How a desperate father fought demons Virtual world of fantasy adventure offers lonely, alienated young people an obsessive alternative to social challenges of real life
Jasper Hammill TWO YEARS ago, he was a high-flying IT specialist for a leading bank. Then the young Scot was introduced to a life of adventure in the magical online land of Azeroth. Today Arklore - the "virtual name" by which he wishes to be known in this story - works for a fast-food restaurant.
At one stage, he had lost touch with reality to such an extent that he was no longer in contact with his father. Eventually the only way the pair could get in touch was for his father to use the computer skills of the gamer's young brother to create a character and send a message over the ether.
Stories such as Arklore's will be told this weekend in Second Skin, the first movie to seriously portray the culture of games such as World Of Warcraft, known as WOW, in which more than 50 million people take on the characters of wizards or warriors and join a struggle between humans and orcs in the kingdom of Azeroth. Once the stamping ground of lesser spotted virginal adolescents, the population of virtual worlds now almost matches Britain's.
Having worked his way up to be head of a "guild", Arklore now leads massive 40-person "raids", battles which the whole group take part in simultaneously. He said: "Sometime I would get home from work at five and play until three the next morning. I don't feel I've wasted my life, although I'd be lying if I said I hadn't turned down a Friday night out to go on a big raid. I once said that I would never avoid social situations for the game, but I did."
Both his mother and her new husband now play the game, although his father doesn't and has tried to talk Arklore, 25, out of his habit. His father said: "He takes too much time on these games. You lose out on a social life. He's made contact with people though the game, but it's not the same. I'm a different generation, though. Perhaps I don't understand it."
Second Skin, which made its global premiere this weekend at a festival in Austin, Texas, aims to document the real-life implications of a virtual existence. Documenting stories of chronic addiction as well as of romances that blossomed during shared virtual quests, it is a work of cyber-anthropology that shows the dark and light faces of the phenomenon.
Juan Carlos Piñeiro Escoriaza, the film's director, suggests the importance of virtual worlds has become increasingly apparent. He said: "When you look at online games, you are looking at the future of our society. Over the next five to 10 years, you will start to see real and online life merge, to the point where this virtual landscape is going to be so real it will be difficult to tell the difference."
The negative view of online gaming, in which spotty young men forego all social and sexual interaction in favour of their virtual life, is not a true picture, Escoriaza claimed. His film tells the story of a seriously disabled man who has been looked after by his family all his life. In World Of Warcraft this man is the leader of a guild a massive band of fellow adventurers and holds a power status the exact reverse of his real life.
Online gaming can spark romances between shy people who feel getting to know each other through speaking in games is like falling in love "from the inside out". Their relationships are then tested in situations that would never be found in real life, such as attacks by wolves.
Escoriaza said: "What a lot of these double lives allow is the freedom to be yourself. Whereas in real life, you're tied down by what you look like, who you are, how people perceive you, how you dress. In the game you choose everything. So if you're spending 30 or 40 hours a week inside the game, being this person, what's to say it's not real life?"
One gamer, Andrew Mitchell, 18, from Milton, Glasgow, spends up to 12 hours a day playing World Of Warcraft in an internet cafe that he visits every day after school and all day at weekends. He has three characters a druid, a knight and an elf, all powered up to the fabled "level 70" status, which can take over 30 full days of play, or 720 hours.
He said: "World Of Warcraft can be a better world, because you don't get people threatening each other and you can resurrect yourself when you die. Where I stay is very lonely, because I don't have any friends. That's one of the reasons I play. You're not allowed to make threats to other people in World Of Warcraft."
Psychologists are becoming interested in online gaming. Cynthia McVey, head of the department of psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University, warned that WOW could be addictive because players become addicted to the endorphin rush they get from success.
She said: "If you were in an occupation that was unrewarding or of low status or if you feel you're letting down your friends and family by not fulfilling what you're capable of, you could get some sort of high from playing. But if you found you were very successful as part of a team where you developed a status, gaming could be something that would be difficult to live without."
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Posted by: Tommy, East Kilbride on 12:40pm Sun 9 Mar 08
These types of games and other online social networks play a big part in the lives of under-25's. As with everything, most people will be able to tell the difference between reality and fantasy, and get the right balance.
A small number of losers will become hopelessly addicted.
These types of games and other online social networks play a big part in the lives of under-25's. As with everything, most people will be able to tell the difference between reality and fantasy, and get the right balance.
A small number of losers will become hopelessly addicted.
Posted by: Interloper, United States on 2:37pm Sun 9 Mar 08
It is obvious that the author of this piece did little to fact check references to the game. I won't go into the actual game based errors, but Blizzard only claims around 10 million subscribers, not 50 million. That seems like a pretty easy one to check. However we are used to non-gamers not bothering to have a knowledge of their subject.
It is obvious that the author of this piece did little to fact check references to the game. I won't go into the actual game based errors, but Blizzard only claims around 10 million subscribers, not 50 million. That seems like a pretty easy one to check. However we are used to non-gamers not bothering to have a knowledge of their subject.
Posted by: Chris, San Diego on 9:38pm Mon 10 Mar 08
[bold]Why dont they get facts straight?
50 Million people? Last tally was the 9 million mark. Really, is research in journalism that much to ask for?[/bold]
Why dont they get facts straight?
50 Million people? Last tally was the 9 million mark. Really, is research in journalism that much to ask for? Posted by: Maddman, Illinois on 9:39pm Mon 10 Mar 08
This is a horribly biased and unresearched article. As Interloper mentioned, Blizzard claims 10 million subscribers, not 50 million. Further, there are not really 40 man raids anymore. They exist, but they are old content. Currently players go agaisnt 25 man raids.
I've seen numbers that show that WoW basically takes the place of television. My fiancee and I probably play 10-25 hours a week of WoW, but still maintain an active social life. We have however, completely stopped watching television.
And the idea that 'no one gets insulted in Warcraft' is put to rest after 5 minutes in Barrens chat or a typical PUG.
This is a horribly biased and unresearched article. As Interloper mentioned, Blizzard claims 10 million subscribers, not 50 million. Further, there are not really 40 man raids anymore. They exist, but they are old content. Currently players go agaisnt 25 man raids.
I've seen numbers that show that WoW basically takes the place of television. My fiancee and I probably play 10-25 hours a week of WoW, but still maintain an active social life. We have however, completely stopped watching television.
And the idea that 'no one gets insulted in Warcraft' is put to rest after 5 minutes in Barrens chat or a typical PUG.
Posted by: LOLZ CAT, LOLz, USA on 9:39pm Mon 10 Mar 08
LOLz! I haz no life!
Posted by: Jessie, MIssion, TX on 9:40pm Mon 10 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Interloper[/bold] wrote:
It is obvious that the author of this piece did little to fact check references to the game. I won't go into the actual game based errors, but Blizzard only claims around 10 million subscribers, not 50 million. That seems like a pretty easy one to check. However we are used to non-gamers not bothering to have a knowledge of their subject.[/quote] The author said the population of virtual [italic]worlds[/italic] , not just WOW. I'm sure he was including many other MMORPGs in that statement, based on the rest of the paragraph.
Interloper wrote:
It is obvious that the author of this piece did little to fact check references to the game. I won't go into the actual game based errors, but Blizzard only claims around 10 million subscribers, not 50 million. That seems like a pretty easy one to check. However we are used to non-gamers not bothering to have a knowledge of their subject.
The author said the population of virtual
worlds , not just WOW. I'm sure he was including many other MMORPGs in that statement, based on the rest of the paragraph.
Posted by: lies, Duh on 9:42pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Only character in the armory named arklore is level 41. Any real gamer proud of his guild would have named it.
Only character in the armory named arklore is level 41. Any real gamer proud of his guild would have named it.
Posted by: MPizzle, DC on 9:44pm Mon 10 Mar 08
[quote]"Stories such as Arklore's will be told this weekend in Second Skin, the first movie to seriously portray the culture of games such as World Of Warcraft, known as WOW, in which more than 50 million people take on the characters of wizards or warriors and join a struggle between humans and orcs in the kingdom of Azeroth."[/quote]
The 50 million figure is clearly in reference to WoW specifically, as it states 50 million join in the struggle in Azeroth.
Learn to read.
"Stories such as Arklore's will be told this weekend in Second Skin, the first movie to seriously portray the culture of games such as World Of Warcraft, known as WOW, in which more than 50 million people take on the characters of wizards or warriors and join a struggle between humans and orcs in the kingdom of Azeroth."
The 50 million figure is clearly in reference to WoW specifically, as it states 50 million join in the struggle in Azeroth.
Learn to read.
Posted by: Matt, Canada on 9:47pm Mon 10 Mar 08
"Stories such as Arklore's will be told this weekend in Second Skin, the first movie to seriously portray the culture of games such as World Of Warcraft, known as WOW, in which more than 50 million people take on the characters of wizards or warriors and join a struggle between humans and orcs in the kingdom of Azeroth."
