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MMOG Addiction Makes Mainstream Media
Via Game Politics, a story in the Philedelphia Inquirer about Massively Multiplayer Game addiction. The lengthy article looks at the usual complaints from gamers too wrapped up in WoW or Everquest to deal with their real lives. It's surprisingly even-handed, though, showing both sides of the issue. From the article: "Not everyone into Warcraft, EverQuest and other MMORPGs neglects his or her life. Those most susceptible have preexisting problems, such as depression or anxiety disorders, therapists say. Temple University psychology professor Donald A. Hantula said he believed the medium was not to blame for dysfunctional behavior by its users. 'I know people who spend 40 or 50 hours a week playing golf,' said Hantula, who is executive editor of the Journal of Social Psychology."
Kate Bennett plays "World of Wasrcraft" in the bedroom of her apartment near Pottstown. Bennett, a counselor who has dealt with online game addictions, is herself an avid player.
That's, of course "World of Warcraft," unless Wasrcraft is some kinky sex game I haven't been made aware of (playing in the bedroom, after all...)
I can't believe that the press still uses Shawn Woolley as an example of MMO addiction. The Inquirer glosses over the fact he had a fairly serious mental illness, as I recall he had episodes where he believed game characters were chasing down the street. This was not a normal guy.
It's sad commentary when you have to note that a media piece is presented without bias.
I play about 2-3 hours a night most nights. We put the kid down at 8, tidy up a bit, and jump online around 8:30-9:00, then play until 10 or 11 most nights, maybe a bit later on saturdays and sundays. So maybe 20-25 hours a week.
Before WoW my wife and I would most likely spend that time playing single player games (we had just gone through dungeon seige for the umpteenth time when we picked up wow), or watching Law and Order/CSI reruns on TV.
We definately socialize more with eachother while playing WoW then we do when we were watching TV. Infact, our marrage has greatly improved since we started playing (much to my suprise as much as anyone else's!). Although we go out to bars less often. Of course, the two of us at a bar, drinking, shooting pool, etc... will run up a $50+ tab in a night. Not to mention having to get a baby sitter, and dealing with a toddler and a hang over.
I don't know, maybe we're a fluke. But if you can keep your personal life first, it seems like a good inexpensive way to relax and enjoy socializing while gaming.
-Rick
"Most people in the U.S. wouldn't know they live in a tyrannical state if it walked up and grabbed their junk." - MyFirs
There are controls that you can set that limit the times during the day that you can play. They even have a seperate password so that you can have someone set your limits and not be able to change them. But for the serious addicts there are always other ways around -- whether it be getting a second and third account or playing on some of the homebrew servers around. I noticed with my son that whenever he couldn't get on WOW he just hung out in the forums. I finally ended up keeping the power cord to his computer except for the few hours a day I would allow him to play. I would like to have him take advantage of the internet for all the things there are to learn out on the net, but whenever he has computer access he is either on wow or on the wow forums.