Someone already covered that earlier in this thread, games like WoW and Lineage and EQ tend to kill marriages and social lives.
That is certainly one extreme. On the other side, a large portion of my family, including my wife, play WoW. I also have several friends that live in different states that play the game. It's not all we do, but we are able to communicate, network, ane enjoy a video game all at the same time.
Vault-Tec analysts have concluded that the odds of worldwide nuclear armaggeddon this decade are 17,143,762... to 1.
I dispute the staying because your friends play it. MMO's are community games, as such the community is rather important. If everyone you enjoy playing with is playing said game you can still enjoy it even if you have become burned out.
ShunWolfkin-
I agree completely with you. In my 10 years of playing online RPGs, it has always been the people and friends that "made" the game and its experiences fun. I have made great and long lasting friendships with people that I still talk to this day.
I think most people do forget that MMOs are, infact, community and social games. If you are missing out on that aspect, then you are missing out on why MMORPGs were even created in the first place. And coincidentally, that is probably why so many people easily get bored with MMOs today.
Its the social experiences that make the game fun...not the other way around. There have been times when I've stuck with a game for 3-4 years simply because the people and friends were what made it awesome. Without them, the game would have never been fun in the first place.
But don't let me tell you how to play your game. Play whatever way that is fun for you. Because that is what is important. And the OP is right, if you are not having fun (in any way), then its time to throw in the towel for good.
Good article, but everyone has to think & decide for themselves what is the best thing for them, for some quitting is the only solution & Jaime highlights what may be pointers in that direction, truth of the matter is that if you felt that the article told you that you should quit, well it was only telling you what you already knew but refused to accept.
Myself I've been through small episodes of addiction but I've also had the experience of MMO gaming being my lifeline, when my marriage was on the rocks & when it finally fell apart MMO gaming was my solace, & in the months after when I suffered depression it helped to keep me on an even keel, the friends in the game I played really helped to pull me through a very traumatic time in my life, now some may say that my marriage failed because of the gaming, but that wouldn't be true, even my ex-wife would say it wasn't the problem, I was a casual gamer up until the time the relationship had problems.
So there are many ways in which too much gaming can be bad for you, but it can also be a huge help, I'm certain that if not for mmo gaming & my online friends that I made through it I wouldn't be writing these words today, the support they gave me & the distraction the game provided to ease my suffering were genuinely helpful.
I continue to have a healthy attitude to gaming, I play for fun, & rarely play only the 1 game, I tend to have a main game & a couple of side games to act as a change of scenery, that way I avoid getting too burned out, I still keep in touch with the "old" community, despite no longer playing that game, however the guild I was in have continued to stick together through multiple games/genres so at some point our paths will converge in gaming again.
Nice article, I have been playing mmo's for the last 12 years atleast and always leave an mmo when it becomes boring my luck is I game with a core group of people and if we move to a new game we do it together, the only game we pay to play even though we are taking a break is EVE seen as even if not on just logging on a few times a week means our chars are still improving.
I dispute the staying because your friends play it. MMO's are community games, as such the community is rather important. If everyone you enjoy playing with is playing said game you can still enjoy it even if you have become burned out.
ShunWolfkin-
I agree completely with you. In my 10 years of playing online RPGs, it has always been the people and friends that "made" the game and its experiences fun. I have made great and long lasting friendships with people that I still talk to this day.
I think most people do forget that MMOs are, infact, community and social games. If you are missing out on that aspect, then you are missing out on why MMORPGs were even created in the first place. And coincidentally, that is probably why so many people easily get bored with MMOs today.
Its the social experiences that make the game fun...not the other way around. There have been times when I've stuck with a game for 3-4 years simply because the people and friends were what made it awesome. Without them, the game would have never been fun in the first place.
But don't let me tell you how to play your game. Play whatever way that is fun for you. Because that is what is important. And the OP is right, if you are not having fun (in any way), then its time to throw in the towel for good.
So much truth to that, and it's yet another angle on an ever increasingly multi-angled situation that I, at least, see unfolding as time goes on - certain people's personalities are just not well-suited to MMORPGs and they are the victims of their own playstyle.
I won't get into it entirely here because it should be its own thread, really... but I see patterns of behavior in the who would argue that MMORPGs are "all about the end-game" that all seem to lead back to the same thing... inevitable burnout and boredom in a relatively short period of time. Many invariably blame the developers for not developing enough content...
But here's the thing...
There are people playing those *very same MMOs* who do not consider it to be "all about the end-game", and are taking their time, getting involved with community, exploring different content the game offers, etc. etc... and they are playing and enjoying those same MMOs for years in many situations.
One counter-argument so often (ab)used is "you just suck at MMOs". No... they don't "suck at MMOs". MMOs are not "difficult games" - especially not when there's a guide for practically anything you can think of available on line, for any given game. The difference is in how the two groups approach the game.
There are shades of each type, to be sure - these aren't absolutes - but it seems to boil down to two overall categories. Also note, that these are observations I've made in playing MMOs and following their forums for a while.
- One side approaches MMOs as a highly competitive race to the finish line where "being at the top" as quickly as possible is paramount. Any content that doesn't help with that goal, such as quests (unless they give good xp or rewards), crafting, housing, social activities and other things this type of player will often deem "pointless" and even sometimes bash the developers for "wasting time implementing such useless filler". The vast majority of people I've seen talk about how "game x" sucks, doesn't have enough content, is nothing but a grind, etc... have also fallen into this category. A large number of your MMO hoppers are also in this category - always looking to move on to the next new game because they've burned them self out on the current one.
- The other side approaches MMOs as a long-term journey; a true RPG experience in that, they are taking up the role of a character in a world who has myriad different activities available to them. They don't see quests as "useless filler", but as a chance to go exploring, or adventuring, etc. (I'm no talking about the "kill x of y" type quests here, by the way). They see crafting as a cool activity that allows them to become more involved in the game world, create stuff, sell it, help out friends or guildmates. They see exploring for the sake of exploring to be a fun and potentially "rewarding" activity in itself... you never know what you're going to find hiding around some corner... or what's going to find you. And so on... The concept of "end game" is an abstract or, if not, it's at least really far away, and they'll get there when they get there. No hurry. These people will commonly play their chosen MMO for years, with no desire to move on to anything else beyond, perhaps, trying it out.
