentations for my boss, reading about mutual funds online, etc. I came out the better for it. However, if I spent the same 10 hours playing, maybe I’d get a level up out of it but when I log off the game, what do I have to show for the last 10 hours of my life. Not much.
Therein lies the problem though. I quit WOW because I would rather “level up” in life than level up in the game. By not allowing myself to devote long hours to the game, my character would never be high level or have great items or be valued by “virtual friends.” In short, I chose to pursue real life status and achievement over game status and achievement.
However, for those that do and can put in the hours and hours the game requires, the experience is quite different from mine. They join prestigous guilds, bond with people they “adventure” with, deck themselves up in really great equipment, (epic equipment in WOW are to guys as jewelry and namebrand shoes are to girls - neither gender understands why the other values it so much), etc. In short they become “da shit” in their game world. Now you wonder, “so what? It’s just a game so it doesn’t matter how awesome you are.”
My response is to guys it doesn’t matter when or where you’re “da shit” as long as you are. We love to be the guy who makes the last shot in our weekly bball game even if noone even remembers who won last time. WOW gives an outlet for that part of the male ego. For much much less time and pain than it takes to get into Harvard, graduate, get into Goldman Sachs, get promoted to director, buy a Ferrari and marry a trophy wife, a WOW player can become “da shit” in his game. If he games religously, he can get into the Destiny guild, finish his tier 2 epic set, get promoted to guild officer and buy his epic mount in 6-8 months. And once you reach that revered in game status, it just feeds the urge to play even more. Maybe in real life, the players feel like ordinary Joe’s but in the game, low level players bow down to them and their friends inundate them with excited greetings whenever they sign on.
With that kind of daily ego massage, a dedicated player just becomes more and more sucked in. He feels an obligation to the game and the players he plays with. It’s the same as living a double life. A life where you can smite down a dozen monsters with the click of your mouse or make more gold in one night playing than your entire year’s salary. In conclusion, WOW makes its players feel larger than life. It lets them project their dreams and aspirations onto a digital landscape where other “real people” respect and applaud them for their accomplishments. And this point leads to the final kicker. If you take nothing away from this essay I just wrote, at least take away this next line:
WOW is a manifestation of our culture’s love affair with instant gratification. It sucks gamers in with this promise: as long as you pay 15 bucks a month and play 8 hours a day, you’re guaranteed to become a living legend in the world of Azeroth, rich, powerful, adored. Unfortunately in real life, there is no deal that even comes close. Rising up and living the American dream takes blood, sweat, tears, perseverance, money and a lotta luck. It’s a brutally hard road which is why Blizzard (producer of WOW) is making billions betting that if they provide a much easier, alternative road, many people will take it.
I personally don't see what the hell the big thing is with world of warcraft. to me, it's just a damn video game. it's not worth me spending my whole life trying to "level up" my character just so i can say that my character is awesome and can kill any other character in the game. i definitely agree that this game plays on our desire for instant gratification, and that it's just an escape for so many people who don't want to live in the world around them. if you haven't seen the episode of southpark called "make love, not warcraft", then i HIGHLY suggest watching it, because it is hilarious.
Are you guys fucking serious? ITS CALLED SELF CONTROL!!!
Yeah. but where does he get $15 dollars a month from?
> Yeah. but where does he get $15 > dollars a month from?
Selling warcraft gold...
...obviously.
it's a game, idiots, just like any other game that people play for hours, including consoles that have games, like the NES, playstation, xbox. It's a game and should be taken for what it's worth, a game, entertainment, those of you badmouthing WoW should badmouth all games, cuz they do the same thing, this one is just more popular and has caught more media attention. And it's not just MMORPGS, there are lots of games that lots of people spend lots of time playing... I know a guy that plays Halo, tha'ts all he does, then he complains how he doesn't have a girlfriend or go out or do anything... just as an example. We should just get rid of all games and entertainment.. some of your posts are pretty stupid. get a grip.
I'd love a video game world... I'd prefer living in WoW than this reality. I highly doubt that our future will end up that way, but if it does come to pass then i'm certainly getting on that train.
And a response to this:
if if you really want to me open minded, may i suggest trying magic mushrooms once... only once.
...I had this discussion with my friends a few time. And all of us completely agree with this statement. Everyone should try shrooms at least once in their lifetime.
I fail to see how playing a video game is considered MORE harmful than watching TV. No one complains about the 20+ hours a week most people spend staring at a TV screen. At least video game players are engaging their brains and interacting with other people.
Dude, you should see 'Second Life'.
I'd need a drip, a catheter, and a divorce...
L
"I'm superior to all those losers who still play WoW. I've been there and have advanced beyond and am only trying help those who are not as quick as me."
Sorry, but thats all I see here.
"Yes, it isn't that bad for people who need a fantasy world to escape to."
So you've never:
-Read a book.
-Listened to music.
-Wathced a movie.
-Gone to a gym.
All are activities that can be labelled as escapism. As for the people who claim to be "saved WoW addicts," stay away from meth.
My wife and I play together with another couple we know. it is more of a social event than an escape. Team work is key. This artist has a point though. Some need to play the gam in moderation, not saturation.
This is for COMMENTS, Not biased discussions.
i play, but i have a life, ive got girlfriend and such, i play to entertain myself when im bored and that how it should be
everyone claiming this game is dangerous needs to grow up and get real. If someone plays it more than they sleep, then they have a self control problem and it's not the game's fault. "OMG Blizz made tis so fun I MUST play it"....get over it. Take some responsibility for your actions and stop blaming others. This society sucks because of people like this.
It's dangerous for those looking to escape from reality? Uh...so is ANYTHING ELSE! Drugs, games, books, movies, etc...
