Player Perspectives: Is It Time To Quit?
What are the warning signs that you may not be enjoying MMOs as much as you used to and that you should step away? MMORPG.com columnist Jaime Skelton shares her opinions in this week's Player Perspectives column.
Column By Jaime Skelton on January 22, 2010
"I don't really have the money to try a new MMO," a friend told me recently. "I guess I'll keep playing this one, even though I don't really play anymore." When asked why she didn't just quit, she told me, "It's boring, but I still have some friends that miss me and I like to pop on and chat with them once in a while." I couldn't convince her to quit, even after relating my own stories of how I'd gone through the same feelings repeatedly, to find I was just wasting time and money.
The MMO Industry doesn't want you to quit, of course. It makes money by your loyalty to its game styles and brands, just like any other entertainment business. By that logic, I shouldn't encourage players to quit either; writing about the industry pays my bills, and if they don't prosper, neither do I.
advertisement The fact is, however, that players quit MMOs every day. Not just specific MMOs either, but the entire MMO gaming industry in general. Some are serious with their vows. Others take back their words at least once as they try out new "candy" in the MMO store. Everyone is different of course. I've known one player who stuck to the same community for eight years before finally resigning and returning to his previous entertainment of television and reading. On the other hand, I've known someone who has the tendency to stay in a game no longer than a year before calling it quits on the entire MMO scene, only to return again within months when a shiny new MMO catches his eye. There are those, too, who quit conditionally, and linger in MMO communities such as this one for years without playing an MMO, waiting for a knight in shining armor to win their heart over.
Many players who are considering quitting MMOs tend to sit on the fence about it for a long time, not really sure if they want to quit. They've got that hook still buried deep in them, and can't quite convince themselves that they don't want to play anymore. There are four good signs, however, that quitting MMOs is a step for you.
;)
Sign number one: You get bored easily. This sign alone isn't indication enough that MMOs have lost their appeal, but it can be a good start. To state the obvious, if you're bored, you're not having fun. If you're not having fun, then it's not serving its purpose: to entertain you. The boredom could just be a sign of a particular game wearing you out. Perhaps in a lull between new content or a lack of people to play with is causing it. If the boredom is recurring, however, and you've stuck with it just to see what's next or to hang out with friends, the boredom might be something more than a passing feeling.
Sign number two: You start looking for new ways to play the same game. As a long time World of Warcraft player, I've been guilty of this myself. Of course, rolling an alt can be a great way to re-experience the game from a new perspective or have another character to help friends out with and have fun. Rolling alts isn't what I'm talking about, however. I'm referring to self-imposed challenges such as leveling without quests, leveling without killing a single creature, or the ever popular "hardcore mode" or leveling until you die, and then deleting the character. Those are just some of the more common challenges. Dozens more can be invented based on the nature of the game being played. If you have to resort to new and unintended or convoluted ways to play games to have fun, you're probably on the edge of quitting.
When you start trying new games, even ones you used to laugh at, you've got a strong third sign that quitting MMOs is in your future. Sure, there are times that we check out new MMOs to see what the buzz is about, or perhaps to see if it's really as bad as what we hear. Going to a different MMO with the actual intent of trying it out to see if you might like it, particularly one that you have previously had no esteem for, is like the MMO player's way of selling their soul to the devil for one night of pleasure. You've wronged yourself, your very code of gaming, and whether you're proven wrong or not doesn't matter - you've taken a step into a dark alleyway, with no turning back.
Of course, the most obvious sign is that you decide to take a break, without calling it quits. I've gone through several cycles of this myself between several games and with MMOs in general, and I'm sure many of you have done the same. There have been times, too, when I've called it quits with MMOs. Sometimes, a break is just due to a lull in MMOs that appeal to you, or due to things going on in the real world that you'd like to leave behind. A break is always a good time, however, to evaluate your gaming habit.
Let's say, though, that you've already figured out it might be quitting time. How do you know if it really is quitting time, though? There's a few relatively simple questions you can ask yourself to figure out the answer.
Is it the game or the grind?
You can easily test this out by trying to play other MMOs for a few hours and seeing how they feel. If you enjoy the new things you're introduced to, or find yourself comparing and ranking the game to other games, it's probably the game you've been playing that's gotten you down. If you start feeling, or thinking, that it's "the same old," it may just be the MMO formula and not the game itself that's getting to you.
;)
Are you staying for yourself or someone else?
With the incredible social power of MMOs, many players find themselves staying in a game even though they no longer enjoy the game itself. They pay their money (or time) not to play the game, but to spend time in the company of other people. If you're logging on to spend time with people, but not much else, and quickly log off if none of your friends are on, the game may have lost its appeal. Now, if it's your significant other, there might be a more compelling reason to keep playing; but if it's online friends and guilds you can't let go of, there might be a problem. You can argue the worth of social interactions, but if gaming itself has lost its appeal, it's probably a good time to call it quits.
Have you forgotten what "other games" are like?
This may sound like an odd question to ask, but take an extra moment to think about it. MMOs are spawn of a much more experienced lineage of video games. If you've been missing some of the great video games out there, not out of disinterest but because you've been too wrapped up in your MMOs, this is a good time to at least take a break, if not quit completely. I recently went through one of these "offline revivals" myself, and spent many hours enjoying the games I'd been missing over the years. There's a lot that non-MMOs can offer, such as a lot more innovation in the field, and even just taking a while to catch up can bring a whole new perspective to your MMO gaming when you return.
There's always a lot of other factors to consider when planning to go cold turkey: what you're going to do with your new free time, who are you going to affect by leaving, and plans for if you ever do decide to come back. Don't feel ashamed as you log out one last time, though. For every person that quits for good, there are plenty more who don't know when to stop.