Nope, he says 50mil just for WOW.
"Stories such as Arklore's will be told this weekend in Second Skin, the first movie to seriously portray the culture of games such as World Of Warcraft, known as WOW, in which more than 50 million people take on the characters of wizards or warriors and join a struggle between humans and orcs in the kingdom of Azeroth."
Nope, he says 50mil just for WOW.
Posted by: Giuliano, CA on 9:48pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Bah...lies, Duh beat me to the Armory. $20 says the 'journalist' made this story up.
Bah...lies, Duh beat me to the Armory. $20 says the 'journalist' made this story up.
Posted by: Sean-Colin, San Diego, CA on 9:48pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Neglecting the innacurate facts claimed in the article, this piece takes an interesting psychological perspective on Massively Multiplayer Role Playing Gaming environments.
As much as some of us gamers would rather be a Druid in real life, I do disagree that the reality of Real Life and In Game will blur in the future.
Neglecting the innacurate facts claimed in the article, this piece takes an interesting psychological perspective on Massively Multiplayer Role Playing Gaming environments.
As much as some of us gamers would rather be a Druid in real life, I do disagree that the reality of Real Life and In Game will blur in the future.
Posted by: j e on 9:49pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Yeah, obviously the author took little time to make sure this was right. Aside from the 50 million players take a look at the paragraph about Andrew Mitchell. It says he has a druid, a knight and an elf...I'm assuming the author means he has a night elf druid, not 3 characters but 1. And getting to level 70 takes 720 hours? I can't imagine that players that take that long to get to 70, obviously this author did absolutely nothing to ensure validity in this article.
Yeah, obviously the author took little time to make sure this was right. Aside from the 50 million players take a look at the paragraph about Andrew Mitchell. It says he has a druid, a knight and an elf...I'm assuming the author means he has a night elf druid, not 3 characters but 1. And getting to level 70 takes 720 hours? I can't imagine that players that take that long to get to 70, obviously this author did absolutely nothing to ensure validity in this article.
Posted by: Shinmoses, NY on 9:49pm Mon 10 Mar 08
They aren't only talking about WoW when they sat 50 million, they mean every on-line adventure game. Which is probably accurate. Log on to some online game you haven't played in years, say Diablo 2. People still play it, there are hundreds and hundreds of online games. And they are all still played. It adds up
They aren't only talking about WoW when they sat 50 million, they mean every on-line adventure game. Which is probably accurate. Log on to some online game you haven't played in years, say Diablo 2. People still play it, there are hundreds and hundreds of online games. And they are all still played. It adds up
Posted by: Pieman, Behiund you on 9:49pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Good Ideas however they all need to be expanded upon, focused, and as others have noted completely true. Source you lazy journalist! Think of how scholars write, good scholars. Stray away from the SUN!
Good Ideas however they all need to be expanded upon, focused, and as others have noted completely true. Source you lazy journalist! Think of how scholars write, good scholars. Stray away from the SUN!
Posted by: C on 9:50pm Mon 10 Mar 08
"He has three characters a druid, a knight and an elf..."
Translation:
He has a Night Elf Druid and...?
I do play this game. It can be addicting but drawing the line is up to the individual playing.
"He has three characters a druid, a knight and an elf..."
Translation:
He has a Night Elf Druid and...?
I do play this game. It can be addicting but drawing the line is up to the individual playing.
Posted by: Ben, emeryville,ca on 9:51pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Others have mentioned the gross exaggeration of the player base of the game. There are more inaccuracies as well.
[bold]He has three characters a druid, a knight and an elf, all[/bold]
I think it's more likely he has one character. A "Druid Night Elf" not a druid, knight and an elf.
Others have mentioned the gross exaggeration of the player base of the game. There are more inaccuracies as well.
He has three characters a druid, a knight and an elf, all
I think it's more likely he has one character. A "Druid Night Elf" not a druid, knight and an elf.
Posted by: Lotus Eater, USA on 9:51pm Mon 10 Mar 08
50m may have been Blizzard's figure for the total number of unique users in the game's history - that would sound about right.
50m may have been Blizzard's figure for the total number of unique users in the game's history - that would sound about right.
Posted by: idiots on 9:52pm Mon 10 Mar 08
This is easily the most inaccurate/sensation
alist story about WoW I have ever read.
This is easily the most inaccurate/sensation
alist story about WoW I have ever read.
Posted by: spitsta on 9:52pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Halfway through high school I started playing and sacrificed a good bit of my social life to the game, but when I was playing I never really thought that I sacrificed anything. After my freshman year of college I quit and started doing stuff that is worth while like weightlifting, running, joined a flag football league at my college, and went to more parties. Now that I look back I really am embarassed that I used to play... What a waste of time.
Halfway through high school I started playing and sacrificed a good bit of my social life to the game, but when I was playing I never really thought that I sacrificed anything. After my freshman year of college I quit and started doing stuff that is worth while like weightlifting, running, joined a flag football league at my college, and went to more parties. Now that I look back I really am embarassed that I used to play... What a waste of time.
Posted by: Cypto on 9:56pm Mon 10 Mar 08
The author is a NOOB and thats all. He just got owned. This article is totally biased. And it is very untrue that there is no insults. Try going to a WoW ventrilo and you will hear ALL the insults. And WoW only takes up television time as said in the post above.
The author is a NOOB and thats all. He just got owned. This article is totally biased. And it is very untrue that there is no insults. Try going to a WoW ventrilo and you will hear ALL the insults. And WoW only takes up television time as said in the post above.
Posted by: Tim on 9:56pm Mon 10 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Jessie[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Interloper[/bold] wrote:
It is obvious that the author of this piece did little to fact check references to the game. I won\'t go into the actual game based errors, but Blizzard only claims around 10 million subscribers, not 50 million. That seems like a pretty easy one to check. However we are used to non-gamers not bothering to have a knowledge of their subject.[/quote] The author said the population of virtual [italic]worlds[/italic] , not just WOW. I\'m sure he was including many other MMORPGs in that statement, based on the rest of the paragraph.[/quote] read it again:
[quote]Stories such as Arklore's will be told this weekend in Second Skin, the first movie to seriously portray [italic]the culture of games such as World Of Warcraft, known as WOW, [bold]in which[/bold] more than 50 million people take on the characters of wizards or warriors and join a struggle between humans and orcs in the kingdom of Azeroth.[/italic][/quote]
The author is referring to WOW not the whole population of virtual. The words, in which, are referring to WOW.
Jessie wrote:
Interloper wrote:
It is obvious that the author of this piece did little to fact check references to the game. I won\'t go into the actual game based errors, but Blizzard only claims around 10 million subscribers, not 50 million. That seems like a pretty easy one to check. However we are used to non-gamers not bothering to have a knowledge of their subject.
The author said the population of virtual worlds , not just WOW. I\'m sure he was including many other MMORPGs in that statement, based on the rest of the paragraph.
read it again:
Stories such as Arklore's will be told this weekend in Second Skin, the first movie to seriously portray the culture of games such as World Of Warcraft, known as WOW, in which more than 50 million people take on the characters of wizards or warriors and join a struggle between humans and orcs in the kingdom of Azeroth.
The author is referring to WOW not the whole population of virtual. The words, in which, are referring to WOW.
Posted by: KC on 9:57pm Mon 10 Mar 08
I like the elf, the knight and the druid. Is that a Night Elf Druid or is Arklore such a master of WoW he made up a new class and then didn't want to tell the author what his "elf" character really was?
I like the elf, the knight and the druid. Is that a Night Elf Druid or is Arklore such a master of WoW he made up a new class and then didn't want to tell the author what his "elf" character really was?
Posted by: cobweb, Los Angeles on 9:58pm Mon 10 Mar 08
As a psychology student and recent recovering addict of WoW, I have some insights about this I'd wish to share. WoW is the most addictive activity I have ever engaged in, and online gaming gives the strongest "psychological" (rather than biological) addiction I've ever experienced. Although I recognize that I have an addictive personality, at the hight of my period of substance abuse I was not as addicted to my drug (cannabis) as I was to the game-although they often go hand in hand. At my worst I was playing 12+ hours every day, and for three weeks I was unemployed and playing continuously when I wasn't asleep.
The addictive factors are both social and chemical, you get an dopamine rush every time you achieve success, and there is plenty of success to be had. Lauded and hated as one of MMORPG's (Massively Multiplaying Online Role Playing Game) easiest games, players are constantly being given the artificial feeling of accomplishment. It is so pervasive that groups of people who all play that know each other in their real lives will often chat about 'what they'd like to get done tonight[in WoW]'. Unknowingly, the game becomes prioritized on the same level as real life accomplishments and goals. It becomes as important to get to level 66 that night as it would be to buy groceries, clean the kitchen, or write an essay for school. What people quickly lose touch with is the fact that the game contributes nothing to their real lives in return for the effort...it is pure entertainment, but it gives the feeling that you are accomplishing something. You are accomplishing nothing.