Wow. Very interesting. I was just discussing this very topic a few days ago. Gaming, entertainment and technology in general is rapidly becoming 'integrated' into our lives and consciousness...the future seemingly holds no bounds. This is a frightening metamorphosis to be sure, we are becoming less human by the day.
Being a recovering WoWaddict myself, I can attest to the startlingly addictive nature of the game. I am also (cough-cough) familiar with substance abuse and I can say there is not a whole lot of difference between a gaming addiction and a drug addiction. Your habits change, you lose sleep, you become scatterbrained, you eat like shit, you get no exercise, your 'real life' relationships fall to the wayside. My girlfriend remains quite cracked-out by the allure of WoW and this fact has pretty much destroyed our once very stable relationship.
I don't mean to preach doom and gloom, but when you step back from it - its all quite scary really. Most people play way too much and that is fucking dangerous - like anything not taken in moderation. Our society is now filled with people who feed off addictions and these ever-more immersive games fill that need. The picture at the top of the screen could very well be a crack-head sitting in his own piss.
I don't mean to bash all WoW players and this phenomenon is not just limited to Warcraft. The same can be said for television and almost all other forms of mindless escapism. Too much just aint good kids.
Like some of the previous posters, I was completely addicted to WoW, and finally quit about two months ago. It was probably one of the best decisions of my life.
There are some people who can play casually, but for people with a lot of free time, this game can consume your life. I didn't realize how addictive it was until I quit. The problem is that no one can convince you that you are addicted to it. It's something you have to figure out on your own.
It just creeps up on you. Pretty soon, all you can think about is the game. Your life revolves around it. You can't do anything else because you don't want to miss a raid etc..
I feel like the year I spent playing the game, was a year I lost of my life. One year I could've been doing something creative with my life. Perhaps it was just a phase I had to go through, or something I had to learn.
I think this is what scares me about something like WoW. The fact that millions of young people are spending their days in this game, when they could be doing something more constructive.
If MMO's really become as "epidemic" as they have the potential to be, I could foresee a future where we could loose entire generations to this addiction.
Btw, no I'm not saying TV is any better. But TV is a passive interaction. With WoW, you have the illusion that you are actually doing something with your life. In that sense it's a lot more dangerous.
Hmmm, I raid Wed and Sunday night... about 4 hours each of those raids. I spend maybe 2 hours or none the rest of the week. Think of all that TV i'm missing... or that quality time I could be having surfing other web sites like this one... I feel so addictied.. it's terrible.
Oh give me a break people.
Everything that goes wrong in this world is acredited to gameing and frankly I am tired of it. Yes World of Warcraft is addictive, yes World of warcraft has many people spending hours upon hours infront of thier computers. But show some insight.
1 No one is forcing anyone into the seat in front of thier computer and forcing individuals to play.
2. If you can't learn to prioritize your time to the point of failing our of school, losing your job, losing friends/significant other then you have some serious issues in your life that are not the fault of the game. In my opinion, these type of people are weak. It may be cold of me, it may be heartless, but if a virtual world can steal your life you must not have had much of a life to begin with. Grow a back bone and learn about priorities.
3. I play WoW at least 30+ hours a week (thats just the work week, not counting weekends). I have a 60 with T1, T2, Legendary wep, AQ40 & BWL Non-set gear and am working on T2.5. On top of that I somehow find the time to visit family, go to charity events, watch monday night football with the guys and work a 40-60 hour work week. If people can't handle the game + life they simply aren't trying.
In closeing stop blaming tertiary things for the faults of the individual. If you want to play the game/quit the game well.../clap.
If you have a kid, don't raid 12 hours a day. If you have class to go to, for godsakes GO! If you have a job, put your priority there before your virtual sword. There are things in life that are the responsibility of the individual and no one else.
Oh shit cartman lost weight!
The last of the Sane said...
"i play, but i have a life, ive got girlfriend and such, i play to entertain myself when im bored and that how it should be"
Screenshot or it didn't happen
I went out drinking last night and sprained my ankle while staggering home. I shoulda played an MMORPG, then my ankle wouldn't hurt :P
I too once played WoW 40+ hours a week and thought the same way as many junkies in denial still do.
"It's just a hobby, it's better than sitting in front of the TV, if it wasn't this I'd just be wasting time doing something else, I just play it ecause it's fun."
Sure those arguments sound reasonable...until you stop and are honest with yourself.
How many times have you been so into watching TV that you skipped class/work? How many times have your buddies pressured you into spending an additional 4-6 hour chuck of time with them, and if you refused, did they guilt trip you? Is there a system in place in any of your other hobbies that punish you for not making that hobby your number 1 priority 3-4 nights a week (dkp/mandatory raid attendance)?
Listen, if you play WoW a couple hours a week, you're fine. By definition you are a casual gamer. Alas, WoW is only superficially designed for casual gamers though. Sure you can PvP, but you'll be pwnd by hardcore gamers in their T2.5 or R14 gear. Sure you can PvE, but have you noticed how the endgame connent is designed for progression? You need to get better gear by doing longer instances, then raids, and then grind fation and more raids, so that you can get better gear to kill the harder bosses with drop better gear which you need for the next bosses, etc. etc. etc.
The game is designed for one thing: to turn casual gamers into hardcore gamers, and at that it succeeds very well.
With all that said, I do conceed one argument: "What makes success in a virtual world worse than success in the real world?"
That is a highly subjective question. If you sincerely are happy that you got a new purple or orange, and really enjoy riding around IF or Org being envied by others, then great! WoW is definitely for you. Find a job with minimal time commitments, perhaps meet and marry someone who shares your passion for WoW, or who is so dim that he/she can be satisfied by a relationship consisting of seeing just the back of your head as you sit at the computer for the majority of your free time. If you honestly want that kind of life, then go for it.