Now, as to which is approaching the genre with the right mentality... My opinion is it's definitely the latter. Why? Well, first there is no "right or wrong" approach - you play however you want to play. However, in terms of which group gains the most long-term enjoyment out of the game and, in my opinion, gets more of their money's worth... I would have to say the latter has it hands down. And, yes, I do believe that the latter group approaches the MMO genre with the mindset better suited to the type of games MMOs are and were conceived as.
The proof is in the pudding... While the more competitive, faster-progress types are burning out on MMOs left and right and ever looking toward the next one, the more laid back, adventuring types are playing the same game, contently, for years and never feel they've run out of things to do.
On the other hand, were we talking about a game like a competitive FPS or even a MMO designed entirely around being competitive (I think there's been one or two of those, forget their names though).. something of that nature then, absolutely, the first group would be best suited to that type of game, and the second category would likely found themself out of their depth.
It's not about which playstyle is right, wrong, better or worse. It's about choosing the game that best suits your play style to get the most out of it.
"If you just step away for a sec you will clearly see all the pot holes in the road, and the cash shop selling asphalt..." - Mimzel on F2P/Cash Shops
I dispute the staying because your friends play it. MMO's are community games, as such the community is rather important. If everyone you enjoy playing with is playing said game you can still enjoy it even if you have become burned out.
ShunWolfkin-
I agree completely with you. In my 10 years of playing online RPGs, it has always been the people and friends that "made" the game and its experiences fun. I have made great and long lasting friendships with people that I still talk to this day.
I think most people do forget that MMOs are, infact, community and social games. If you are missing out on that aspect, then you are missing out on why MMORPGs were even created in the first place. And coincidentally, that is probably why so many people easily get bored with MMOs today.
Its the social experiences that make the game fun...not the other way around. There have been times when I've stuck with a game for 3-4 years simply because the people and friends were what made it awesome. Without them, the game would have never been fun in the first place.
But don't let me tell you how to play your game. Play whatever way that is fun for you. Because that is what is important. And the OP is right, if you are not having fun (in any way), then its time to throw in the towel for good.
So much truth to that, and it's yet another angle on an ever increasingly multi-angled situation that I, at least, see unfolding as time goes on - certain people's personalities are just not well-suited to MMORPGs and they are the victims of their own playstyle.
I won't get into it entirely here because it should be its own thread, really... but I see patterns of behavior in the who would argue that MMORPGs are "all about the end-game" that all seem to lead back to the same thing... inevitable burnout and boredom in a relatively short period of time. Many invariably blame the developers for not developing enough content...
But here's the thing...
There are people playing those *very same MMOs* who do not consider it to be "all about the end-game", and are taking their time, getting involved with community, exploring different content the game offers, etc. etc... and they are playing and enjoying those same MMOs for years in many situations.
One counter-argument so often (ab)used is "you just suck at MMOs". No... they don't "suck at MMOs". MMOs are not "difficult games" - especially not when there's a guide for practically anything you can think of available on line, for any given game. The difference is in how the two groups approach the game.
There are shades of each type, to be sure - these aren't absolutes - but it seems to boil down to two overall categories. Also note, that these are observations I've made in playing MMOs and following their forums for a while.
- One side approaches MMOs as a highly competitive race to the finish line where "being at the top" as quickly as possible is paramount. Any content that doesn't help with that goal, such as quests (unless they give good xp or rewards), crafting, housing, social activities and other things this type of player will often deem "pointless" and even sometimes bash the developers for "wasting time implementing such useless filler". The vast majority of people I've seen talk about how "game x" sucks, doesn't have enough content, is nothing but a grind, etc... have also fallen into this category. A large number of your MMO hoppers are also in this category - always looking to move on to the next new game because they've burned them self out on the current one.
- The other side approaches MMOs as a long-term journey; a true RPG experience in that, they are taking up the role of a character in a world who has myriad different activities available to them. They don't see quests as "useless filler", but as a chance to go exploring, or adventuring, etc. (I'm no talking about the "kill x of y" type quests here, by the way). They see crafting as a cool activity that allows them to become more involved in the game world, create stuff, sell it, help out friends or guildmates. They see exploring for the sake of exploring to be a fun and potentially "rewarding" activity in itself... you never know what you're going to find hiding around some corner... or what's going to find you. And so on... The concept of "end game" is an abstract or, if not, it's at least really far away, and they'll get there when they get there. No hurry. These people will commonly play their chosen MMO for years, with no desire to move on to anything else beyond, perhaps, trying it out.
Now, as to which is approaching the genre with the right mentality... My opinion is it's definitely the latter. Why? Well, first there is no "right or wrong" approach - you play however you want to play. However, in terms of which group gains the most long-term enjoyment out of the game and, in my opinion, gets more of their money's worth... I would have to say the latter has it hands down. And, yes, I do believe that the latter group approaches the MMO genre with the mindset better suited to the type of games MMOs are and were conceived as.
The proof is in the pudding... While the more competitive, faster-progress types are burning out on MMOs left and right and ever looking toward the next one, the more laid back, adventuring types are playing the same game, contently, for years and never feel they've run out of things to do.
On the other hand, were we talking about a game like a competitive FPS or even a MMO designed entirely around being competitive (I think there's been one or two of those, forget their names though).. something of that nature then, absolutely, the first group would be best suited to that type of game, and the second category would likely found themself out of their depth.
It's not about which playstyle is right, wrong, better or worse. It's about choosing the game that best suits your play style to get the most out of it.
Nice post sir.
Some good observations.
See you in the dream.. The Fires from heaven, now as cold as ice. A rapid ascension tolls a heavy price.
For example if you pick up a new MMO and the first thing you do is start figuring out the quickest and most efficient way to get to the top level, then you are going to miss out on most of the fun in that MMO simply so that you can win.