As a psychology student and recent recovering addict of WoW, I have some insights about this I'd wish to share. WoW is the most addictive activity I have ever engaged in, and online gaming gives the strongest "psychological" (rather than biological) addiction I've ever experienced. Although I recognize that I have an addictive personality, at the hight of my period of substance abuse I was not as addicted to my drug (cannabis) as I was to the game-although they often go hand in hand. At my worst I was playing 12+ hours every day, and for three weeks I was unemployed and playing continuously when I wasn't asleep.
The addictive factors are both social and chemical, you get an dopamine rush every time you achieve success, and there is plenty of success to be had. Lauded and hated as one of MMORPG's (Massively Multiplaying Online Role Playing Game) easiest games, players are constantly being given the artificial feeling of accomplishment. It is so pervasive that groups of people who all play that know each other in their real lives will often chat about 'what they'd like to get done tonight'. Unknowingly, the game becomes prioritized on the same level as real life accomplishments and goals. It becomes as important to get to level 66 that night as it would be to buy groceries, clean the kitchen, or write an essay for school. What people quickly lose touch with is the fact that the game contributes nothing to their real lives in return for the effort...it is pure entertainment, but it gives the feeling that you are accomplishing something. You are accomplishing nothing.
Posted by: fallenbuddhist, Omnipresent on 9:59pm Mon 10 Mar 08
[quote][bold]MPizzle[/bold] wrote:
[quote]"Stories such as Arklore's will be told this weekend in Second Skin, the first movie to seriously portray the culture of games such as World Of Warcraft, known as WOW, in which more than 50 million people take on the characters of wizards or warriors and join a struggle between humans and orcs in the kingdom of Azeroth."[/quote]
The 50 million figure is clearly in reference to WoW specifically, as it states 50 million join in the struggle in Azeroth.
Learn to read.[/quote] Again - the article CLEARLY references 50million as the number of WoW subscribers. Which is inaccurate. Also, the "knight and an elf" comment...hilarious. Knights, and wizards, and journalists who make **** up! Oh my!
I no speak teh Engrish...
For the Horde
- Cimeries, 70 Rogue, Shadowmoon
- Shunpo, 70 Druid, Shadowmoon
MPizzle wrote:
"Stories such as Arklore's will be told this weekend in Second Skin, the first movie to seriously portray the culture of games such as World Of Warcraft, known as WOW, in which more than 50 million people take on the characters of wizards or warriors and join a struggle between humans and orcs in the kingdom of Azeroth."
The 50 million figure is clearly in reference to WoW specifically, as it states 50 million join in the struggle in Azeroth.
Learn to read.
Again - the article CLEARLY references 50million as the number of WoW subscribers. Which is inaccurate. Also, the "knight and an elf" comment...hilarious. Knights, and wizards, and journalists who make **** up! Oh my!
I no speak teh Engrish...
For the Horde
- Cimeries, 70 Rogue, Shadowmoon
- Shunpo, 70 Druid, Shadowmoon
Posted by: joseph schafer, salt lake city, utah on 10:00pm Mon 10 Mar 08
critique:
topic: relevant
fact checking: fail
copy editing: fail
bias against new media: check
summary: this could be on fox news, except you forgot to include a jack thompson sound bite.
critique:
topic: relevant
fact checking: fail
copy editing: fail
bias against new media: check
summary: this could be on fox news, except you forgot to include a jack thompson sound bite.
Posted by: WTF, Fail on 10:01pm Mon 10 Mar 08
All aboard the fail train!
All aboard the fail train!
Posted by: Anonymous, Pa, USA on 10:02pm Mon 10 Mar 08
I agree that long hours in front of the computer screen is less than healthy. I consider myself a recovering WoW addict - I quit after noticing that I'd spent 5% of my life to date (as a 22 yr old) in game.
I think the biggest part of this is due to the sedentary lifestyle, our bodies need some exercise to be healthy. As far as losing out on a 'social life', really? I don' think so. The world as we know it is just another kind of social construct, it may be more 'real' but that certainly doesn't make real-life interaction better than fantasy and make believe. As kids we would explore the best of both worlds, and that is what social gaming is all about. No wonder it's so fun!
I agree that long hours in front of the computer screen is less than healthy. I consider myself a recovering WoW addict - I quit after noticing that I'd spent 5% of my life to date (as a 22 yr old) in game.
I think the biggest part of this is due to the sedentary lifestyle, our bodies need some exercise to be healthy. As far as losing out on a 'social life', really? I don' think so. The world as we know it is just another kind of social construct, it may be more 'real' but that certainly doesn't make real-life interaction better than fantasy and make believe. As kids we would explore the best of both worlds, and that is what social gaming is all about. No wonder it's so fun!
Posted by: whoa, fake article land on 10:02pm Mon 10 Mar 08
What about 3 characters:
Druid, Knight and a elf... don't you mean nightelf?
What about 3 characters:
Druid, Knight and a elf... don't you mean nightelf?
Posted by: Corey, Yellowknife, Nwt Canada on 10:03pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Biased or not, the article is trying to explain how addicted people can get to the game. It's definitley not Blizzards fault thats for sure. WoW definitley has a "vegas effct" but modertion is key. With the internet age in full swing we're still figuring out how our brains will react/grow with artificial social situations. I wouldnt expect the science/psychology of the internet to stop any time soon. I also wouldnt be surprised if MMO and other game boxes start coming with addiction disclaimers within the next few years.
Biased or not, the article is trying to explain how addicted people can get to the game. It's definitley not Blizzards fault thats for sure. WoW definitley has a "vegas effct" but modertion is key. With the internet age in full swing we're still figuring out how our brains will react/grow with artificial social situations. I wouldnt expect the science/psychology of the internet to stop any time soon. I also wouldnt be surprised if MMO and other game boxes start coming with addiction disclaimers within the next few years.
Posted by: Jonathan, Miami on 10:04pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Look at all these freaks, Maggie, they're in denial!
C'mon guys, you can fight over the number of hours or the number of players, but THAT IS NOT THE POINT!
THE POINT IS: You are addicted. And you certainly become violent or frustrated when you cannot spend enough time playing the game.
Admit it to yourself if to no one else.
Look at all these freaks, Maggie, they're in denial!
C'mon guys, you can fight over the number of hours or the number of players, but THAT IS NOT THE POINT!
THE POINT IS: You are addicted. And you certainly become violent or frustrated when you cannot spend enough time playing the game.
Admit it to yourself if to no one else.
Posted by: Cyphern, 6 feet under, clawing upwards on 10:05pm Mon 10 Mar 08
In addition to the already mentioned 50 million players statistic, id like to point out the following:
[quote]He has three characters a druid, a knight and an elf, all powered up to the fabled "level 70" status ... which can take over 30 full days of play[/quote] A "knight and an elf"? and whats so fabled about the easily attainable level 70?
While some of the points in this article are valid, the level of research put into this is on par with asking an 6 yearold wow player to explain it to you, then jotting it down.
In addition to the already mentioned 50 million players statistic, id like to point out the following:
He has three characters a druid, a knight and an elf, all powered up to the fabled "level 70" status ... which can take over 30 full days of play
A "knight and an elf"? and whats so fabled about the easily attainable level 70?
While some of the points in this article are valid, the level of research put into this is on par with asking an 6 yearold wow player to explain it to you, then jotting it down.
Posted by: gatekeeper on 10:11pm Mon 10 Mar 08
"three characters... a druid, a knight, and an elf..."
or one character, a night elf druid? considering there is no "knight" class. yet. and thirty days to hit 70 is bull, i did it in 12
"three characters... a druid, a knight, and an elf..."
or one character, a night elf druid? considering there is no "knight" class. yet. and thirty days to hit 70 is bull, i did it in 12
Posted by: Not a Liar?, The Present on 10:15pm Mon 10 Mar 08
The issue is NOT that people can get addicted to the game. The issue is that this article is a poor substitute for journalism and exemplifies the fact that Jasper Hammill is a [bold]liar[/bold]. This article is made-up, fake, and full of fallacies.
[bold]THAT[/bold] is the issue here.
The issue is NOT that people can get addicted to the game. The issue is that this article is a poor substitute for journalism and exemplifies the fact that Jasper Hammill is a
liar. This article is made-up, fake, and full of fallacies.
THAT is the issue here.