I and others like me have realized that WoW is just a time sink, and that success in it is not the kind of life we want. I play games because I am competative and like to win. You cannot beat WoW, you cannot be competative in PvP unless you invest ever increasing amounts of time to gear up. I refuse to play a game that rewards only time, and not skill or intelligence.
Right, nobody has ever skipped work watch a movie. And if they have, maybe they do have a problem. But if you look at the hours I spend in WoW, compared to the hours the average person spends watching TV, they are quite comparable and WoW is a lot less expensive than cable.
Which of course is a fallacious argument, because maybe both TV and WoW are bad things, but honestly, its none of your damn business how I spend my off-time. Its not even any of your business whether I lose my job and screw up my life because of an addiction. But, if it makes you feel superior that you don't play wow, and that the people who do so are wasting their lives, who am I to stop you?
I can think of plenty of other "addictions" like gardening, painting, crossword puzzles, scrabble, playing music, that people think of as productiv. Lets have a little perspective. WoW is just another hobby, and just as prone to imbalance if someone has an addictive personality to begin with.
Yea I kinda feel bad for the people who put there lives into this game... It's claimed many people
Here's an idea. get a hobby that gets you out of the house and doing something productive. Go to the gym, lose some weight, learn how to talk to people face to face. OR just sit in front of your PC (no different from the TV) and eat your potato chips, drink your coffee, and watch yourself get fatter. That just means less competition for me with women and jobs. Yes, please enjoy you WOWness so you can be pwn3d by me in the real world. You'll know me as the guy stealin your job and piece of ass...
HAVE FUN!
Oh the pic rox by the way. Kinda looks like me if he was more cleaned up and got his hair cut.
For some, it's an escape from the mundane that is their life.
Here's my typical day:
Up, shower, drive 40 miles through lovely traffic to arrive at my cell.
The 6ft x 5ft cubicle within my ten story windowless building where I will spend the next 8-9 hours of my day.
Leave work, ( it's quite dark outside ) and drive the same 40 miles home. It's pretty late already, but by the time you grab some food, and get everything put up it's most folks bedtime.
Wash / rinse / repeat this weekly.
It's nice to log into something like WoW and lose yourself in a virtual reality when the real one is beyond hope.
Reality is: the aforementioned work schedule, nothing but political ads on TV atm, Terrorism, who are we declaring war on this week ?, laws getting passed to ' protect the children ' or ' get the terrorists ', companies going bankrupt and dissolving retirement pensions, the ever increasing cost of living, gas prices at an all time high while our typical oil companies declare yet another record profit for the quarter, etc. etc.
With all the misery and depressing crap to deal with in reality, little wonder why I prefer to log in and forget it all even exists. . . .
Lmfao, but you don't really know what message the picture is trying to give. Like someone else before me said, this could be all he has, or he may have lost it all playing this game.
We shall never know.
Here's a thought:
In the grand scope of things is there any difference in being successful in a game such as WoW and being successful in life ?
In the end, when the WoW sensation has passed and folks have moved on to another game, everything you've done within WoW is pretty much a moot point.
Reality, in my opinion, works the same way. Instead of some epic spork of a$$ kicking, you have a nice home, car, toys, family, etc.
However, once you reach the end of your life and pass on, will anything you did really matter ?
Once you pass on, is there any difference between obtaining virtual success and the real thing ?
My opinion is no. You're likely to be forgotton just as quickly either way.
dopamine withdrawal is a bitch.
This image seems to be a continuing theme of Techno Doomsday naysayers...
I just don't understand why ppl are saying WoW is addicted I mean you can get addicted to every single game if they wern't so long.
ppls must regonise that it's just a game. yes you can get addicted but you can taht by other game to. That's just mine oppinion. Anyway only greedy ppls are addicted ot the game
who is paying for the power, the room, and the account?
I was just notified this afternoon that my image was used here. I'm glad it's circulating, and that it's communicating what I intended. =) Thanks for the air time, and for linking back to me, though I would have appreciated credit by name. Have a good one.
[quote]Where's the difference between playing WoW for 2 hours (...) or having sex for 2 hours.[/quote]... somebody says...
My friend, ... it's not possible to explain it for you. You should discovery it by your self...
...like matrix... :P
I'm horrifically addicted to this game, but that's just ok with me.
Heroin addicts are "OKAY" with their addiction too.
The fact is that some things are addictive - and some people are easier to addict - and behavior patterns are part and parcel of addiction. More classic and recognizable addictions, like those involving alcohol, heroin, crack, are obvious.
This is a subtler - but no less devastating - addiction.
What happens in addiction is that the reward behavior - drinking, taking drugs, playing WoW, induces the mental state of a reward, and those reward pathways become habituated - or strengthened. In the long term, they become so strengthened that the ability to be rewarded by ANY activity OTHER THAN the addictive one diminishes.
So - to get happy again, the addict HAS to engage in the addictive behavior; to experience the reward effect, the dopamine. This behavioral component is something that is separate and distinct from any physical dependency that develops due to the addiction, lots of users kick heroin, are clean and sober - and then relapse. Why?
They have rewired their brain. To undo this habituation damage a lot of time must pass. A LOT.
I was reading some of the arguments about the gaming world versus the real one. To those who ask why we should not live in a false world where we can have anything we want I ask you this: have you ever left your room, left your home town, gone out into the world, explored, looked for a purpose, deveoped a talent? Researched culture, music, poetry, art, and history? Decided what your contribution to the world would be? Spent time in nature, not seeking anything but appreciating and loving that which we have? Savoring the taste of food, the warmth or the coolness of the weather and the prescence of other people? Being grateful for not only the good, but the chance to learn from bad? It's nice. Call a hippie or a noob or whatever, but it really beats the hell out of any game ever made. Thanks for listening.
