Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Playing MMORPGs as a parent
BattleFelon
Member UncommonPosts: 483
So it looks like I'm going to be a new dad next January. I haven't actually been that involved in MMOGs in the past few months (played TR and AOC beta but think I'll pass on becoming an AOC subscriber), but I am interested in WAR and possibly getting back into WOW when the expansion comes out.
So, just curious, any other parents out there with small children who still play MMORPGS? How do you strike a balance between accomplishing anything in-game and taking care of the little ones? Is it worth even playing MMORPGs at all, at least for the first few years you have a new kid?
I do know a few dads who still play in hardcore guilds, but let's just say I don't want to neglect my kid or pawn him/her off on my wife so I can raid 3-4 hours at a stretch.
Comments
I am (got a 2 year old and another coming) and I play casually at night. I play and LOTRO and love it because of the lore and the game fits a casual playstyle really well. Wish I could play more but you will find out how it is. Some times i can play and sometimes i cant.
******************************
Brandywine Global LFF chan "/joinchannel glff"
Single parent of a soon to be 3 yearold (21 days...) and I still play MMOs. Granted not as often as before, but I still have fun and thats all that matters. As Jar said, sometimes you get to play and sometimes you dont, but it depends on the situation. My daughter has slept through the night since she was born, so its been rather easy for me to get in a few hours a night. Now she sometimes gets up in the middle of the night, but she will fall asleep in my bed watching me play. She knows that the days belong to her and nights belong to daddy :P
You will just have to gauge it and see how it goes. Kids are more important than the game, and there are many players out there who understand, so dont worry about not getting into good guilds and the such.
A little hint though, Keep a bottle warmer, diapers, juice or any other items near your PC area. If the kid wakes up while your playing, it will make it easier to find the stuff you need and attend to the kid (cause nothing sucks more than running around the entire house looking for stuff you will need when the time comes, and it also allows others to get the rest they need making you a hero in the end :P)
There are 3 types of people in the world.
1.) Those who make things happen
2.) Those who watch things happen
3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
Well, you certainly arent alone. I'm an avid MMO player and a Dad to three boys. It's not hard finding a little gaming time. One thing that helps me immeasurably is being in a guild that accommodates my kind of player. I'm with The Older Gamers, we have over 20,000 registered members all over the age of 25, many of whom are parents. We have guilds in every MMO and FPS game out there and people always understand when you go afk to change a diaper or some other family matter. Getting "family faction" is not only allowed but it's expected. I'll tell you though, the fun begins when you can play a game with your kid. (balanced of course by a great deal of reading books and playing ball outside)
Good luck to you.
Yes! books are great for kids. I use books as a reward for my daughter (every friday we go to the store and she gets to pick out 2 new books for story time). Everyone else buys her toys, which she likes, but story time and books are a big deal to her. Only problem now is I need to get her a bigger bookcase for her room....
There are 3 types of people in the world.
1.) Those who make things happen
2.) Those who watch things happen
3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
Dude, gonna lay it flat here, yer mmo experience will not be the same again until maybe they are about 14, the immersion factor will be broken up by dirty diapers, feedings, you sleeping from not getting sleep because babies dont let ya sleep, then it will lvl off for about a month or so when they turn around one and can goggle at simple stuff, then they crawl, its over man, i cant get into a group w/o haveing to go afk every 10 minutes kids sitting on yer lap mashing buttons on yer keyboards, oh yeah your gonna go through a lot of keyboards and headsets, and it gets worse as they grow, all there thoughts are of you giving them attention, clinging on yer legs when you sit at the puter, I dont even barely group, raid or anything anymore, i have a high resolution expensive chat box, that is the extent of my mmo gaming after kids, i sure do miss the pre-kids upgrade days of gaming, getting into the story, going on raids, hours of dungeon crawls, I can suggest to you to try to get yerself into an mmo like +++shudders+++ wow , lotro, and my personal favorite eq2, as they seem to have a nice way to play for peeps with kids, very friendly that way.
playing eq2 and two worlds
Dont scare the poor guy :P
There are 3 types of people in the world.