Great point. It should be about the journey. That is something that is lost on some many gamers, and developers these days.
The Lord of the Rings wasn't about a guy named Frodo in tier 19 epic gear owning Mount Doom. It was about the journey of taking the ring to the mountain. More games should focus on making the journey as meaningful and deep as this, and not focusing so much on end game.
Awesome point but lotro isnt a good example of that imo. Darkfall and Aion (possibly MO or FE?) are the only two worthwhile that I've seen as of late. I'm a big fan of pvp though
This is an awesome article. I saw the subject as I logged into the website and was just thinking the same thing.
I feel like I've tried every MMO within the past 2 years just to try get out of WoW or to find the experience I used to have 10 years ago playing Everquest. I couldn't find it anymore.
I've played and sbuscribed to Everquest, Everquest Online Adventures, Final Fantasy XI, World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Everquest II, Age of Conan, Warhammer Online, Champions Online, D&D Unlimited, and, now, Aion Online.
I've played several free ones too: FreeRealms, Perfect World Int'l, Ether Saga, MapleStory.
I've wasted hundreds of dollars on all these games, yet, WoW was the only one to hold me for 5 years. BUT I'm tired of WoW, and I've been playing all these other games to get away from it. The truth is, it's not all the same anymore, and I've decided I'm bored with MMOs. After playing DragonAge: Origins, I've found that fun and immersion again in other video games.
With that said, I'm taking a good long break from MMOs. I'll probably look into WoW: Cataclysm or FFXIV once they come out later this year, but there's a lot of other non-MMO games very worthy of playing.
Thank you for this article. It really made me make this decision. I'm cancelling my resent subscription/30-day trial to Aion Online. WoW's been cancelled already.
Time for a change, after being such a dedicated MMO genre enthusiast.
I've had this problem too, for about... well over a year with WoW; I stopped liking it and even when Wrath of the Lich King came out, it only gave me a couple months of solid fun followed by sighs. At first, I'd only log on to do dailies every so often and make sure to log in once every 2 weeks or so so I wouldn't be kicked out of my guild for inactivity, then someone did RAF with me and I reluctantly played, even though I admit to having fun with a paladin for a short while. I did, however, other than that, log on every once in a while to chat... and even then not for long...
Eventually that led to me canceling my account this month because... well, I don't need to spend 15 bucks a month to do what I can do on msn... I do, however need to to do so while keeping anonymity, but Gmail's for that.
It's funny, though-- I'm not out of MMOs as a whole, per-say. I simply need a break, and maybe some day soon I'll play WoW again and actually play it. Right now I'm more into FPS or action games, either or, moreso if there are RPG elements in them. I guess the reason why I needed to take a break away from traditional MMOs is because ... well, you don't need that +600 sniper of penetration that fires 4 rounds per second to do well if you're a good shot.
Eventually what mesmerized me the first time about the games like RF Online and WoW or even Space Cowboy Online (Presently: AirRivals or ACE Online) the first time will mesmerize me again. I just need a break, but I'm not quitting for good.
People that put themselves above others put me in a bad mood. http://www.surrealtwilight.com/index.php ^Has nothing to do with that retarded Vampire Novel Series, I swear!^
WoW keeps you from loot, locks you out of content, cost you travel time, has limited content, meaningless reputation bars, and blocks people viewing your stuff on the Armory if you leave. pvp is worse. If you are still excited about WoW, keep playing it until you get it figured out. You'll get there. Trust.
I would say it's time to quit when you spend more time on the forums whining/trolling/fanboyism than playing the actual game.
Don't be terrorized! You're more likely to die of a car accident, drowning, fire, or murder! More people die every year from prescription drugs than terrorism LOL!
I got myself a puppy last summer just to get me out and about.
Since then I've found something more meaningful outside the gaming realms and I'm not playing that much anymore. Actually in October I left MMOs and played games like Dragon Age, Mass Effect etc.
Looking back I think it's not just finding something else that is important to me, but I also felt that others controlled my gaming experience than me. Now I get to choose the time and the duration of my gaming session.
I am now back in AoC (started 2 days ago again) but I play a character outside guild as I don't want to be swamped with grouping requests... not yet at least. Simply because I don't want to spend so much time in gaming anymore.
Great article. I've been somewhat of an MMO addict, or rather more like a WoW addict. Been playing it for 5 years, little more now.
And well, first 4 years was horrible. Everything was WoW, planned my days after raidtimes etc. Everything was just WoW, I've had a girlfriend for 2 years now that the first year had a horrible year with me and I didnt realize how much impact it made on our relationship to raid 3-4-5 days a week and always try to play WoW when she even was here with me or I could sen her home just to play WoW and raid and raid and raid. Also I was so lazy I wouldnt even want to find a job, didnt even try cause I didnt wanna miss the things on WoW.
Now its fine though, took a break from April to December in 2009. And now Im playing again, not raiding or anything. Or well sometimes when I have the time, but the guild Im in is my old guild and they dont care if I come or not since Im just there for casual play. I never play WoW either when my girlfriend is over and I dont have the urge either to come home to play WoW if Im out doing stuff or if Im at her place or at friends places.
Not many people realize they have an addiction. Im just 20 years old now. And there are even 30+ people with wife and children that are very addicted. Just dont think thats right! Make your wife and children happy, not the friends from your guild!
I believe theres alot of people like me playing these games, seeing this thread at this time in my life i thought i would post my 2 cents as i too am about to try and cold turkey quit.
I've been playing mmo's since i was 18 and im about to turn 30 next month. Since the start I've been a hardcore gamer with my excuses for playing so much evolving as i grew older. I've played just about everything out there as i normally play mmo's around 70 hours a week attended or unattended macroing. Most recently, yesterday i disabled all 5 of my darkfall accounts. I took a look at the excuses i've told myself as to why i play games so much and if any of these are you i feel your pain. These are in order of what i think are the main reasons to me.