I like the picture, by the way. Powerful. Kudos to the artist.
my bro plays it.. and he will stay in his room all night. he would never come out if he didnt have work. all b/c of WoW. but i just wanna' play for fun.. i know thwe difference
wow licks donkey balls
wow licks donkey balls
What a bunch of fucking retards. People have been playing video games and doing other non productive recreational activities for decades now and WoW is not special in any way. If people are enjoying what they do, then who the fuck are you to say what is right or wrong about it? Get your head out of your ass and get over yourself, just cause you deleted your character and quit a game doesn't make you any better than anyone else, in fact it makes you worse than them because you have a superiority complex, and this makes you scum. Fuck off.
lol... obviously touched a nerve with you then ;p
- quote -
What a bunch of fucking retards. People have been playing video games and doing other non productive recreational activities for decades now and WoW is not special in any way. If people are enjoying what they do, then who the fuck are you to say what is right or wrong about it? Get your head out of your ass and get over yourself, just cause you deleted your character and quit a game doesn't make you any better than anyone else, in fact it makes you worse than them because you have a superiority complex, and this makes you scum. Fuck off.
- end quote -
Quoted for truth.
Ironic how one can be more at peace in a virtual world, than in the real world.
I've travelled around the world, been to 35 countries, spent 20 months travelling the world. I've played video games for the past 25 years, and will say that playing wow is like travelling the world on the cheap, without leaving home. Its also like playing most video games that have sucked up my time over the past 25 years as well. The difference is that there has never ever been a game with as much new content as World of Warcraft. It was new for a year, not just escapism that most people use, such as watching tv.
I agree its adictive, it took a year from me. However, it was enjoyable, saved me pile of cash for not going out.
It did interfere with my social life, I was ok with it at the time. Now that i'm not playing anymore I don't regret the missed social occasions.
I had fun. But they are addictive, like the internet, sex, drugs and partying. One must keep up the ability to generate cash.
Robert Heinlein had a book with a character that starts off ripping his connection from the world net. The Character was about 70 years old, he was having fun, hanging with friends in the cyber world. The difference from real life friends is? Foretelling?
We can play with just a headset? Cool. We'll also not age? That is a kid and it's supposed to be 30 years later? Sign me up.
Everyone is in control of their own life. STFU! Your opinions are simply that, just opinions. Nobody has any right speaking for other people. Play or don't play. Keep your opinions to yourself because they don't do anything for anybody that already has their mind made up. Worry about yourself.
My husband is addicted to gaming. World of Warcraft, specifically. His mind has dulled and he's become socially boring. He's only intellectually keen when he's defending his right to play, and then he's sharper than he's ever been.
I earn the bulk of our money, I cook, I do the groceries, do the minor house repairs, coordinate car repairs, pay the bills, make sure the mortgage is covered each month, do the recycning, the garbage, and undertake the major purchases. Laundry. Diswasher. Daycare drop off morn and aft. Holy hot damn I'm supergrrrl. And I'm tired.
We have a two and a half year old girl and maybe another on the way (I'm afraid to do a pregnancy test, and just as afraid to share the results with him. As long as he doesn't know, the decision to abort will be just mine to make). And if he doesn't stop gaming, I'm outathere. I just have to figure out the logistics. Dividing the assets. Who moves, who stays. And custody of our daughter of course.
I've been fighting this WoW beast for 2 years (yep, since baby #1). Like any addict, he sees that the basics are covered: He cleans up after supper, he plays with our daughter, he goes to work. When I talk about what WoW is doing to us, he says it's how he relaxes then accuses me of not loving him and not being supportive.
Meanwhile, I've gone through a major depression, I've gained 20 punds, I've lost 20 pound (and he didn't notice either). My contemplations oscillate between suicide and leaving him. I think leaving would be the healthy alternative. I'm scared of the prospect of being a single parent. And I think staying in this decayed relationship will destroy me.
Which to choose, which to choose....?
There's great debate on whether online gaming is an addiction or not. All's I know is that it's destroying this family. He offers me little to nothing anymore, and he once used to be my best friend. This is so sad it rips my heart apart.
Suggestions?
Britt
britt@victoria.tc.ca
WoW to me, is just the beginning of a worse drug. The fact it has no end is just a mere glimpse into a Star Trek Holodeck-type Hell. You can actually LIVE in this artificial world and forget your all worries.
I'm reminded also of Spider Robinson's Deathkiller, where this woman was plugged into this device that gave her untold ecstatic pleasures. She was totally out of it, like a heroin addict.
I don't think addicts today would be able to say "No" to those artificial realities in the future. What we addicts can do today is say "No" to the precursors (Wow), in hopes that it will make a step towards a stronger person with more self-disclipine in order to resist the draw of an artificial reality. It is to ensure that we do not collapse as a society from dying in an artificial paradise.
That is why I play these games: I immerse myself into a fantastical paradise, beautiful colors and scenery, doing everything to become powerful, crushing monsters, being in a foreign land. Thats what got me hooked into WoW, D2, Starcraft, and even Quake2.
But what is an artificial paradise?
Hell.
WoW is pure evil!