Posted by: DanceOfD3ath on 10:16pm Mon 10 Mar 08
The game itself, a great time passer. I have met many people who i still talk to months after quitting. I would consider these people real friends to me. But I never blew off RL friends for a raid, or anything to do with the game. When you get to that point, there is no turning back (most of the time). I was a very active member of a guild heavy on raiding, so I had played the game for quite some time, very regularly. It is very said to see journalism like this slander the game. Although I quit, I have nothing bad to say about the game. It was amazing and kept me entertained.
The game itself, a great time passer. I have met many people who i still talk to months after quitting. I would consider these people real friends to me. But I never blew off RL friends for a raid, or anything to do with the game. When you get to that point, there is no turning back (most of the time). I was a very active member of a guild heavy on raiding, so I had played the game for quite some time, very regularly. It is very said to see journalism like this slander the game. Although I quit, I have nothing bad to say about the game. It was amazing and kept me entertained.
Posted by: Mike, Canada on 10:18pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Never mind the fact that the author of this article made numerous false or inaccurate statements, I think the point he’s trying (poorly done) to get across is there are people that have social and mental disfunctions that lead to poor decision on their part. Do not blame the game or the industry, as we all make our own choices in life. It is far easier to point the finger at someone else rather than to take responsibility for your own decisions.
For those of you unable to make good choices, here is a hint: Moderation.
Never mind the fact that the author of this article made numerous false or inaccurate statements, I think the point he’s trying (poorly done) to get across is there are people that have social and mental disfunctions that lead to poor decision on their part. Do not blame the game or the industry, as we all make our own choices in life. It is far easier to point the finger at someone else rather than to take responsibility for your own decisions.
For those of you unable to make good choices, here is a hint: Moderation.
Posted by: OMFG, Kentucky on 10:22pm Mon 10 Mar 08
1) If you are going to write, learn the language.
2) It's a Night elf you stupid ****.
1) If you are going to write, learn the language.
2) It's a Night elf you stupid ****.
Posted by: kbunch, Arizona on 10:24pm Mon 10 Mar 08
[quote][bold]cobweb[/bold] wrote:
As a psychology student and recent recovering addict of WoW, I have some insights about this I'd wish to share. WoW is the most addictive activity I have ever engaged in, and online gaming gives the strongest "psychological" (rather than biological) addiction I've ever experienced. Although I recognize that I have an addictive personality, at the hight of my period of substance abuse I was not as addicted to my drug (cannabis) as I was to the game-although they often go hand in hand. At my worst I was playing 12+ hours every day, and for three weeks I was unemployed and playing continuously when I wasn't asleep.
The addictive factors are both social and chemical, you get an dopamine rush every time you achieve success, and there is plenty of success to be had. Lauded and hated as one of MMORPG's (Massively Multiplaying Online Role Playing Game) easiest games, players are constantly being given the artificial feeling of accomplishment. It is so pervasive that groups of people who all play that know each other in their real lives will often chat about 'what they'd like to get done tonight[in WoW]'. Unknowingly, the game becomes prioritized on the same level as real life accomplishments and goals. It becomes as important to get to level 66 that night as it would be to buy groceries, clean the kitchen, or write an essay for school. What people quickly lose touch with is the fact that the game contributes nothing to their real lives in return for the effort...it is pure entertainment, but it gives the feeling that you are accomplishing something. You are accomplishing nothing.[/quote] I really like what you said. I too am a recovering WoW addict. I do not blame Blizzard at all, it was my own fault. I was also addicted to EQ1. I quit after I noticed I prioritized game accomplishments over RL. Say raiding Scholomance over and over to get the hunter head piece. After 24 runs it never dropped :(. My wife and I got on very shaky ground and I had to step back and realize it was all fake. Every accomplishment in the game that drove me was a construct and not real. I refocused on my family and exercise. I am much happier now. I do miss playing though and will probably try Age of Conan, but won't take it as far.
cobweb wrote:
As a psychology student and recent recovering addict of WoW, I have some insights about this I'd wish to share. WoW is the most addictive activity I have ever engaged in, and online gaming gives the strongest "psychological" (rather than biological) addiction I've ever experienced. Although I recognize that I have an addictive personality, at the hight of my period of substance abuse I was not as addicted to my drug (cannabis) as I was to the game-although they often go hand in hand. At my worst I was playing 12+ hours every day, and for three weeks I was unemployed and playing continuously when I wasn't asleep.
The addictive factors are both social and chemical, you get an dopamine rush every time you achieve success, and there is plenty of success to be had. Lauded and hated as one of MMORPG's (Massively Multiplaying Online Role Playing Game) easiest games, players are constantly being given the artificial feeling of accomplishment. It is so pervasive that groups of people who all play that know each other in their real lives will often chat about 'what they'd like to get done tonight'. Unknowingly, the game becomes prioritized on the same level as real life accomplishments and goals. It becomes as important to get to level 66 that night as it would be to buy groceries, clean the kitchen, or write an essay for school. What people quickly lose touch with is the fact that the game contributes nothing to their real lives in return for the effort...it is pure entertainment, but it gives the feeling that you are accomplishing something. You are accomplishing nothing.
I really like what you said. I too am a recovering WoW addict. I do not blame Blizzard at all, it was my own fault. I was also addicted to EQ1. I quit after I noticed I prioritized game accomplishments over RL. Say raiding Scholomance over and over to get the hunter head piece. After 24 runs it never dropped :(. My wife and I got on very shaky ground and I had to step back and realize it was all fake. Every accomplishment in the game that drove me was a construct and not real. I refocused on my family and exercise. I am much happier now. I do miss playing though and will probably try Age of Conan, but won't take it as far.
Posted by: jebu, Dallas on 10:24pm Mon 10 Mar 08
I'd like to thank cobweb for posting the only useful and relevant comments to this story.
I'd like to thank cobweb for posting the only useful and relevant comments to this story.
Posted by: James, Houston on 10:25pm Mon 10 Mar 08
I wonder how the author's resume to fox news is going to be handled?
Embellishment is the same thing as lieing, especially when it's pretty easy to verify/refute these numbers.
WoW plays to the lowest common denominator, as a former player i know. However, it doesn't change the way you are made up, no video game can. Anyone with an obsessive personality can be sucked into this or any other medium that is habit forming.
But sure, blame it on the game, whatever brings people to your site, means more marketing dollars, right? Good to see Scottland produces the same type of [italic]thinkers[/italic] the "news" media produces here in the States.
I wonder how the author's resume to fox news is going to be handled?
Embellishment is the same thing as lieing, especially when it's pretty easy to verify/refute these numbers.
WoW plays to the lowest common denominator, as a former player i know. However, it doesn't change the way you are made up, no video game can. Anyone with an obsessive personality can be sucked into this or any other medium that is habit forming.
But sure, blame it on the game, whatever brings people to your site, means more marketing dollars, right? Good to see Scottland produces the same type of
thinkers the "news" media produces here in the States.
Posted by: eric, Tucson, AZ, USA on 10:25pm Mon 10 Mar 08
I don't find games like this to be an issue under one circumstance: if they truly replace their social life with it. I at one point did this with a similar game, and I'm fine socially today, and I actually don't play any of those games anymore simply because I got bored with them. If you talk to people in game, and have good friends and the such it seems fine. What bothers me is people like my cousin, that play and never talk to anyone, they just tell everyone to **** off if they are leveling alone and the only time he talks to people is if he NEEDS a party to do what he has to. Thats what worries me about this, is that anti-socials do that, and then claim they get their social actions through the game when they are lying and in reality not talking to anyone.
The problem is they just look at all gamers as a general group and assume. It will never work that way.
I don't find games like this to be an issue under one circumstance: if they truly replace their social life with it. I at one point did this with a similar game, and I'm fine socially today, and I actually don't play any of those games anymore simply because I got bored with them. If you talk to people in game, and have good friends and the such it seems fine. What bothers me is people like my cousin, that play and never talk to anyone, they just tell everyone to **** off if they are leveling alone and the only time he talks to people is if he NEEDS a party to do what he has to. Thats what worries me about this, is that anti-socials do that, and then claim they get their social actions through the game when they are lying and in reality not talking to anyone.
The problem is they just look at all gamers as a general group and assume. It will never work that way.
Posted by: Amy, UT on 10:29pm Mon 10 Mar 08
WOW has to be the dumbest game ever invented. My entire family plays this game except for me. They play it so much that they can't even come to the diner table to eat diner because that game is so much more important. My older brother doesn't have a job isn't going to college and lives at home and what does he do?? he plays world of warcraft all day long. Personally I think the game should be shut off!
WOW has to be the dumbest game ever invented. My entire family plays this game except for me. They play it so much that they can't even come to the diner table to eat diner because that game is so much more important. My older brother doesn't have a job isn't going to college and lives at home and what does he do?? he plays world of warcraft all day long. Personally I think the game should be shut off!