1. Boredom
2. Unhappy
3. Saves Money Since I Dont Go Out
4. Want To Be Involved To Avoid The Family
5. Addicted to The Emotional Rush (always played PvP or hardcore servers)
I believe i am the poster boy for addicted to online gaming. It's sad as i look at the time i've wasted in my life playing mmo's, yet i am not blaming mmo's at all. It's an addiction like so many other things that can consume your life. I've struggled with most addictive things you can think of and you can pretty much tie them directly into the same feelings and reasons as mmo gaming. its not the industry its us as people. If your like me and you feel completely lost as to what your going to do for the day without your crutch were making the right decision we just need to tough it out and retrain our life routine. i hope others like me can learn from my mistakes and good luck to you in changing your life for the better. i know im going to need some luck.
A jones is an addiction, a need, an escape. The author later expands the thought to include everybody, on or off the Deuce. For the main character of the novels, ex-cop Matt Scudder, it's alcohol. In fact the series of novels is as much about addiction and Scudder's personal fight with it as anything else. Go read it if you haven't and you like crime fiction.
I think he's right - everybody has a jones - but I also think some people are more vulnerable than others. I think the pull of an MMO is the switch in realities, from a world full of people amongst which you don't feel so good or important or accomplished, to a world in which you do feel good and you can get things done and you do contribute. Or at least that's the tug of addiction for me. Thankfully it isn't one that causes me much trouble in life, but I certainly empathise with those for whom it does.
We make more than enough money to cover the $120/month in subscriptions that we've been paying for years on various MMO's. However, both of us have become so busy with work and other projects we just haven't had time to login much for the past couple of months. And, when we did have some time, logged in for maybe an hour.. usually less.
We canceled all our subs this month because MMO gaming just isn't as important to us as it used to be. Will I/we return to MMO gaming? I can't answer that question yet. But, if it happens one day, the "Activate" button is just one click away.
I've been playing for a long time and i do get bored easily. As games are more and more the same, no new feature, no new character types. Right now I'm in between games and will wait till Star Wars: The Old Republic comes out. Not many games out there that really did it for me most recently i tried out star trek... Mouhahahaha that was a real joke so hopefully Star Wars: The Old Republic will be better then anything I've mingled with...
Great article. I have noticed this with many many people I've played MMOs with over the years, including myself. People who are obviously disinterested with the game tend to keep coming back for a quick shot of more before they silently disappear again. I am a convicted offender of playing certain games, *cough* WoW *cough* in periodic bursts. I'll play it for about 2 weeks, cancel my account then come back about 4 months later and do it all over again. I've done this ridiculous behavior with several games I use to enjoy in their prime but have lost their touch over the years. Did the game change; probably not, I just get bored playing the same game for long periods of time.
I've always been one of those gamers that would buy a game, play it all the way through non-stop till I beat it, then maybe go back through a second time just in case I missed anything the first time, then I jump to the next game.
I'm sure MMOs have their social appeal to most; but, for me, it's the game play itself that draws me in and once I've seen everything the game has to offer, well, there might as well be credits rolling on the screen because that's when I'm done.
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use. - Galileo Galilei
I've been gaming since Joust and Bubble Bobble. Started really getting into RPGs when FFII (FFIV) came out for the SNES. And my first MMO was SWG. My outlook on it is that I'm always looking for a new adventure, quest, whatever. With MMOs, for me anyways, there is always something new. There are in fact times where I do get bored. But its not so much that I'm actually bored. Its just that I sometimes need a break. Doing something constantly everyday gets really repetitive and life draining. I have been playing WoW since February of 2007 and finally had hit 70 on my main around Halloween of last year. Now I'm 78. Why? Because I choose to have a social life and the fact that I do have a family. Too much of a good thing can ruin it. If you're getting bored of a really great MMO, its because you need to get out, take a break and enjoy life doing other things before you burn yourself out. There was a time that I had chosen to sell my WoW account just to devote my time to Aion. I played Aion all through the betas and when I picked up my preordered copy, I was burnt on the grind within' the first week. From there I ended up letting my account go and some time later reactivated my WoW account. So I'm back playing again but I still take breaks. I'm always trying a new MMO, not because I'm getting bored, but because I'm a gamer for life and I enjoy it. And for that reason I'm always open to new things and change of pace. Back in the day I would play ANY RPG just to have a new quest to go on for about 30+ hours. I don't ever see myself quitting. Even when I'm old and having to get my diapers changed I'll still be devoting time here and there doing something that I enjoy. If you're just gaming or MMO'ing just for a simple "phase" you're going through in life, then by all means quit. If you're on this site but don't really play or are growing tired of it, then by all means leave......and quit. Not to be rude, but a gaming community should not so much consist of "addicts" but more so people who enjoy it as a hobby and recreational lifestyle. Real gamers. My gaming isn't a simple phase. I take breaks like anyone else. And unlike some people I have control and know where my priorities stand. Just like everyone else I will move onto the next great thing as long as it meets my standards. I still have SWTOR, FFXIV and Tera Online to try out this year. But I will still play WoW until either their servers shut down or they completely revamp the entire game/make a new one.
And still play mmo's but i also from time to time play other games that are not mmo's like morrowind oblivion bioshock risen dragon age or hack and slash games that way i keep intrested in mmo's.
But im also very selective i only play mmo i realy like, in this case Darkfall.
Played ac ac2 lineage2 darkfall over past 11 years with some mmo's in between to try out and many rpg's and fps games this keep my intrest.
I dont keep playing mmo's becouse some friends still play it if i dont like it i quit ive done that few times while my friends still play these games.
Games played:AC1-Darktide'99-2000-AC2-Darktide/dawnsong2003-2005,Lineage2-2005-2006 and now Darkfall-2009..... In between WoW few months AoC few months and some f2p also all very short few weeks.
I started pc gaming around 1997-1998 when Age of Empires, Diablo and Starcraft were in the making. I started playing mmos around the release of FFXI. Absolutely loved the game and played it for quite awhile. Since my last mmo I was hooked on Guild Wars, loved the game and been playing since 6 months after launch. My latest gaming love was Torchlight, I just love hack n slash games where you can customize your character. Other than FFXI, mmos have just not been fun to play compared to the games I used to play. Once Starcraft 2 and DIablo 3 hit the shelves chances are I will not be looking at playing mmos much except for Guild Wars 2 and The Old Republic.