One thing makes me stop playing WOW is the fact that IT DOESNT REQUIERES SKILLS AT ALL, its all about of repetitive gridding, specific task in a party and having the better gear. Of course to be a "good" player you need insane amounts of times. I have beeing playing games since the first Nintendo, and it always was fun, really some long night with friends while child playing mario kart and stuff.. but it wasnt like this, u just move on to the streets to keep playing there. Those games dont have the dark aura that WoW has. I keep playing games just weekends with long time friends , we play Warcraft III or Counter Strike a games tha actually requires some skills, some strategic thinking and teamwork, aint saying they are productive or they are gonna make you a better person, cos they WONT!! but anyways they are games that you can play for and 1hr have fun and then Move on!!
the poin is that u can buy warcraft III, counter strike or even battlefield and just play it with people who has years playing it, and you will be in even circunstances, Theres no LVLS there just skills, now thats a game! the fact of WoW you have to "work" to reach some virtual status to play in an even match, thats not a game..
This is what made me quit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPA-LjSIlsM
amazing video
I still play video games, mostly handheld. But I'm an old guy, father of three, and don't have time for WoW or anything like it. If I were 20 years younger WoW and my bogn would probably be my best friends though.
Still, in the scenario proposed by that picture, someone's gonna have to pay the electric bill.
But I am glad to say that I doing a good job staying away from video games and concentrating on the more important things of life, the real world.
...Like pretending to be engaged in social discourse by throwing an anonymous comment while hiding behind your computer screen?
What is the real world really?It's a big game and the more you think you've got it the harder the rules become.I spend a lot of time infront of the pc in general,I play WoW,but I do not find myself an adict.Whatever people say.I just know this is how I want to spend my free time.I find the game a great stress reductor,because I still have a real life and I work and study.I have not found a balance between it all,I just escape from my bad energy by logging in my chars.The people that really have some addiction to video gaming are people that cannot handle this stress and negative energy.The person who draw this is obviously narrowminded enough to think that basket cases are what all we gamers look like.The fact that you can't escape from your addictions just show that you arent strong enough to conquer your own lives and be the masters of it.You will most likely end up alcoholics or junkies.Everyone needs to unwind,I found my way and I'm sticking to it.Tell me whatever you want,but I do not find that my mind has dulled from WoW,nor have I stopped having other hobbies,or loving my family or having a real life all together.What am I then?In your picture I am the basket case.
I've said all I wanted to say.Scorn me,agree with me - whatever I couldn't care less.
I had been playing for about 9 months and had a couple level 60 characters. When I first started playing WOW, I would play about two hours a day in my spare time. In March my spare time away from WOW was a couple hours a day and I would only sleep every other day.
From my new blog http://wowwithdrawl.blogspot.com/
I'm posting allot of stuff on my former addiction to WOW. It was pretty bad for me, I almost destroyed my life forever by quitting college.
wow is a game. everyone who says you need to do it in moderation is exactly right. we see the people who play this game 10+ hours a day as freaks or addicts, but when you think about it, are they really that different from the guy in the gym who works out constantly and only thinks about weight training? are they different from the guy who ignores family and friends to hide behind math equasions? if you think about it, the people who do those kinds of behaviors are the same obssesive escapists that you claim all video game players are. yes i agree that anybody who plays any game for over 10 hours a day needs some help, but so do the guys who are doing more "acceptable" activities. in case you are wondering, yes i play video games and sometimes catch myself doing marathon runs of 4 or 5 hours. its not healthy i know. i also realize the importance of healthy interpersonal relationships and the need to get out into the real world. as ive been saying the key is in moderation. so to anyone who is in love with this game or any other addicting activity i have this to say: go talk to people. not on aim, not on the phone, but face to face. spend some time in the "real" world, and just stay in touch with you families and friends.
That picture is haunting.
It is also silly. It should be hanging right next to another picture of some fat ass sitting on a couch watching law and order or survivor with his eyes gouged out.
How many hours of TV are watched by the average American?
World of Warcraft is the lesser of two evils, as far as I am concerned.
Should I be outside enjoying life? Yes. But everyone has down time, and most people choost to spend it as zombies in front of some GD crime drama or some lame ass reality show.
I choose to say no to TV for the most part.
Instead I choose an interactive activity which fills my downtime quite nicely.
To Britt,
I'm sad that no-one has replied to your post. I gave up WoW over 9 months ago and have only looked back recently.
My suggestion is that you encourage your man whenever he does something non-WoW. WoW is how he gets feelings of value, so give him no excuse for looking for self value. Tell him he's the man when he plays with your little ones - real world praise counts for a lot more than WoW praise.
I also think you will also be rewarded for supporting him in the real world... Marriage is a two-way thing, he should know how you are feeling
Best of luck
Craig
I spend on average 6 hours of my saturday playing world of warcraft 3 from 6:00-9:00 and then again from 3:00-6:00 same thing on sunday i watch no TV except for the occasionall football game
That adds up to about 16 hours of media each week at about 2.15 hours each day thats my system and it suits me just fine i have a life i've got a 5.2 GPA a smoking hot girlfriend, and i medal on my high schools surf team i dont need world of warcraft but i love world world of warcraft
Here's food for thought. A mother of 2 little girls, one's in grammar school and the other is a toddler, plays approximately 40+ hours a week that her husband can visiblely see. Now, for that last year, the husband has fought his addiction and focused more on his family, helping his little girls know that at least one of their parents cares for them. The husband now cleans the house, does all the chores, works extra to make money for Christmas presents, and helps his little girls with their homework, bathes, etc. The wife will actually wake the husband up at 3AM when her raid is done to brag about what dropped or the drama in the guild. All this time, the wife keeps asking her husband to quest more and more with her, even though she has 2 kids.
Now you tell me, is that something that should be ignored? Is it OKAY for her to play WoW? Can you say that it's NOT an addiction?
Lol, you dumb fucktards, peolpe who play WoW, (Like myself 30+ hours a week), are fine.