1.) Those who make things happen
2.) Those who watch things happen
3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
I think LotRO would be a good choice myself. Plenty of solo content, laid back player base, and some group activities for when you have a few hours.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
there's a line you can use....."hony can you get it?"
Our son totally wrecked our MMO time. The wife and I used to play together a lot. Now...it's either her turn or my turn. Then its not for a long time either. But on the plus side, teh kid is a real blast. Congrats mate!
Frank 'Spankybus' Mignone
www.spankybus.com
-3d Artist & Compositor
-Writer
-Professional Amature
That's why kids are bad LOL
You fell into the trap set up by society to say that you must have kids! - don't belive a word of it, kids mean your life as a free individual are over! permanently!!! Don't listen to stories of how kids bring joy to your life - its propoganda made up by women to trick you into having kids!!!
Say goodbye to your life, you will never be able to do what you want when you want EVER A..G..A..I..N! (or at least until your too old to be bothered to actually do anything fun)
muhahaha :P
Jking BTW - congrats
Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.
Father of three boys. 11, 1/1/2 and 5 months. It all about time management. I play at night mostly, when the kiddies are chilling out for the nite and geting ready for bed. But the days are gone for raiding etc for me, as my kids always come first and playing a game raiding for 3 horus straight or more doesnt cut it for quality time with my kids.
But yes, you can play MMO's, I am playing LOTRO atm, as I find its quite easy to play one handed if one of my younger kids wants a cuddle from daddy, or such. I even do a smallish raid occasionally when time permits.
All in all, Time Management and you can play an MMO. Just don't be one of those people that ignore the kids cause the game becomes 1st place! I have seen it happen with a friend of mine and its not a good thing to see / experience.
Cheers
Tanvaras
Mine are 7, 3, 2 and 3 weeks old. Play time is either real ealry in the morning before they get up or later at night after they go to bed. Still get in 10-15 hours a week I suppose, just takes longer to accomplish things.
Remember it doesn't matter what you do with your kids, as long as you are doing something. They want to see your face, not the back of your head staring at the cpu.
First of all, congratulations on the soon to be addition to the family! My wife and I play games with several other couples with children ranging from infants to "adults (18+ and living at home) and I can say without hesitation that it is very "doable." Personally, I have an 18 month old son and he is my life, so I understand and commend the not wanting to pawn off your family for the sake of raiding.
Not certain if your wife games with you or not (The statement about pawning the child off on the ife for your raiding left me unsure) but that could play a role in your balance issues. As mentioned, my wife does game also. I think the key to our still being able to game "Effectively" wthout sacificing our parenting lies in scheduling. From the time we brought our little one home, we started a regimen and he took to it well. Now at 18 months old, when 7 in the evening comes around he is ready for bed. By 7:30-8:00 the remainder of the night until either I go to work, or she goes to bed. That can amount to anywhere from 2-3 hours of gaming to 6 or so hours.
When the kid gets older, there will be school schedules etcetera to consider. Having 2 step sons who have been through it, I can still say without question that if you WANT to game still, it is easily manageable.
Really the only thing you have to worry about is getting burned out, or out growing MMO's. Or of course how demanding the MMO or those you play with are. Games tht take an hour to get into a group, and then an hour to get somewhere with the group before you actually start "Gaming" are something you should avoid. That will wear on you more than the child will.
QFT!
Grats Mate!....can I have your stuff?!
Frank 'Spankybus' Mignone
www.spankybus.com
-3d Artist & Compositor
-Writer
-Professional Amature
I dont see why being a parent should stop you playing on something you enjoy, ofcourse your family will come first, but its always nice to play later at night if your at home and your kids are asleep, theres a line between playing for fun and being there for ur kids than playing hardcore and ignoring reality
"If someone with multiple personalities threatend to shoot himself, would that be a hostage situation?"