Comments
It's time to quit when someone drawing a cartoon picture of you still makes you look like crap!
That is certainly one extreme. On the other side, a large portion of my family, including my wife, play WoW. I also have several friends that live in different states that play the game. It's not all we do, but we are able to communicate, network, ane enjoy a video game all at the same time.
Vault-Tec analysts have concluded that the odds of worldwide nuclear armaggeddon this decade are 17,143,762... to 1.
ShunWolfkin-
I agree completely with you. In my 10 years of playing online RPGs, it has always been the people and friends that "made" the game and its experiences fun. I have made great and long lasting friendships with people that I still talk to this day.
I think most people do forget that MMOs are, infact, community and social games. If you are missing out on that aspect, then you are missing out on why MMORPGs were even created in the first place. And coincidentally, that is probably why so many people easily get bored with MMOs today.
Its the social experiences that make the game fun...not the other way around. There have been times when I've stuck with a game for 3-4 years simply because the people and friends were what made it awesome. Without them, the game would have never been fun in the first place.
But don't let me tell you how to play your game. Play whatever way that is fun for you. Because that is what is important. And the OP is right, if you are not having fun (in any way), then its time to throw in the towel for good.
I beg to differ.
I played SWG for 2 years straight. Every possible time I could be on, I was on. And I still miss the damn game.
Did not get burned out once.
Good article, but everyone has to think & decide for themselves what is the best thing for them, for some quitting is the only solution & Jaime highlights what may be pointers in that direction, truth of the matter is that if you felt that the article told you that you should quit, well it was only telling you what you already knew but refused to accept.
Myself I've been through small episodes of addiction but I've also had the experience of MMO gaming being my lifeline, when my marriage was on the rocks & when it finally fell apart MMO gaming was my solace, & in the months after when I suffered depression it helped to keep me on an even keel, the friends in the game I played really helped to pull me through a very traumatic time in my life, now some may say that my marriage failed because of the gaming, but that wouldn't be true, even my ex-wife would say it wasn't the problem, I was a casual gamer up until the time the relationship had problems.
So there are many ways in which too much gaming can be bad for you, but it can also be a huge help, I'm certain that if not for mmo gaming & my online friends that I made through it I wouldn't be writing these words today, the support they gave me & the distraction the game provided to ease my suffering were genuinely helpful.
I continue to have a healthy attitude to gaming, I play for fun, & rarely play only the 1 game, I tend to have a main game & a couple of side games to act as a change of scenery, that way I avoid getting too burned out, I still keep in touch with the "old" community, despite no longer playing that game, however the guild I was in have continued to stick together through multiple games/genres so at some point our paths will converge in gaming again.
Nice article, I have been playing mmo's for the last 12 years atleast and always leave an mmo when it becomes boring my luck is I game with a core group of people and if we move to a new game we do it together, the only game we pay to play even though we are taking a break is EVE seen as even if not on just logging on a few times a week means our chars are still improving.
ShunWolfkin-
I agree completely with you. In my 10 years of playing online RPGs, it has always been the people and friends that "made" the game and its experiences fun. I have made great and long lasting friendships with people that I still talk to this day.
I think most people do forget that MMOs are, infact, community and social games. If you are missing out on that aspect, then you are missing out on why MMORPGs were even created in the first place. And coincidentally, that is probably why so many people easily get bored with MMOs today.
Its the social experiences that make the game fun...not the other way around. There have been times when I've stuck with a game for 3-4 years simply because the people and friends were what made it awesome. Without them, the game would have never been fun in the first place.
But don't let me tell you how to play your game. Play whatever way that is fun for you. Because that is what is important. And the OP is right, if you are not having fun (in any way), then its time to throw in the towel for good.
So much truth to that, and it's yet another angle on an ever increasingly multi-angled situation that I, at least, see unfolding as time goes on - certain people's personalities are just not well-suited to MMORPGs and they are the victims of their own playstyle.
I won't get into it entirely here because it should be its own thread, really... but I see patterns of behavior in the who would argue that MMORPGs are "all about the end-game" that all seem to lead back to the same thing... inevitable burnout and boredom in a relatively short period of time. Many invariably blame the developers for not developing enough content...
But here's the thing...
There are people playing those *very same MMOs* who do not consider it to be "all about the end-game", and are taking their time, getting involved with community, exploring different content the game offers, etc. etc... and they are playing and enjoying those same MMOs for years in many situations.
One counter-argument so often (ab)used is "you just suck at MMOs". No... they don't "suck at MMOs". MMOs are not "difficult games" - especially not when there's a guide for practically anything you can think of available on line, for any given game. The difference is in how the two groups approach the game.
There are shades of each type, to be sure - these aren't absolutes - but it seems to boil down to two overall categories. Also note, that these are observations I've made in playing MMOs and following their forums for a while.
- One side approaches MMOs as a highly competitive race to the finish line where "being at the top" as quickly as possible is paramount. Any content that doesn't help with that goal, such as quests (unless they give good xp or rewards), crafting, housing, social activities and other things this type of player will often deem "pointless" and even sometimes bash the developers for "wasting time implementing such useless filler". The vast majority of people I've seen talk about how "game x" sucks, doesn't have enough content, is nothing but a grind, etc... have also fallen into this category. A large number of your MMO hoppers are also in this category - always looking to move on to the next new game because they've burned them self out on the current one.
- The other side approaches MMOs as a long-term journey; a true RPG experience in that, they are taking up the role of a character in a world who has myriad different activities available to them. They don't see quests as "useless filler", but as a chance to go exploring, or adventuring, etc. (I'm no talking about the "kill x of y" type quests here, by the way). They see crafting as a cool activity that allows them to become more involved in the game world, create stuff, sell it, help out friends or guildmates. They see exploring for the sake of exploring to be a fun and potentially "rewarding" activity in itself... you never know what you're going to find hiding around some corner... or what's going to find you. And so on... The concept of "end game" is an abstract or, if not, it's at least really far away, and they'll get there when they get there. No hurry. These people will commonly play their chosen MMO for years, with no desire to move on to anything else beyond, perhaps, trying it out.
