I think thats quite a common feeling, I think if quite a few players were totally honest one of the major reasons they play so much isnt out of enjoyment but out of a want to not fall too far behind everyone else. Something which is seemingly unique to multiplayer games that incorporate a level structure
MMO addiction?
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I think thats quite a common feeling, I think if quite a few players were totally honest one of the major reasons they play so much isnt out of enjoyment but out of a want to not fall too far behind everyone else. Something which is seemingly unique to multiplayer games that incorporate a level structure
Thanks for all the replies.
Have taken everything onboard and, for now, will give the benefit of the doubt and not jump to conclusions, but keep a very close eye on the situation. The timing of the sick leave could just be coincidence.
Where illness is concerned with my other half, I have to allow some leeway for reasons I won't go into, and his work is also more physical and not office based, so the complaints of fatigue and other issues could be genuine.
One test will come this weekend, when my sister visits on Saturday. Should the other half spend all day playing STO when we have company, I am not going to be too pleased.
Also, will see how long it is before any more sick leave is taken after this two weeks off.
I do hope it is not going to become a problem, and that I am just being a bit paranoid.
Have taken everything onboard and, for now, will give the benefit of the doubt and not jump to conclusions, but keep a very close eye on the situation. The timing of the sick leave could just be coincidence.
Where illness is concerned with my other half, I have to allow some leeway for reasons I won't go into, and his work is also more physical and not office based, so the complaints of fatigue and other issues could be genuine.
One test will come this weekend, when my sister visits on Saturday. Should the other half spend all day playing STO when we have company, I am not going to be too pleased.
Also, will see how long it is before any more sick leave is taken after this two weeks off.
I do hope it is not going to become a problem, and that I am just being a bit paranoid.
Soldato
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your girlfriend plays star trek mmo all day?
bet she is a looker
How very mature of you, really adds to the debate
On Topic:
If she is playing an mmo for the first time and it clicks with something in her psychological make up expect a few weeks of overkill but then fatigue and boredom will become a factor, if at that point the pattern continues then it is a problem but it could well all blow over when the novelty wears off.
Sounds bad but monitor the situation and see how it progresses. If you have concerns raise them with your other half and talk to them about it.
First MMO's can be scarily addictive, one minute you are starting out. The next you are casual, after that playing it every day, after that playing it all day every day. At least it isn't Warcraft. That **** will chew you up and spit you out a few years later with you wondering wtf happened
First MMO's can be scarily addictive, one minute you are starting out. The next you are casual, after that playing it every day, after that playing it all day every day. At least it isn't Warcraft. That **** will chew you up and spit you out a few years later with you wondering wtf happened
It's no different to playing 5 different games in smaller times of frame equally over a week as you would 1 game.
In some instances people confuse this with addiction, because they only see one game.
Personally, I went back to WoW with two real life friends a week ago and started from scratch, it's fun to play with them, we do play abnormal hours, but I go to college so I have to be tight with money, so staying in playing 1 game appeals to me.
It's not like I would be going out anyway, going off topic here though.
But taking time off work deliberatly to play more are tell tale signs of the start of one, or they simply like it. Usually addictions have major health problems but as long as that person maintains a decent level of health, hygiene, eats and can even work I would call it a hobbie. Gaming, love it.
Throwing the word addiction around for gaming is different, it's not like drugs or alcohol.
In some instances people confuse this with addiction, because they only see one game.
Personally, I went back to WoW with two real life friends a week ago and started from scratch, it's fun to play with them, we do play abnormal hours, but I go to college so I have to be tight with money, so staying in playing 1 game appeals to me.
It's not like I would be going out anyway, going off topic here though.
But taking time off work deliberatly to play more are tell tale signs of the start of one, or they simply like it. Usually addictions have major health problems but as long as that person maintains a decent level of health, hygiene, eats and can even work I would call it a hobbie. Gaming, love it.
Throwing the word addiction around for gaming is different, it's not like drugs or alcohol.
Surely that would depend upon what job they do and what they are ill with?
Hah. Yes it differs between people and it is addictive. I really cannot believe you came out with that.
Oh I dont know, there was that story from last week about the asian couple who got so involved in looking after their virtual daughter in the Prius MMO that their actual baby daughter starved to death.
It "can be" addictive, as I said, there is nothing inherently addictive about MMO's, I've played WoW for 3 years yet recently I stopped playing for 3 weeks simply because I didn't feel like playing at the time, before that I've stopped for 4 months and felt no urge to play what so ever, I have continued playing because I enjoy playing, as soon as the enjoyment stops, I stop.
The majority of people who rant on about them being addictive have never even played an MMO.
You have to let it take over your life, it's the persons mind which is the problem, not the game.
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your girlfriend plays star trek mmo all day?
bet she is a looker
Methinks you presume too much (to quote the OP):
'his work is also more physical and not office based'
you can say that about all addictions then. addiction to a game comes from the brain relying on a chemical high which is what most mmos stimulate through progression/leveling.
But you are right in the fact that this is usually started by something other than the game, could even be pure boredom that starts it off.
Well then you could make a case for saying sport is addictive, or knitting, doesn't make them bad.
Think about it, people who do these things do them quite often. Now they dont affect your health or social life as badly as sitting infront of a pc.
Heard of the couch potatoe? Same concept, but it is widely accepted now and it doesnt require you to put in massive amounts of time to get your reward.
I agree with this...when I started getting into MMOs I had a bit of a rough patch. Had kind of screwed up my a-levels, broken up with a girl friend who I thought I really loved and generally life was kind of sucky so I just turned to computer games (and particular to MMOs) to fill the time instead of going out etc.
Didnt last too long though because I really hate grinding so by lvl 40 (of WOW) I got bored and started to play Guildwars and then got bored of that etc etc and eventually I got bored of MMOs so I went to Thailand and just partied hard for a month. That solved the problem pretty well.
Apologies, missed that reply!
As opposed to working 9 hours a day, 5 days a week sitting infront of a PC doing accounting work.
Yep, if you're playing a game it's an addiction, if it's work you are normal!
Really? That's horrible.