Posted by: a steve tilly, The interwebz on 10:29pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Do some research/fact-findin
g, honestly I'm sick of people F***'ing up easily obtainable information. On a different side to the story, why dose nobody bring up the fact that it's just as possible that if it went for gaming, he could of easily found anything els to "obsess/indulge" in? People are looking at this addiction to gaming as the problem, not as the indication of a preexisting "problem". I play MMORPG's with my friends (IRL peeps), I have many respectable level characters and am in a major Guild for my server. All of this balanced with my schedule of work (I work for a major .COM) and a social life that gets me into plunty of trouble. This is not just my story, it is one of my friends and countless "b/tards" , "somefags" and anon say the same thing. Addiction was created before the interweb.
Do some research/fact-findin
g, honestly I'm sick of people F***'ing up easily obtainable information. On a different side to the story, why dose nobody bring up the fact that it's just as possible that if it went for gaming, he could of easily found anything els to "obsess/indulge" in? People are looking at this addiction to gaming as the problem, not as the indication of a preexisting "problem". I play MMORPG's with my friends (IRL peeps), I have many respectable level characters and am in a major Guild for my server. All of this balanced with my schedule of work (I work for a major .COM) and a social life that gets me into plunty of trouble. This is not just my story, it is one of my friends and countless "b/tards" , "somefags" and anon say the same thing. Addiction was created before the interweb.
Posted by: Mike, Singapore on 10:32pm Mon 10 Mar 08
You might want to correct the article. The game has 10 million people playing not 50 million. Then again, you gotta remember this is the Sunday Herald.
You might want to correct the article. The game has 10 million people playing not 50 million. Then again, you gotta remember this is the Sunday Herald.
Posted by: Dev, Canada on 10:33pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Not only is this article complete rubbish but it's typical media hysteria. I remember back in the 70's when D&D first came out and all the news and articles about how the generation of teenagers back then were all going to be lost to this horrible phenomena. Now here we are a couple of generations later and they are saying the same thing about the latest entertainment.
My question to the author and everyone else who thinks that someone who plays WoW for a few hours a day is an addict ... how many hours a week do you watch television? My husbands parents watch tv from 5:30pm until they go to bed at 11:30pm but then turn around and say my husband who plays a few hours a night is a WoW addict. Pot, kettle ... kettle, pot.
Not only is this article complete rubbish but it's typical media hysteria. I remember back in the 70's when D&D first came out and all the news and articles about how the generation of teenagers back then were all going to be lost to this horrible phenomena. Now here we are a couple of generations later and they are saying the same thing about the latest entertainment.
My question to the author and everyone else who thinks that someone who plays WoW for a few hours a day is an addict ... how many hours a week do you watch television? My husbands parents watch tv from 5:30pm until they go to bed at 11:30pm but then turn around and say my husband who plays a few hours a night is a WoW addict. Pot, kettle ... kettle, pot.
Posted by: B-Rad on 10:34pm Mon 10 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Jessie[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Interloper[/bold] wrote: It is obvious that the author of this piece did little to fact check references to the game. I won't go into the actual game based errors, but Blizzard only claims around 10 million subscribers, not 50 million. That seems like a pretty easy one to check. However we are used to non-gamers not bothering to have a knowledge of their subject.[/quote] The author said the population of virtual [italic]worlds[/italic] , not just WOW. I'm sure he was including many other MMORPGs in that statement, based on the rest of the paragraph.[/quote] Unfortunately, the author did not. If you read the last part of the sentence, it reads:
"in which more than [bold]50 million people[/bold] take on the characters of wizards or warriors and [bold]join a struggle between humans and orcs in the kingdom of Azeroth[/bold] ."
I don't know about you, but I only know of one MMO that resides "in the kingdom of Azeroth."
Jessie wrote:
Interloper wrote: It is obvious that the author of this piece did little to fact check references to the game. I won't go into the actual game based errors, but Blizzard only claims around 10 million subscribers, not 50 million. That seems like a pretty easy one to check. However we are used to non-gamers not bothering to have a knowledge of their subject.
The author said the population of virtual worlds , not just WOW. I'm sure he was including many other MMORPGs in that statement, based on the rest of the paragraph.
Unfortunately, the author did not. If you read the last part of the sentence, it reads:
"in which more than
50 million people take on the characters of wizards or warriors and
join a struggle between humans and orcs in the kingdom of Azeroth ."
I don't know about you, but I only know of one MMO that resides "in the kingdom of Azeroth."
Posted by: Leetamus (70), Orgrimmar on 10:35pm Mon 10 Mar 08
OMG 'recovering wow addict' gimme a break! Some day a REAL recovering addict is going to kick your **** for saying dumb things like that lol. O wait I guess it virtual addiction. You virtually hit rock bottom? hilarious!
OMG 'recovering wow addict' gimme a break! Some day a REAL recovering addict is going to kick your **** for saying dumb things like that lol. O wait I guess it virtual addiction. You virtually hit rock bottom? hilarious!
Posted by: Sean Giroux, canada on 10:35pm Mon 10 Mar 08
He said the population of virtual worlds, not just WOW, read the article, it's printed in english for a reason.
He said the population of virtual worlds, not just WOW, read the article, it's printed in english for a reason.
Posted by: Sean Giroux, canada on 10:36pm Mon 10 Mar 08
ok i'm dumb, i read it again
LOLz
ok i'm dumb, i read it again
LOLz
Posted by: TheTruth, US on 10:37pm Mon 10 Mar 08
This article is crap. 50 million people? a knight? If all this kid does is play WoW, his main toon is not
http://www.wowarmory
.com/character-sheet
.xml?r=Burning+Blade
&n=Arklore
This article is crap. 50 million people? a knight? If all this kid does is play WoW, his main toon is not
http://www.wowarmory
.com/character-sheet
.xml?r=Burning+Blade
&n=Arklore
Posted by: I See Addicts!, Formerly Azeroth on 10:37pm Mon 10 Mar 08
I have to admit the article's facts are a bit off, but we have to be a bit lenient, it is a complicated game with made up names. This person is a journalist, and he/she/it should be happy he/she/it doesn't know the difference between a Night Elf Druid and a Knight an Elf and a Druid (which sounds like the beginning of a bar joke).
Anyway having played WoW for several years before almost completely, irreparably and sadly destroying every single aspect of my life. And by that I mean I ended up jobless, divorced, in debt, sick... I won't even go on, it makes me sick even thinking about it.
I blame only myself for what happened to me though, it's alcohol for some people, dope for others, sex, infidelity, killing people, robbing... you name it. This is just an addiction like any other. And for someone like me, with an addictive personality, in retrospect I'm grateful I learned that lesson early on in life from a game and not from whores, Jack Daniels or crack/cocaine. I now lead a very normal life (WoW-less of course) and I am very careful with the stuff I get involved with, because I know I could end up back where I was. I think it's the same feeling any recovering addict feels.
Anyway, the article speaks truth, don't discredit the message because of a couple of errors. And if you're life is crap, you're playing WoW and you're idleing in Ironforge while you're reading this... [bold]It's time to quit and get a life.[/bold] [italic]italic[/italic]
I have to admit the article's facts are a bit off, but we have to be a bit lenient, it is a complicated game with made up names. This person is a journalist, and he/she/it should be happy he/she/it doesn't know the difference between a Night Elf Druid and a Knight an Elf and a Druid (which sounds like the beginning of a bar joke).
Anyway having played WoW for several years before almost completely, irreparably and sadly destroying every single aspect of my life. And by that I mean I ended up jobless, divorced, in debt, sick... I won't even go on, it makes me sick even thinking about it.
I blame only myself for what happened to me though, it's alcohol for some people, dope for others, sex, infidelity, killing people, robbing... you name it. This is just an addiction like any other. And for someone like me, with an addictive personality, in retrospect I'm grateful I learned that lesson early on in life from a game and not from whores, Jack Daniels or crack/cocaine. I now lead a very normal life (WoW-less of course) and I am very careful with the stuff I get involved with, because I know I could end up back where I was. I think it's the same feeling any recovering addict feels.
Anyway, the article speaks truth, don't discredit the message because of a couple of errors. And if you're life is crap, you're playing WoW and you're idleing in Ironforge while you're reading this...
It's time to quit and get a life. Posted by: Coolwhip, WA on 10:44pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Too much of anything is bad thing. If I ate nothing but apples for the rest of my life, I would probably be really sick. WoW (as with all video games MMO or not), is a form of entertainment. I haven't watched TV in a really long time, because I game instead. I have perfectly healthy social life, I am getting married in a few months and have a great job. And, what do ya know! I play WoW!
Can anyone recall the last time they read an article portraying gamers in a better light than this? I'm sick of hearing about game addiction. Yes, addiction, of an sort, ruins lives... lets move on.
Too much of anything is bad thing. If I ate nothing but apples for the rest of my life, I would probably be really sick. WoW (as with all video games MMO or not), is a form of entertainment. I haven't watched TV in a really long time, because I game instead. I have perfectly healthy social life, I am getting married in a few months and have a great job. And, what do ya know! I play WoW!