Now, as to which is approaching the genre with the right mentality... My opinion is it's definitely the latter. Why? Well, first there is no "right or wrong" approach - you play however you want to play. However, in terms of which group gains the most long-term enjoyment out of the game and, in my opinion, gets more of their money's worth... I would have to say the latter has it hands down. And, yes, I do believe that the latter group approaches the MMO genre with the mindset better suited to the type of games MMOs are and were conceived as.
The proof is in the pudding... While the more competitive, faster-progress types are burning out on MMOs left and right and ever looking toward the next one, the more laid back, adventuring types are playing the same game, contently, for years and never feel they've run out of things to do.
On the other hand, were we talking about a game like a competitive FPS or even a MMO designed entirely around being competitive (I think there's been one or two of those, forget their names though).. something of that nature then, absolutely, the first group would be best suited to that type of game, and the second category would likely found themself out of their depth.
It's not about which playstyle is right, wrong, better or worse. It's about choosing the game that best suits your play style to get the most out of it.
and the cash shop selling asphalt..." - Mimzel on F2P/Cash Shops
ShunWolfkin-
I agree completely with you. In my 10 years of playing online RPGs, it has always been the people and friends that "made" the game and its experiences fun. I have made great and long lasting friendships with people that I still talk to this day.
I think most people do forget that MMOs are, infact, community and social games. If you are missing out on that aspect, then you are missing out on why MMORPGs were even created in the first place. And coincidentally, that is probably why so many people easily get bored with MMOs today.
Its the social experiences that make the game fun...not the other way around. There have been times when I've stuck with a game for 3-4 years simply because the people and friends were what made it awesome. Without them, the game would have never been fun in the first place.
But don't let me tell you how to play your game. Play whatever way that is fun for you. Because that is what is important. And the OP is right, if you are not having fun (in any way), then its time to throw in the towel for good.
So much truth to that, and it's yet another angle on an ever increasingly multi-angled situation that I, at least, see unfolding as time goes on - certain people's personalities are just not well-suited to MMORPGs and they are the victims of their own playstyle.
I won't get into it entirely here because it should be its own thread, really... but I see patterns of behavior in the who would argue that MMORPGs are "all about the end-game" that all seem to lead back to the same thing... inevitable burnout and boredom in a relatively short period of time. Many invariably blame the developers for not developing enough content...
But here's the thing...
There are people playing those *very same MMOs* who do not consider it to be "all about the end-game", and are taking their time, getting involved with community, exploring different content the game offers, etc. etc... and they are playing and enjoying those same MMOs for years in many situations.
One counter-argument so often (ab)used is "you just suck at MMOs". No... they don't "suck at MMOs". MMOs are not "difficult games" - especially not when there's a guide for practically anything you can think of available on line, for any given game. The difference is in how the two groups approach the game.
There are shades of each type, to be sure - these aren't absolutes - but it seems to boil down to two overall categories. Also note, that these are observations I've made in playing MMOs and following their forums for a while.
- One side approaches MMOs as a highly competitive race to the finish line where "being at the top" as quickly as possible is paramount. Any content that doesn't help with that goal, such as quests (unless they give good xp or rewards), crafting, housing, social activities and other things this type of player will often deem "pointless" and even sometimes bash the developers for "wasting time implementing such useless filler". The vast majority of people I've seen talk about how "game x" sucks, doesn't have enough content, is nothing but a grind, etc... have also fallen into this category. A large number of your MMO hoppers are also in this category - always looking to move on to the next new game because they've burned them self out on the current one.
- The other side approaches MMOs as a long-term journey; a true RPG experience in that, they are taking up the role of a character in a world who has myriad different activities available to them. They don't see quests as "useless filler", but as a chance to go exploring, or adventuring, etc. (I'm no talking about the "kill x of y" type quests here, by the way). They see crafting as a cool activity that allows them to become more involved in the game world, create stuff, sell it, help out friends or guildmates. They see exploring for the sake of exploring to be a fun and potentially "rewarding" activity in itself... you never know what you're going to find hiding around some corner... or what's going to find you. And so on... The concept of "end game" is an abstract or, if not, it's at least really far away, and they'll get there when they get there. No hurry. These people will commonly play their chosen MMO for years, with no desire to move on to anything else beyond, perhaps, trying it out.
Now, as to which is approaching the genre with the right mentality... My opinion is it's definitely the latter. Why? Well, first there is no "right or wrong" approach - you play however you want to play. However, in terms of which group gains the most long-term enjoyment out of the game and, in my opinion, gets more of their money's worth... I would have to say the latter has it hands down. And, yes, I do believe that the latter group approaches the MMO genre with the mindset better suited to the type of games MMOs are and were conceived as.
The proof is in the pudding... While the more competitive, faster-progress types are burning out on MMOs left and right and ever looking toward the next one, the more laid back, adventuring types are playing the same game, contently, for years and never feel they've run out of things to do.
On the other hand, were we talking about a game like a competitive FPS or even a MMO designed entirely around being competitive (I think there's been one or two of those, forget their names though).. something of that nature then, absolutely, the first group would be best suited to that type of game, and the second category would likely found themself out of their depth.
It's not about which playstyle is right, wrong, better or worse. It's about choosing the game that best suits your play style to get the most out of it.
Nice post sir.
Some good observations.
See you in the dream..
The Fires from heaven, now as cold as ice. A rapid ascension tolls a heavy price.
Awesome point but lotro isnt a good example of that imo. Darkfall and Aion (possibly MO or FE?) are the only two worthwhile that I've seen as of late. I'm a big fan of pvp though
"I play Tera for the gameplay"
This is an awesome article. I saw the subject as I logged into the website and was just thinking the same thing.