As I said above, I play 30+, prob 40-50+ hours a week, I'm also a heavy roleplayer, but... I get good grades in school, I work during the week (most of my play time is at night, or duing the weekends), hang with my friends, and I'll be heading to collage in 2 years.
So, whats wrong with playin? Nothing, so long as your not a fucking moron.
(Oh, Also, I'm not fat either, 200lbs, most muscle since I do work out quite a bit too.)
World of Warcraft is a game. Get the hell over it. To all you people saying its terrible and dispicablu, GET OVER IT! It is made for people to enjoy themselves and just play with friends. Those who take it over-board is their choice. Stop trying to prevent the innevitable. Also, the only people whom can't control themselves while playing this game are overabusive on a shit-load of drugs and alcohol. They cant grasp the concept that it's a game. Also, dont blame the game, blame the parents or the guardian FOR ALLOWING THESE PEOPLE TO PLAY FOR UNCONTROLLED AMOUNTS OF TIME. As for the adult players, let them play it. Ive played with many an adult in WoW and I know for a fact that they DO go to work and they DO have a life, so GET OVER IT, AND TALK ABOUT IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS, like if your child is a fucking pot-head. MAVAV CAN BURN IN HELL!
ok, no offence to gamers, but i think most of them can muster up the energy to go to the fridge every now and then...and a lot of my friends make fun of WOW because it's not really that good, just addictive. most people play it for a while, then get a life (or a different game) and move on. WOW 'addics' get so much crap about it. give them a break, and let them move on in their own time.
Whats better, taking drugs or playing a game. Games wont kill you drugs will. And please dont start up that argument about people killing themselves becuase of games, THe number of the idiots who are dumb enough to do that are a million times less then the amount of people who die from drugs.
can I have your stuff?
when u die in the real world, so to speak, ur legacy eventually goes away and someone surpasses it, alot like breaking records in sports, when u cancel ur wow account and all ur characters die, so does ur legacy.
its not really about wasting life, its what you want your life to be about. to each his own, regardless of wether u choose to make ur legacy in the "real" world or "virtual" world, its going to die.
most people also mess up b\c they dont do what makes them happy. if u like doing acid and chasing imaginary bunnies, have at it, b\c it makes YOU happy, and YOU are the one living YOUR life, i'm not living ur life, and i like that idea.
regardless off all of this, ur gonna die, and people are going to forget u, and if they don't, they are gonna die to, and everyone is dead. so what really is enjoying life? doing what makes you happy.
yet there are so many of us leaving a post about this topic whether it be negative or positive about the message we concieve from this mere picture in our thoughts. but what if the reality of this picture actually becomes the reality of someone's life. this could someday be somebody in the real sense...like someone said before, you cannot deny the very likely possibility of this phtot..is it possible that the makers and publishers hope this is the fate and the ending of most of thier viewers? because to them anyone trapped in this so called "fantasy land" are nothing more than another buck in their pocket making them happy. i could be wrong and i understand the many or few that do not agree with what i am portarying.
But is it really that hard to believe that maybe this was just some elaborate trap set up and planned back when Warcraft or any MMO was released. to get people literally hooked?
I question this article because I myself somewhat started slipping away from the regular activities of day to day life when the expansion came out from WoW. and my friends started questioning my actions..at first of course i told them it was just a game and that i was "chlling at the house" , and "enjoying being able to spend time with the family" but in all honestly i was just blocking the world out...one day at a time.
What i say may not relate to a lot of people out there. but for the ones that do see the message that i truly want you to hear, it is only a game. And don't forget that there are REAL people and REAL events taking place that WANT you to be part of their existence.
All in All, take everything in moderation.
I guess the only other point i have to hit on in this subject is that well.. yes you only live once, and yes you are going to do whatever it is that pleases you, and yes the world will keep turning with or without you but in the midst of craziness and chaos, just try from time to time to peak your head up and look at what is really going on around you, and enjoy the things that you won't regret later in life. You only live it once.
Level ?? Human Mage, Dunemaul
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Wow (I don't mean World of Warcraft), that picture is kind of brutal.
I would just like to state the fact that WoW is a video game.
I know some people spend more time on it that real life.
Hardcore WoWer
Face it, those people are people who don't have lives. I don't mean to insult them, but people who are left out, who have bad socialization skills, physically disabled or just plain jobless/ paid for by parents etc..
NOT everyone goes to clubs everyday (or should I say night). NOT everyone has the courage to talk to others on the phone.(Meaning trying to start a conversation, but failing and hanging up.) NOT everyone gets into a nice college. NOT everyone gets a girlfriend until late in their life. NOT everyone can play sports perfectly.
Most WoW players play WoW because they have nothing else to do.
I'm just stressing the fact that it's what those people have the most fun from. How would you feel if people would start up sh** about
Quitting your sport
Dumping your gf/bf because he/she takes up lots of time
Quitting your night live
Stop watching TV
You all know those statements are true. Those people do those things because they LOVE to do it.
Exatcly. Leave the gamers alone.
I myself am a casual gamer. I have a life/straight A's (except my options) I play WoW, and i balance it out with other games. I hang out with my buds, etc... I dont see WoW any different than any other mmo except Blizzard MADE IT GOOD.
-Peace
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Why Can't Blood Elf's be warrior's??
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I'm interested in the game World of Warcraft
and later, I found I can do something more in the game world.
To be frank, in my country, many people's living level is relatively low, if they take a ordinary job, it can only afford their dayly cost
I can gather some of my friends to level up your game roles, and you give them the proper pay
And if you want to get more game gold, we can also do it for you by fighting against the monsters
I think it's a good thing for both sides. You can save your time and energy, and my friends and I can get our pay through hard work by playing the game we like, of course I should admit that the earning will be more than that they can get from the job in our country.
maybe someday when they get better jobs, they will no longer do this special work. But now, they can't afford even their flat rent... so I should help them, for I‘m the only one in them who can speak English.