Can anyone recall the last time they read an article portraying gamers in a better light than this? I'm sick of hearing about game addiction. Yes, addiction, of an sort, ruins lives... lets move on.
Posted by: Bob on 10:49pm Mon 10 Mar 08
What terrible journalism. Perhaps check basic facts before you attempt to write again.
50 million playing WoW? Not even close.
Rubbish.
What terrible journalism. Perhaps check basic facts before you attempt to write again.
50 million playing WoW? Not even close.
Rubbish.
Posted by: Panopticon, USA on 10:57pm Mon 10 Mar 08
I haven't noticed anyone comment on the director's ridiculous comments.
"So if you're spending 30 or 40 hours a week inside the game, being this person, what's to say it's not real life?"
Uhm - it's a virtual world. Your primary mode of interaction is in a virtual world... a world that isn't actually real. How is this so hard to comprehend?
And this other gem:
"Juan Carlos Piñeiro Escoriaza, the film's director, suggests the importance of virtual worlds has become increasingly apparent. He said: "When you look at online games, you are looking at the future of our society. Over the next five to 10 years, you will start to see real and online life merge, to the point where this virtual landscape is going to be so real it will be difficult to tell the difference.""
Are you kidding me? "If I play WoW so much, it's going to actually be difficult to tell the difference between WoW and real life" What a ridiculous statement. Even a two year old could tell the difference between a computer game and reality, and here this guy is trying to say that in 10 years there will be no easily discernible difference between the two, which is to say that in 10 years, our lives will be almost completely virtual, which is just stupid.
I haven't noticed anyone comment on the director's ridiculous comments.
"So if you're spending 30 or 40 hours a week inside the game, being this person, what's to say it's not real life?"
Uhm - it's a virtual world. Your primary mode of interaction is in a virtual world... a world that isn't actually real. How is this so hard to comprehend?
And this other gem:
"Juan Carlos Piñeiro Escoriaza, the film's director, suggests the importance of virtual worlds has become increasingly apparent. He said: "When you look at online games, you are looking at the future of our society. Over the next five to 10 years, you will start to see real and online life merge, to the point where this virtual landscape is going to be so real it will be difficult to tell the difference.""
Are you kidding me? "If I play WoW so much, it's going to actually be difficult to tell the difference between WoW and real life" What a ridiculous statement. Even a two year old could tell the difference between a computer game and reality, and here this guy is trying to say that in 10 years there will be no easily discernible difference between the two, which is to say that in 10 years, our lives will be almost completely virtual, which is just stupid.
Posted by: Tidia, New Zealand on 10:58pm Mon 10 Mar 08
The issue is not is WoW addictive, but the poor journalism. They have a responsibility to research the topic and present the facts. The above story is very poorly written. If a student at school presented that they would fail. Not telling the truth = lying.
The issue is not is WoW addictive, but the poor journalism. They have a responsibility to research the topic and present the facts. The above story is very poorly written. If a student at school presented that they would fail. Not telling the truth = lying.
Posted by: NoneOfyourBiz, Earth on 11:00pm Mon 10 Mar 08
The moment I read "in which more than 50 million people" I stopped reading.
Because it's utter nonsense. Either do some research before writing an article and get your facts straight, or don't write at all!
The moment I read "in which more than 50 million people" I stopped reading.
Because it's utter nonsense. Either do some research before writing an article and get your facts straight, or don't write at all!
Posted by: Lleu on 11:00pm Mon 10 Mar 08
[quote]Having worked his way up to be head of a "guild", Arklore now leads massive 40-person "raids", battles which the whole group take part in simultaneously.[/quote]
People still raid MC with 40 people??
Having worked his way up to be head of a "guild", Arklore now leads massive 40-person "raids", battles which the whole group take part in simultaneously.
People still raid MC with 40 people??
Posted by: Pilar, Santa Barbara, Ca on 11:01pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Do the numbers matter? No, the people whose lives are being wasted matter and 10 million is still quite a lot of people to be playing pretend. I wish we could focus that energy on saving real lives.
Do the numbers matter? No, the people whose lives are being wasted matter and 10 million is still quite a lot of people to be playing pretend. I wish we could focus that energy on saving real lives.
Posted by: Noobkiller on 11:02pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Noob.. Who does 40 man raids anymore
Noob.. Who does 40 man raids anymore
Posted by: Peter Appanaitis, Cleveland, TN on 11:04pm Mon 10 Mar 08
This is insane... myself having played WoW for 3 years... since beta, I have realized exactly what this "game can do to you". I don't reference it to a drug... just gambling. I still "recreationally" play it now, but before life was just getting through school and just waiting for the main event of my day... PvP in the lands of the Gurubashi Arena, and "pwning a n00b". Lol, trust me I understand both side, but when it gets to a point to where this is all you can think about.... you (HAVE)^2189074319028
4371234187 to get a girlfriend. But for the majority of WoW addicts (a.k.a. Fuckingfaggots) That is an impossibility unless you grow up and get a life........ not in Azeroth (and for you technical WoW ****.... not in the Outlands or Kalimdor either.)
This is insane... myself having played WoW for 3 years... since beta, I have realized exactly what this "game can do to you". I don't reference it to a drug... just gambling. I still "recreationally" play it now, but before life was just getting through school and just waiting for the main event of my day... PvP in the lands of the Gurubashi Arena, and "pwning a n00b". Lol, trust me I understand both side, but when it gets to a point to where this is all you can think about.... you (HAVE)^2189074319028
4371234187 to get a girlfriend. But for the majority of WoW addicts (a.k.a. Fuckingfaggots) That is an impossibility unless you grow up and get a life........ not in Azeroth (and for you technical WoW ****.... not in the Outlands or Kalimdor either.)
Posted by: Lleu on 11:06pm Mon 10 Mar 08
I've run it a few times for sh*ts and giggles or as a fun run with the guild, we never take a full 40 though
And to Pilar, just because we play a game to unwind instead of being tied to a TV like other people doesn't mean we're wasting our lives. We play because we enjoy it, most of us know when to stop.
I've run it a few times for sh*ts and giggles or as a fun run with the guild, we never take a full 40 though
And to Pilar, just because we play a game to unwind instead of being tied to a TV like other people doesn't mean we're wasting our lives. We play because we enjoy it, most of us know when to stop.
Posted by: Peter Appanaitis, Cleveland, TN on 11:08pm Mon 10 Mar 08
LOL! Oh yeah... and there are NO "knights" LOL in WoW... there are Night Elves.... but no "Knights", lol and I just love how they talk about 40- man raids anyways.... I mean... who raids anymore, and for God's sake who pays for WoW... two words. Private. Server. Lol.... n00b.
LOL! Oh yeah... and there are NO "knights" LOL in WoW... there are Night Elves.... but no "Knights", lol and I just love how they talk about 40- man raids anyways.... I mean... who raids anymore, and for God's sake who pays for WoW... two words. Private. Server. Lol.... n00b.
Posted by: Cougar, United States on 11:12pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Woah!!! Gamers getting a little defensive, here. Article aside, ya'll need to get your priorities strait. Gaming is a waste of time. Don't get me wrong, computers are a great thing, but if I'm going to spend a ridiculous amount of time in front of a computer... I want to be making money?
Woah!!! Gamers getting a little defensive, here. Article aside, ya'll need to get your priorities strait. Gaming is a waste of time. Don't get me wrong, computers are a great thing, but if I'm going to spend a ridiculous amount of time in front of a computer... I want to be making money?
Posted by: Anthony on 11:13pm Mon 10 Mar 08
I'm sorry but checking facts is a basic aspect of writing any article. Otherwise you loose all credibility.
On a side note, yes WoW can be addicting. Anything can be addicting. Sex can be addicting. Eating can be addicting. Etc....
I'm sorry but checking facts is a basic aspect of writing any article. Otherwise you loose all credibility.
On a side note, yes WoW can be addicting. Anything can be addicting. Sex can be addicting. Eating can be addicting. Etc....
Posted by: Lleu on 11:22pm Mon 10 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Cougar[/bold] wrote:
Woah!!! Gamers getting a little defensive, here. Article aside, ya'll need to get your priorities strait. Gaming is a waste of time. Don't get me wrong, computers are a great thing, but if I'm going to spend a ridiculous amount of time in front of a computer... I want to be making money?[/quote] Not defensive, we just want non gamers to quit QQing about our hobby. I've got a full time job, a wife and 3 year old. I play after they go to bed. Lleu is not addicted.
The average American watches 4.5 hours of TV a night. I play 3-4 hours a night..... wtf is the difference?