I feel like I've tried every MMO within the past 2 years just to try get out of WoW or to find the experience I used to have 10 years ago playing Everquest. I couldn't find it anymore.
I've played and sbuscribed to Everquest, Everquest Online Adventures, Final Fantasy XI, World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Everquest II, Age of Conan, Warhammer Online, Champions Online, D&D Unlimited, and, now, Aion Online.
I've played several free ones too: FreeRealms, Perfect World Int'l, Ether Saga, MapleStory.
I've wasted hundreds of dollars on all these games, yet, WoW was the only one to hold me for 5 years. BUT I'm tired of WoW, and I've been playing all these other games to get away from it. The truth is, it's not all the same anymore, and I've decided I'm bored with MMOs. After playing DragonAge: Origins, I've found that fun and immersion again in other video games.
With that said, I'm taking a good long break from MMOs. I'll probably look into WoW: Cataclysm or FFXIV once they come out later this year, but there's a lot of other non-MMO games very worthy of playing.
Thank you for this article. It really made me make this decision. I'm cancelling my resent subscription/30-day trial to Aion Online. WoW's been cancelled already.
Time for a change, after being such a dedicated MMO genre enthusiast.
Very good post indeed.
I've had this problem too, for about... well over a year with WoW; I stopped liking it and even when Wrath of the Lich King came out, it only gave me a couple months of solid fun followed by sighs. At first, I'd only log on to do dailies every so often and make sure to log in once every 2 weeks or so so I wouldn't be kicked out of my guild for inactivity, then someone did RAF with me and I reluctantly played, even though I admit to having fun with a paladin for a short while. I did, however, other than that, log on every once in a while to chat... and even then not for long...
Eventually that led to me canceling my account this month because... well, I don't need to spend 15 bucks a month to do what I can do on msn... I do, however need to to do so while keeping anonymity, but Gmail's for that.
It's funny, though-- I'm not out of MMOs as a whole, per-say. I simply need a break, and maybe some day soon I'll play WoW again and actually play it. Right now I'm more into FPS or action games, either or, moreso if there are RPG elements in them. I guess the reason why I needed to take a break away from traditional MMOs is because ... well, you don't need that +600 sniper of penetration that fires 4 rounds per second to do well if you're a good shot.
Eventually what mesmerized me the first time about the games like RF Online and WoW or even Space Cowboy Online (Presently: AirRivals or ACE Online) the first time will mesmerize me again. I just need a break, but I'm not quitting for good.
People that put themselves above others put me in a bad mood.
http://www.surrealtwilight.com/index.php
^Has nothing to do with that retarded Vampire Novel Series, I swear!^
WoW keeps you from loot, locks you out of content, cost you travel time, has limited content, meaningless reputation bars, and blocks people viewing your stuff on the Armory if you leave. pvp is worse. If you are still excited about WoW, keep playing it until you get it figured out. You'll get there. Trust.
I would say it's time to quit when you spend more time on the forums whining/trolling/fanboyism than playing the actual game.
Don't be terrorized! You're more likely to die of a car accident, drowning, fire, or murder! More people die every year from prescription drugs than terrorism LOL!
I got myself a puppy last summer just to get me out and about.
Since then I've found something more meaningful outside the gaming realms and I'm not playing that much anymore. Actually in October I left MMOs and played games like Dragon Age, Mass Effect etc.
Looking back I think it's not just finding something else that is important to me, but I also felt that others controlled my gaming experience than me. Now I get to choose the time and the duration of my gaming session.
I am now back in AoC (started 2 days ago again) but I play a character outside guild as I don't want to be swamped with grouping requests... not yet at least. Simply because I don't want to spend so much time in gaming anymore.
Great article. I've been somewhat of an MMO addict, or rather more like a WoW addict. Been playing it for 5 years, little more now.
And well, first 4 years was horrible. Everything was WoW, planned my days after raidtimes etc. Everything was just WoW, I've had a girlfriend for 2 years now that the first year had a horrible year with me and I didnt realize how much impact it made on our relationship to raid 3-4-5 days a week and always try to play WoW when she even was here with me or I could sen her home just to play WoW and raid and raid and raid. Also I was so lazy I wouldnt even want to find a job, didnt even try cause I didnt wanna miss the things on WoW.
Now its fine though, took a break from April to December in 2009. And now Im playing again, not raiding or anything. Or well sometimes when I have the time, but the guild Im in is my old guild and they dont care if I come or not since Im just there for casual play. I never play WoW either when my girlfriend is over and I dont have the urge either to come home to play WoW if Im out doing stuff or if Im at her place or at friends places.
Not many people realize they have an addiction. Im just 20 years old now. And there are even 30+ people with wife and children that are very addicted. Just dont think thats right! Make your wife and children happy, not the friends from your guild!
I believe theres alot of people like me playing these games, seeing this thread at this time in my life i thought i would post my 2 cents as i too am about to try and cold turkey quit.
I've been playing mmo's since i was 18 and im about to turn 30 next month. Since the start I've been a hardcore gamer with my excuses for playing so much evolving as i grew older. I've played just about everything out there as i normally play mmo's around 70 hours a week attended or unattended macroing. Most recently, yesterday i disabled all 5 of my darkfall accounts. I took a look at the excuses i've told myself as to why i play games so much and if any of these are you i feel your pain. These are in order of what i think are the main reasons to me.
1. Boredom
2. Unhappy
3. Saves Money Since I Dont Go Out
4. Want To Be Involved To Avoid The Family
5. Addicted to The Emotional Rush (always played PvP or hardcore servers)
I believe i am the poster boy for addicted to online gaming. It's sad as i look at the time i've wasted in my life playing mmo's, yet i am not blaming mmo's at all. It's an addiction like so many other things that can consume your life. I've struggled with most addictive things you can think of and you can pretty much tie them directly into the same feelings and reasons as mmo gaming. its not the industry its us as people. If your like me and you feel completely lost as to what your going to do for the day without your crutch were making the right decision we just need to tough it out and retrain our life routine. i hope others like me can learn from my mistakes and good luck to you in changing your life for the better. i know im going to need some luck.