I think any job through hard work should be respected. I cherish any of my friends,and I never wanna let they down...
If you give them the chance, I should thank you for them
At present, my friends are only familiar with the game WOW ( World of Warcraft). If you play other games and need our help, we can learn it quickly. I can explain the language part and control part to my friends.
I will leave my ICQ number and MSN account here, if you need our service, please contact me
ICQ: 493-736-918
MSN messager: franklqqqq@hotmail.com
I'm here waiting
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I do play this game, and I think that it is extremely fun and have no problem that people who aren't aware of what it is for themselves bash it. That is perfectly alright because if you do not have any information on the issue that makes your opinion useless. I play, but I also achieve the highest grades in my class and I do go out and I don't have an ounce of fat on my body. The reason people play is the same reason anyone plays basketball, or football, or baseball. It's just to have fun. At least every single person who I have ever come into contact with in the game thinks so. While it may not have the same physical benefits, it surely is fun. It also gives me something to do while all my friends are asleep because I am to some degree an insomniac. It is right there and very easy to log on. There are also much worse things going on in the world that people actually SHOULD be complaining about. How about genocide in Africa? How about the fact that there are actually people the age of WoW players fighting in real life wars there? Never do I see a whole group of people complaining about that, but as soon as WoW comes in, my God it's terrible! Now I am not saying that all hours of the day are acceptable, I am just saying that I don't bash other people's ways of having fun and or enjoying themselves. So excuse me for having some fun on the side, because clearly based on this blog, everyone thinks that it should be a crime punishable by death.
ok so what ever happened to live and let live as long as they are not hurting someone else everything should be peachy cause they could be doing much worse than playing an mmorpg like stealing a tank and going on a rampage and for the people who are addicted i feel for you because ive been there with the exact game but all it takes is self discipline
I play Wow and i only play it on the weekends,playin any game can be controlled wit a lil will power.
And for those people who play it non-stop 24/7,ur killing yoursrlf!It may be fun to play but tone it down jus a lil.
For all those that called it mummy wraps, I suggest you take another look. The fraying of all the clothes indicates that the person is wearing an undershirt and those "wraps" on his feet are worn socks. Probably from twitching while sitting still in one position to long. And just to add to all the quotes: "The things you own, own you."
WHO has painted this picture? May be i have a job for this one. Please send me an e-mail to mardor666@gmx.at
WoW isn't that bad.
interesting video articles
Yes, WoW isn't the worst thing in the world, damn straight. If only we could get half the nutcases out there who're running around blowing up innocent people for their screwed up causes out of their crazy groups and into a guild on WoW, the world would be a much better for it. Come on all, let's encourage the terrorists to level up a blood elf pally or a gnome tank, imagine how much better the world would be!
That being said, yes, I have given up WoW. My addiction wasn't the worst of the worst, but I was up to 30 hours a week over the course of a year. The most striking thing about giving up WoW is realising just how shallow the majority of the so-called "friendships" are when I gave up this game. It reminds me of the drug scene in that if you give it up, you're no longer part of the group and no longer considered a "friend". Personally, yes, there are worse things, but still, there's better and more important things too, so for me, WoW is not on my agenda.
listen...i think maybe for older players the game is harmful.
but and its a big one! kids like me (13) like to play and have fun... if ill take me for example
i play 3 hours a day maybe more maybe less but it dosent RUIN my life like most of you sey if your not addictid its ok...if you stop playing and move to the website and then watch movies about world of warcraft and talk about it with your friends and buying other **** of world of warcraft then your addictid...i got a friend like that... its not preety... every thing he thinks of is...WOW! so dont get addictid...but dont be afraid to play! its a great game up to a level...dont take it to real life levels...its a game not more...(maybe less XD)...
WoW is nich sow schlecht wie viele behaupten <.<
Are those gnome goggles +20 stam? Where do you loots them?
Do you can write anything else about it? Great article!
Hi ! I only want u to know my opinion to this theme...I'm an active wow-player, to be honest... i'm sure there r many people, who can't stop playin'. This is for me a fact! I see it, if i look in the mirror... sometimes it brings me down, to waste so much time, but... if i realy want to quit, i can do everytime i want to (just like smokin'....i must know...i smoke to ;)!
I think it's a very good pic up there...a mirror & warning for (specially) young-players...which r in the building-time of their minds.... don't waste your youth for an online-game.... One thing we never get back is TIME ! Never forget THAT ! Stop playin' everyday....if u want to...play once, twice a week...but please don't put cains of your door & lock up from people...
& what i want to say to the people who r fightin here....between "wow is guilty....wow is ok" this people i want say this:" Guys...cool down, isn't it the net itself that bonds so much people on the screen...the options to see, to read anything, to try @ll...think about it !"
Pls don't think i'm againt the net...i use it either...but u should think about it before judging only one thing of thousands !
Ok guys..i wish u all the best, c ya !
Haha that's a very fun looking picture..
great picture. really hit a nerve with me. glad i quit a few months ago (sold my account for $700). was old skl rank 13 warrior, always had best gear in game, played like an addict.
theres no 2 ways about it-u wanna be the best, u gotta put the time in. i dont buy all that bullsh*t "i only play 2 hrs a day". that jus means u suck IRL and u suck at the game too.unlike a lot of ppl i dont like failing at anything, and to not fail at wow=hours and hours of ur time.
jus glad i escaped the whole cogwheel system that is WoW.