Cougar wrote:
Woah!!! Gamers getting a little defensive, here. Article aside, ya'll need to get your priorities strait. Gaming is a waste of time. Don't get me wrong, computers are a great thing, but if I'm going to spend a ridiculous amount of time in front of a computer... I want to be making money?
Not defensive, we just want non gamers to quit QQing about our hobby. I've got a full time job, a wife and 3 year old. I play after they go to bed. Lleu is not addicted.
The average American watches 4.5 hours of TV a night. I play 3-4 hours a night..... wtf is the difference?
Posted by: MissingNo on 11:30pm Mon 10 Mar 08
Tell Arklore I want fries with my chicken meal.
Tell Arklore I want fries with my chicken meal.
Posted by: Tcc, uk on 11:38pm Mon 10 Mar 08
You'll find that people capable of interacting in real life will not become addicts of these 'virtual worlds'. I don't 'hate' people that do but if I have the choice between socialising/sex/rela
tionship and sitting in front of a computer pretending to be a wizard several hours a day I know which one I'd pick, it would not be the wizard.
These games offer social rejects a place to fit in, nothing more. I'm sorry if the word reject upsets you but if you must admit the reason you're playing these games is because you don't 'fit in' outside it.
You'll find that people capable of interacting in real life will not become addicts of these 'virtual worlds'. I don't 'hate' people that do but if I have the choice between socialising/sex/rela
tionship and sitting in front of a computer pretending to be a wizard several hours a day I know which one I'd pick, it would not be the wizard.
These games offer social rejects a place to fit in, nothing more. I'm sorry if the word reject upsets you but if you must admit the reason you're playing these games is because you don't 'fit in' outside it.
Posted by: Me, Anywhere on 11:48pm Mon 10 Mar 08
[quote][bold]jebu[/bold] wrote:
I\'d like to thank cobweb for posting the only useful and relevant comments to this story. [/quote] I second this. Knowing someone that plays WoW alot, I wish he'd get the realization also - that "You are accomplishing nothing."
jebu wrote:
I\'d like to thank cobweb for posting the only useful and relevant comments to this story.
I second this. Knowing someone that plays WoW alot, I wish he'd get the realization also - that "You are accomplishing nothing."
Posted by: wowrocksmysox on 11:49pm Mon 10 Mar 08
i played that game for 2 months. it is EXTREMELY repetitive and boring. Its fun for a while if you have real life friends you play it with but you can only do the same thing over and over for so long. It is the biggest money making gimmick in the world that take advantage of all the losers around the world with no life and no friends oh and no real life accomplishments. thats why they are compelled to playing until they get their amazing +1000 dps sword and +1000 spell wand or whatever it is that makes you feel good about yourself. and in the next patch is a +1500 sword or somes*** ha ha. blizzard is a genius kudos to them.
i played that game for 2 months. it is EXTREMELY repetitive and boring. Its fun for a while if you have real life friends you play it with but you can only do the same thing over and over for so long. It is the biggest money making gimmick in the world that take advantage of all the losers around the world with no life and no friends oh and no real life accomplishments. thats why they are compelled to playing until they get their amazing +1000 dps sword and +1000 spell wand or whatever it is that makes you feel good about yourself. and in the next patch is a +1500 sword or somes*** ha ha. blizzard is a genius kudos to them.
Posted by: Lleu on 11:54pm Mon 10 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Tcc[/bold] wrote:
You'll find that people capable of interacting in real life will not become addicts of these 'virtual worlds'. I don't 'hate' people that do but if I have the choice between socialising/sex/rela
tionship and sitting in front of a computer pretending to be a wizard several hours a day I know which one I'd pick, it would not be the wizard.
These games offer social rejects a place to fit in, nothing more. I'm sorry if the word reject upsets you but if you must admit the reason you're playing these games is because you don't 'fit in' outside it.[/quote] So Curt Schilling is a reject and doesn't fit in? Sen. Ray Tenorio is a reject and doesn't fit in?? The countless other celebrities and sport stars don't fit in? You're arguement holds no weight. It's more QQing from someone who wants to **** about something that they don't understand.
By the by, I don't play because I feel the I don't "fit in" I plsay because (shocker!) I enjoy it more then other hobbies I have.
Tcc wrote:
You'll find that people capable of interacting in real life will not become addicts of these 'virtual worlds'. I don't 'hate' people that do but if I have the choice between socialising/sex/rela
tionship and sitting in front of a computer pretending to be a wizard several hours a day I know which one I'd pick, it would not be the wizard.
These games offer social rejects a place to fit in, nothing more. I'm sorry if the word reject upsets you but if you must admit the reason you're playing these games is because you don't 'fit in' outside it.
So Curt Schilling is a reject and doesn't fit in? Sen. Ray Tenorio is a reject and doesn't fit in?? The countless other celebrities and sport stars don't fit in? You're arguement holds no weight. It's more QQing from someone who wants to **** about something that they don't understand.
By the by, I don't play because I feel the I don't "fit in" I plsay because (shocker!) I enjoy it more then other hobbies I have.
Posted by: Destroyer of Pancakes, Warsong Gulch on 11:56pm Mon 10 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Matt[/bold] wrote:
"Stories such as Arklore's will be told this weekend in Second Skin, the first movie to seriously portray the culture of games such as World Of Warcraft, known as WOW, in which more than 50 million people take on the characters of wizards or warriors and join a struggle between humans and orcs in the kingdom of Azeroth."
Nope, he says 50mil just for WOW.[/quote] Its horribly written but he doesn't mean just WoW.
[italic]the culture of games such as World Of Warcraft, known as WOW, in which more than 50 million people take on[/italic]
Matt wrote:
"Stories such as Arklore's will be told this weekend in Second Skin, the first movie to seriously portray the culture of games such as World Of Warcraft, known as WOW, in which more than 50 million people take on the characters of wizards or warriors and join a struggle between humans and orcs in the kingdom of Azeroth."
Nope, he says 50mil just for WOW.
Its horribly written but he doesn't mean just WoW.
the culture of games such as World Of Warcraft, known as WOW, in which more than 50 million people take on
Posted by: jenkins on 11:58pm Mon 10 Mar 08
I think we need to use the [sword of a thousand truths] on the haters and "recovering WoW addicts"
I think we need to use the on the haters and "recovering WoW addicts"
Posted by: jenkins on 11:59pm Mon 10 Mar 08
insert "sword of a thousand truths"
insert "sword of a thousand truths"
Posted by: Andrea, CA on 12:08am Tue 11 Mar 08
Jumping in to agree with everyone who's saying this article is a pack of lies. 50 million people? A "druid, a knight, and an elf"?? 30 full days of play??? Maybe if you have no hands and have to type and move the mouse with your feet.
The only true thing it says is that WoW is addictive. It's true, any kind of addiction can ruin someone's life. Unfortunately, tucking this fact into an article that is full of **** doesn't further your case.
Jumping in to agree with everyone who's saying this article is a pack of lies. 50 million people? A "druid, a knight, and an elf"?? 30 full days of play??? Maybe if you have no hands and have to type and move the mouse with your feet.
The only true thing it says is that WoW is addictive. It's true, any kind of addiction can ruin someone's life. Unfortunately, tucking this fact into an article that is full of **** doesn't further your case.
Posted by: Tom, Australia on 12:09am Tue 11 Mar 08
I play WoW instead of watching TV now for the following reasons:
- there's nothing good on anymore
- it's actually more social then sitting on your arse, at least on WoW you can chat with people
my wife sometimes yells at me for being on WoW too much, but those occasions are few and far between...
as for level 70 in 30 days... that's a gross overstatement, you can level 70 in much less time than that. unless you sit in ironforge talking about chuck norris
I play WoW instead of watching TV now for the following reasons:
- there's nothing good on anymore
- it's actually more social then sitting on your arse, at least on WoW you can chat with people
my wife sometimes yells at me for being on WoW too much, but those occasions are few and far between...
as for level 70 in 30 days... that's a gross overstatement, you can level 70 in much less time than that. unless you sit in ironforge talking about chuck norris
Posted by: helmster on 12:09am Tue 11 Mar 08
Ahahaha. Hmmm, our site isn't very popular. What can we do to make it popular? Let's **** some people off. Who is easy to **** off on the internet? GAMERS! Ok so... how and we **** them off? I know, lets tell them what social misfits we think they are. Ok thats good. What else? I know lets get as many details as wrong as possible. That'll make lots of people feel they need to correct us. Great! We're gonna have sooooooo much traffic! We might even get on Digg!
Ahahaha. Hmmm, our site isn't very popular. What can we do to make it popular? Let's **** some people off. Who is easy to **** off on the internet? GAMERS! Ok so... how and we **** them off? I know, lets tell them what social misfits we think they are. Ok thats good. What else? I know lets get as many details as wrong as possible. That'll make lots of people feel they need to correct us. Great! We're gonna have sooooooo much traffic! We might even get on Digg!