"On the Deuce," he said, "everybody got a jones."
(Lawrence Block, A Dance at the Slaughterhouse.)
A jones is an addiction, a need, an escape. The author later expands the thought to include everybody, on or off the Deuce. For the main character of the novels, ex-cop Matt Scudder, it's alcohol. In fact the series of novels is as much about addiction and Scudder's personal fight with it as anything else. Go read it if you haven't and you like crime fiction.
I think he's right - everybody has a jones - but I also think some people are more vulnerable than others. I think the pull of an MMO is the switch in realities, from a world full of people amongst which you don't feel so good or important or accomplished, to a world in which you do feel good and you can get things done and you do contribute. Or at least that's the tug of addiction for me. Thankfully it isn't one that causes me much trouble in life, but I certainly empathise with those for whom it does.
It is a good article, but like I've always said to my friends:
One an MMO gamer, always an MMO gamer. There is no going back.
We make more than enough money to cover the $120/month in subscriptions that we've been paying for years on various MMO's. However, both of us have become so busy with work and other projects we just haven't had time to login much for the past couple of months. And, when we did have some time, logged in for maybe an hour.. usually less.
We canceled all our subs this month because MMO gaming just isn't as important to us as it used to be. Will I/we return to MMO gaming? I can't answer that question yet. But, if it happens one day, the "Activate" button is just one click away.
I've been playing for a long time and i do get bored easily. As games are more and more the same, no new feature, no new character types. Right now I'm in between games and will wait till Star Wars: The Old Republic comes out. Not many games out there that really did it for me most recently i tried out star trek... Mouhahahaha that was a real joke so hopefully Star Wars: The Old Republic will be better then anything I've mingled with...
Great article. I have noticed this with many many people I've played MMOs with over the years, including myself. People who are obviously disinterested with the game tend to keep coming back for a quick shot of more before they silently disappear again. I am a convicted offender of playing certain games, *cough* WoW *cough* in periodic bursts. I'll play it for about 2 weeks, cancel my account then come back about 4 months later and do it all over again. I've done this ridiculous behavior with several games I use to enjoy in their prime but have lost their touch over the years. Did the game change; probably not, I just get bored playing the same game for long periods of time.
I've always been one of those gamers that would buy a game, play it all the way through non-stop till I beat it, then maybe go back through a second time just in case I missed anything the first time, then I jump to the next game.
I'm sure MMOs have their social appeal to most; but, for me, it's the game play itself that draws me in and once I've seen everything the game has to offer, well, there might as well be credits rolling on the screen because that's when I'm done.
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use. - Galileo Galilei
I've been gaming since Joust and Bubble Bobble. Started really getting into RPGs when FFII (FFIV) came out for the SNES. And my first MMO was SWG. My outlook on it is that I'm always looking for a new adventure, quest, whatever. With MMOs, for me anyways, there is always something new. There are in fact times where I do get bored. But its not so much that I'm actually bored. Its just that I sometimes need a break. Doing something constantly everyday gets really repetitive and life draining. I have been playing WoW since February of 2007 and finally had hit 70 on my main around Halloween of last year. Now I'm 78. Why? Because I choose to have a social life and the fact that I do have a family. Too much of a good thing can ruin it. If you're getting bored of a really great MMO, its because you need to get out, take a break and enjoy life doing other things before you burn yourself out. There was a time that I had chosen to sell my WoW account just to devote my time to Aion. I played Aion all through the betas and when I picked up my preordered copy, I was burnt on the grind within' the first week. From there I ended up letting my account go and some time later reactivated my WoW account. So I'm back playing again but I still take breaks. I'm always trying a new MMO, not because I'm getting bored, but because I'm a gamer for life and I enjoy it. And for that reason I'm always open to new things and change of pace. Back in the day I would play ANY RPG just to have a new quest to go on for about 30+ hours. I don't ever see myself quitting. Even when I'm old and having to get my diapers changed I'll still be devoting time here and there doing something that I enjoy. If you're just gaming or MMO'ing just for a simple "phase" you're going through in life, then by all means quit. If you're on this site but don't really play or are growing tired of it, then by all means leave......and quit. Not to be rude, but a gaming community should not so much consist of "addicts" but more so people who enjoy it as a hobby and recreational lifestyle. Real gamers. My gaming isn't a simple phase. I take breaks like anyone else. And unlike some people I have control and know where my priorities stand. Just like everyone else I will move onto the next great thing as long as it meets my standards. I still have SWTOR, FFXIV and Tera Online to try out this year. But I will still play WoW until either their servers shut down or they completely revamp the entire game/make a new one.
Getting too old for this $&17!
I play sinds 99.
And still play mmo's but i also from time to time play other games that are not mmo's like morrowind oblivion bioshock risen dragon age or hack and slash games that way i keep intrested in mmo's.
But im also very selective i only play mmo i realy like, in this case Darkfall.
Played ac ac2 lineage2 darkfall over past 11 years with some mmo's in between to try out and many rpg's and fps games this keep my intrest.
I dont keep playing mmo's becouse some friends still play it if i dont like it i quit ive done that few times while my friends still play these games.
Games played:AC1-Darktide'99-2000-AC2-Darktide/dawnsong2003-2005,Lineage2-2005-2006 and now Darkfall-2009.....
In between WoW few months AoC few months and some f2p also all very short few weeks.
I started pc gaming around 1997-1998 when Age of Empires, Diablo and Starcraft were in the making. I started playing mmos around the release of FFXI. Absolutely loved the game and played it for quite awhile. Since my last mmo I was hooked on Guild Wars, loved the game and been playing since 6 months after launch. My latest gaming love was Torchlight, I just love hack n slash games where you can customize your character. Other than FFXI, mmos have just not been fun to play compared to the games I used to play. Once Starcraft 2 and DIablo 3 hit the shelves chances are I will not be looking at playing mmos much except for Guild Wars 2 and The Old Republic.
Good job
Finally someone take a courage to talk about this >>