Natural selection at it's finest.. you want to kill your time with some game? Fine with me. While you're in your VR worlds getting 'phat lootz,' I'll be snaking that promotion out from under you and boning my hot wife on the deck of my yacht. Peace.
Wow a lot of you are complete idiots. As someone said, you are close-minded, a very true statement. If you do not think World of Warcraft is a good thing, fine. But it does not mean that to another it has to be that way. It is all a matter of opinion. What makes people happy? Different things. If WoW makes someone happy, you naysayers are saying they should not be happy. People achieve happiness in different ways. So please stop saying this or that is the only answer. If someone wants to play WoW, let them. If someone doesn't, big deal. You all need to keep your opinions to yourself or be a little more open-minded.
That pic is straight thru the time machine
I already look like the 2030 WOW player.. and my flat as well...
It is quite scary to see how the other people look you, sometimes one cannot realise the reality.
Even so, I decided it by myself, and I dont regret.
see ive played it a little and i really want to play it more even though i know its bad but like some one said half a page above me who wouldnt want to stay in their fantasy world ?
but if every one is say hooked up to a machine in a box playing a video game directly attached to their brain who will take care of those poor saps? the out side world will crumble then they will be left with out
Bots would actually bring poor teenages to real life. They can go and visit their friends, or meet a girlfriend, while Bot will be do all the fighting and item finding. WoW is an Evil (lol, i sound like bush), and Bots are cure to our children!
OK, WoW really isn't that bad. i play it and still socialize, go to the gym, do college work and live a fine life. As does my boyfriend, who has a job and goes out often. Those people who's lives revolve around the game are just jerks and weak-minded assholes without priorities. If WoW want around, they'd find something else to get addicted to.
Any hobby can be taken too far, it's very easy to play WoW all day everyday. People who sit and play all day everyday are weak minded and would be doing something pointless with their time anyway.
If you think your friend has a problem with playing too much WoW, don't blame WoW, blame them. You can easily replace WoW with any hobby and they will waste the same amount of time.
If you don't play WoW because you feel that you are above those people who play it in someway, fuck you. If you are lame enough to post a comment/read the comments on an internet blog post you have no right to tell others how to spend their time.
Clearly Ryan has givin his life to the game, thinking hes even close to equal with somone who doesn't play it... too bad but hey 100 years from now no big WoW wont exist and no one will ever know or care that ryan did... or any WoW player for that matter. People that play WoW are giving away thier life for somthing that will not exist in lets say 20 years. when WoW dies out EVERYONE WHO PLAYS IT WILL REGRET THE COUNTLESS MONTHS OF THIER LIVES WASTED, WoW = Going to jail, think about it
@ Anon post above me.
I played WoW for a year and a half, had 80 days played, or about 2000 hours. With Blizz breaking their previous record of world PC game sells (WoW: The Burning Crusade, the first expansion) with the 2nd expansion, WoW: Wrath of the Lich King (WotLK), and, having seen a freind play some of the content, I can ASSURE you, WoW is NOT going to die out ANYTIME soon. With enough RAM and a good enough video processor, you can turn the graphics all the way up, and effectively create another little world in your very own room.
I do agree with you a little though. Someone who is clearly addicted (several hours a day) has little association with the real world. I try not to generalize, but most of the time they move through life with little thought other than the game that waiting when they get home. Atleast, that's how I felt.
So, is that enough open-mindedness for ya'll?
this picture is just GOLD. ill be sending it to all my wow addicted friends.
i hate it for the sheer fact that A. i think its a CR%P! game for a start but even if it wasnt;
B. there's nothing worse than knowing people who once upon a time used to be social (ya know LEAVE the house to DO something with others every now and again) but now will never go out becuase they are so compelled to play the stupid thing HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS on end, every SINGLE day, to get that make beleive armour or higher level etc.
Get a life guys, there's gaming then there's outright addiction, unfortunately, of the 7 wow players i know, EVERY SINGLE ONE is an addict not a gamer.
Its disgusting.
And dont even get me started on the wow addicts that never pay their children any attention because their too busy on the damn game.
good post :)
this is a game ?
this is the hell
you all idiots its a videogame nothing more and please if you think wow is a waste of your life i want you to find a gun and shoot yourself! we live in a world of alcoholics, drug addicts, gamblers, smokers, rapist, and politicians if you think wow is a waste of time the only one who is in a fantasy world is you
XD i don't think it has to be bad. I personally play in "spasms" if you will. I'll play for several hours periods for a couple of days, then not even touch it for 2weeks. This makes me a bit unpopular with most guilds, but whatever. I think the best way to make sure you don't over indulge in WoW is to realize that anyone you meet on there is no person you'll meet in real life, therefor you should not feel as if you have to keep in contact daily. - my thoughts, say what you will, and have an awesome day :]
Not everyone that plays WoW is an addict, in fact, most people who play it aren't.
Do you know someone who plays the game?
What were they like before?
Have they really changed?
Take this into mind before judging the players. The picture in this article is an over-exaggeration of the true fact. WoW is a game, nothing more than what we have played for the past twenty years. Some people find it an escape, a release. Anyone who doesn't understand this feeling shouldn't criticize. We all find our peace in something. Take this in mind.
well, the made role playing games for a reason: to role play. to live a life you know you can never attain. well, people do it to escape life sometimes, to immerse themselves in another world. unless you rather them do crack and shit for escapism. i think i'd prefer WoW as a substitute. what do YOU think??
del [url=blog.kp.ru/users/bests_znakomstva].[/url]plz[url=blog.kp.ru/users/bests_znakomstva].[/url]
Hello, I do not agree with the previous commentator - not so simple
I, of course, a newcomer to this blog, but the author does not agree
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