Posted by: Chris Andelin, California on 12:13am Tue 11 Mar 08
The most damaging misconception about online gaming is this:
"if you are an online gamer then you cant succeed at anything else in life"
totally untrue and this article helps support this false idea.
The most damaging misconception about online gaming is this:
"if you are an online gamer then you cant succeed at anything else in life"
totally untrue and this article helps support this false idea.
Posted by: Joel, USA on 12:15am Tue 11 Mar 08
Hmm addiction? I have been playing Asheron's Call for bout 7 1/2 years. I was once addicted to that game. And 30 days to max a toon ingame? I have yet to get to max level (very close) after 7+ years playing AC. That is with almost 7 months ingame time.... So you can call it a addiction I guess. Hazaha!
Hmm addiction? I have been playing Asheron's Call for bout 7 1/2 years. I was once addicted to that game. And 30 days to max a toon ingame? I have yet to get to max level (very close) after 7+ years playing AC. That is with almost 7 months ingame time.... So you can call it a addiction I guess. Hazaha!
Posted by: petar, south africa on 12:24am Tue 11 Mar 08
Jeez, i've read through every comment and from both sides there are morons.
One's leik omg wow is t3h pwnz0rz
And another's like, i'm so proper and you're a stupid douche bag nerd.
Those are the people that should in all honesty shut the **** up.
Opinions here are coming from both sides and it's tiresome to read the moronic ones.
Both sides have great arguments.
Anyway, my opinion here is slightly more biased to the anti side.
People from all over the world have taken up gaming online as the next step out of sociality, and while it's sad and extremely unnecessary for most, some people have the actual belief that they are incapable of making it in the "real world".
Mainly because of past experiences with how sh!t faced these self proclaimed "normal" people can be.
Now i've been gaming since DOS was the biggest hit to the computer world where prince of persia and commander keen was jaw dropping, i've also had my fair share of 100 hour gaming weeks, it was the reason my car became one with a tree after going to buy drugs to keep myself awake.
But i started realizing that even though gaming is great fun and can give you a sense of achievement, and it does, whether the achievement is done on a keyboard, hammer, pencil, whatever, the feeling is the same, but you have to get to some point in your life where you actually see how raids and leveling are not going sustain any part of your physical life.
What's also on the bigger picture here is that the people in this "normal" world are going to set limitations to how long games online are allowed to be played, and if you guys are serious about keeping it as free as possible, you're going to have to make sacrifices, eg. moderation. But alas, everyone's a greedy pr** and will ruin it for others because they absolutely need that last noddy badge on a stats page.
As for the anti side, get real, mass awareness has only done one thing in this world and that's basically advertise the issue for the opposing side for free, it makes people curious.
A different angle is needed where both sides come to an agreement, where as here and in every other struggle, the on side tries to make up the mind of the other, that's why these things fail in the end.
Either way, if you guys have been keeping up with either history or modern science you will find that the mayan calender ends in 2012 and modern science tells us that the suns poles will be shifting again around that time as well.
So, live life, go hiking through a random field or gorge or whatever nature has given you as entertainment and be sure about what you're doing, if you're a little confused, find a different solution.
Jeez, i've read through every comment and from both sides there are morons.
One's leik omg wow is t3h pwnz0rz
And another's like, i'm so proper and you're a stupid douche bag nerd.
Those are the people that should in all honesty shut the **** up.
Opinions here are coming from both sides and it's tiresome to read the moronic ones.
Both sides have great arguments.
Anyway, my opinion here is slightly more biased to the anti side.
People from all over the world have taken up gaming online as the next step out of sociality, and while it's sad and extremely unnecessary for most, some people have the actual belief that they are incapable of making it in the "real world".
Mainly because of past experiences with how sh!t faced these self proclaimed "normal" people can be.
Now i've been gaming since DOS was the biggest hit to the computer world where prince of persia and commander keen was jaw dropping, i've also had my fair share of 100 hour gaming weeks, it was the reason my car became one with a tree after going to buy drugs to keep myself awake.
But i started realizing that even though gaming is great fun and can give you a sense of achievement, and it does, whether the achievement is done on a keyboard, hammer, pencil, whatever, the feeling is the same, but you have to get to some point in your life where you actually see how raids and leveling are not going sustain any part of your physical life.
What's also on the bigger picture here is that the people in this "normal" world are going to set limitations to how long games online are allowed to be played, and if you guys are serious about keeping it as free as possible, you're going to have to make sacrifices, eg. moderation. But alas, everyone's a greedy pr** and will ruin it for others because they absolutely need that last noddy badge on a stats page.
As for the anti side, get real, mass awareness has only done one thing in this world and that's basically advertise the issue for the opposing side for free, it makes people curious.
A different angle is needed where both sides come to an agreement, where as here and in every other struggle, the on side tries to make up the mind of the other, that's why these things fail in the end.
Either way, if you guys have been keeping up with either history or modern science you will find that the mayan calender ends in 2012 and modern science tells us that the suns poles will be shifting again around that time as well.
So, live life, go hiking through a random field or gorge or whatever nature has given you as entertainment and be sure about what you're doing, if you're a little confused, find a different solution.
Posted by: Anon on 12:24am Tue 11 Mar 08
man i wish i could make a knight in wow
man i wish i could make a knight in wow
Posted by: Gary, Chicago on 12:39am Tue 11 Mar 08
I'm addicted. I admit it. I'm also addicted to cigarettes & coffee. Also food. Food is good. So uh what's the point of this article? Oh yeah, gaming is bad says a non-gamer who's incompetent at his only profession. He should probably roll a toon. I'm guessing a huntard. Maybe it'll teach him how to research, like we do when we want to learn how to level a character or skill. Maybe when he's done with journalism (which might be soon) he can find another job, sorta like what we do when we try to sell ourselves to a new guild who's recruiting members. Maybe he'll learn teamwork so he can interview people so they don't say useless things like the psychologist who said [italic]"WOW could be addictive because players become addicted to the endorphin rush they get from success". [/italic] That sentence is basically saying "WoW could be addictive because it makes you happy." How profound. The word "endorphin" is used too often by "professionals" who don't really understand the biochemistry but they want to sound technical because, deep in their hearts, they know that psychology isn't really a science. But anywho, I just wanted to partake in the ripping to shreds of this 'journalist' cuz it looked like fun.
I'm addicted. I admit it. I'm also addicted to cigarettes & coffee. Also food. Food is good. So uh what's the point of this article? Oh yeah, gaming is bad says a non-gamer who's incompetent at his only profession. He should probably roll a toon. I'm guessing a huntard. Maybe it'll teach him how to research, like we do when we want to learn how to level a character or skill. Maybe when he's done with journalism (which might be soon) he can find another job, sorta like what we do when we try to sell ourselves to a new guild who's recruiting members. Maybe he'll learn teamwork so he can interview people so they don't say useless things like the psychologist who said
"WOW could be addictive because players become addicted to the endorphin rush they get from success". That sentence is basically saying "WoW could be addictive because it makes you happy." How profound. The word "endorphin" is used too often by "professionals" who don't really understand the biochemistry but they want to sound technical because, deep in their hearts, they know that psychology isn't really a science. But anywho, I just wanted to partake in the ripping to shreds of this 'journalist' cuz it looked like fun.
Posted by: Boris, Bosnian Dirt Farm on 12:50am Tue 11 Mar 08
I have a friend who dropped out of college because he spent too much time reading novels instead of studying. But you wouldn't write an article about how reading is bad.
I have a friend who dropped out of college because he spent too much time reading novels instead of studying. But you wouldn't write an article about how reading is bad.
Posted by: Rebecca on 1:10am Tue 11 Mar 08
"The author said the population of virtual worlds , not just WOW. I'm sure he was including many other MMORPGs in that statement, based on the rest of the paragraph."
Even if that IS what he meant (which I would argue), the statistic still isn't correct. The current population of all MMORPGs would not add up to 50 million. Maybe, MAYBE, all the users ever, in every game, including trials, would add up to 50 million.
Anyone have the pie chart with the MMO numbers? I'm sure it's on google somewhere. Suffice it to say, WoW adds up to roughly 50% of all of them. With WoW at 10 million (and half the population), I would venture a guess that the other half isn't 50 million.
It was just poor fact-checking. Stop trying to defend poor journalists.
"The author said the population of virtual worlds , not just WOW. I'm sure he was including many other MMORPGs in that statement, based on the rest of the paragraph."
Even if that IS what he meant (which I would argue), the statistic still isn't correct. The current population of all MMORPGs would not add up to 50 million. Maybe, MAYBE, all the users ever, in every game, including trials, would add up to 50 million.
Anyone have the pie chart with the MMO numbers? I'm sure it's on google somewhere. Suffice it to say, WoW adds up to roughly 50% of all of them. With WoW at 10 million (and half the population), I
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