MMOs: Dangerous addiction...


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So I have noticed the discussion coming up in multiple threads and decided to give it it's own.

Would you consider an MMO (IE: World of Warcraft, Everquest, etc) to be inherently dangerous,

or just another past-time?

Going by some media reports and expert polls, one might be led to believe that the very concept

of an MMO is based on causing an addiction in the player much like cigarettes to a smoker. The

stories are filled with people becoming obsessed and losing friends, family and jobs to this

addiction. Should we be concerened? Are MMOs not only inherently dangerous, but inherently

addictive and destructive? And how do your stats rate compared to an "average" MMO player:

how many hours have you logged playing a first-person shooter, or a card game, or watching

TV this week?

Discuss!

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I used to play Eve-Online, and forthe first 9-12 months I would play it when ever I had free time. During holidays, like xmas, my wife still worked when I had 2 weeks off and I had 18hr a day sessions :whistle: But the joy slowly got less and less and after 3 years I was playing the game only for about 8 hours a week till I eventually stopped playing.

I tried WoW about 1 year ago but was utterly bored of it after 5 weeks.

I would say that I was addicted to Eve during the first 2 years but then I slowly stopped playing and now I tried to go back to it, a few months ago when I got free 3 days activation, but just couldn't be arsed with it.

Think my MMO days are over, I enjoy online multiplayers just not MMOs now.

Now for some people the chemicals produced in the brain, what ever they are called, from playing these games could cause a chemical addiction, much like smoking or drinking and even exersise. It can be serious, as a few people have died from game playing. But I think the media just up plays it (much like the swine flu bug) to cause panic in the masses. There will be some issues with a few folk, but I beleive the general masses who play games don't get addicted to them.

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If you got an addictive personality, anything can be dangerous yeah. I was only playing mmorpgs for 4-5 years but I don't think I actually played more hours per week then.. it's just that I sank all gametime into one title and never bought any other games *shrug*

I really miss the social aspect of being part of a proper guild (playing shooters online doesn't even compare).. so when Old Republic arrives, I'll leave consoles behind again and stick to that one title for the coming years.. can't wait :)

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No time to give full answer...MOBs to kill, treasure to be had, Monster to drink...must get next level...must...get...next...level...

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