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Her column looks at the industry from the eyes of a gamer and appears every Friday.
IMO, MMORPG's could and do become an addiction, just like smoking. This article is great in the way that it helps you realize just that. It is short and yet constructive. Props to author.
In China they have special bootcamps that help children and adults to overcome this addiction.
Truly yours EVE addict.
I remember a 37 year old programming coworker of mine when I was fresh out of college used to play WoW. He would spend most of the work day on the armory and I took over almost all of his work load. Our boss asked him to quit playing for 3 months while we finished the simulation contract, and told him that he knew he had spent about 10% of his time working for the past few months. He raged, quit his job, and moved to England to stay with his online girlfriend he met in WoW.
Now this was crazy. We had a badass job. I mean a really, really cool programming job. We were writing the software and graphics engine for this huge navy simulation. He couldn't focus on anything but WoW. It was insane. For some the addiction is as life changing as something like alcoholism.
All things need to be taken in moderation. Play MMO's as long as they are fun, but remember they won't last forever like your real life.
I think too many people both take MMOs too seriously, and play to "win". Both of which are signs you need a break.
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. And then since you have a high level character, if you do create a new toon and try to experience all of the game on the way up it won't be the same or as enjoyable as if you did that originally. I see a lot of people pick up a new MMO and say "What's the fastest way to level?" You are going to be bored of that game quickly and move on within a month or two if you approach all games that way.
The other is to take an MMO to seriously, it is still just a game. If you go to the game's main forums and scream about how a minor change is terrible or "A slap in the face" or "Just killed the game", then you probably need a break. You are treating the game like it is real life or a job. Play to have fun and do not worry about the small things. Take it slow, explore, enjoy. But don't get so into the game you have to go yelling how much the game sucks (while you continue to both pay for it and play it) because of change a or b. That is a huge sign you need a break.
Along the lines of above, if you are screaming at other people in game because they did something differently in a battleground or such then you would have, then you need to take a breather. It's a game, it's pixels, have fun.
But overall it's a good article for people to realize priorities in life. Although I don't know if continuing with a game because you have friends there is necessarily bad. It's not really much different then hanging out at a coffee shop with friends, or hanging out at someone's house watching TV. They all cost money in different ways, and being social isn't bad.
Don't normally read these columns but this one was good. Thank you.
Also. I've grown very fond of EVE Online recently and will be hopping back into the routine soon. Yay.
I was just about to post that this article is like the beginning of a support group.
I met this guy a few years ago when my wife and I were newly weds and I was playing SWG. This was before the CU even, so maybe it was more than few years ago.
Anyway, he was a huge Star Wars fan and we were talking about Star Wars, playing Empire at War and consuming mass quantities of beer.
I start to tell him about SWG and it was like he sobered up instantly and pretty much cut me off. He went on to tell me that his wife made him promise her that he would never play another MMORPG ever again.
I was shocked. I couldn't imagine my wife asking me to give up any of my recreational time or endeavors. I told him so.
He then told me how he played EQ to the exclusion of everything else. He told me he played so much that he stopped taking care of his personal hygiene, and would even play EQ over some horizontal refreshment with his old lady.
At first I was shocked, but then when I got home and started talking to my wife about it, I started to think that maybe he was exaggerating and that his wife was whoring up all his attention and didn't want him to do "other things".
I held to that belief for a few years, and even when people talked about it on forums I thought they were exaggerating. It took me awhile to come to terms with the fact that some people just can't pull away. Don't get me wrong, I can't tell you guys how many times my wife and I made love to the sound track of FFXI in the background because I we just wanted to get a quickie on and go back to what we were doing, but real life, family, and health always trumps video games.
Maybe we're just sex addicts and that addiction takes center stage. I'm playin'.... sort of. hahahaha
This is a great topic, I'm glad you brought this up.
I call it 'MMO Burnout" and to give light on how I handle the breaking point I take 'leaves of absences'. Meaning I take a break and get into another game, or even turn to real life to find enjoyment. After while I start to miss Game X and return, or just move on. I go with the flow.
Awesome! This is one of the best articles I have ever read on these Forums. Gratz!
I always laugh when people rush rush rush to end game of a new Game to show off their Accomplishments that they are Max levels and in no time afterwards they are the first to complain about how bored they are and there is nothing left to do. I find them to be more addicted to the game as they must have played 20 hours per day to get there. When I hit over 2 hours of straight game play, I know I have had enough for the day. At least the game last longer for me and I am less willing to quit as there is still tons to do and explore
Wow this is a great article, i sent it to a few of my friends hoping they get the hint. I reciently quit lotr, via self imposed exile as i have a lifetime account.
Very good article and well written. Many points are dead on. Don't comment many times on the post here but this one is excellent.
Dave
you know i often wonder "should i quit" many times myself. I have a few mmos on tap but rarely play any. Mainly cause real life takes up my time, often months at a time. And yet when i hope back into my MMO i do have fun, until RL drags me off to...render, work, detail my novel(s), and so on...
I disagree with your point about trying out new mmo's. I enjoy trying new things and hence have over the last 13 years of online gaming played more games that I can remember. Normally I'd play a game for 1-3 months depending on how easy it was to max out a character and then I'd play a different game. They are but a game, something to be played for a while before playing something else. I truely am amazed that people play these games for more than a few months. It's a bit like eatting the same thing each day. Life is simply to short to waste it on a singular mmo game for any length of time. Try new stuff and actually live your life in the real world rather than vicariously through an avatar. You maybe suprised to learn there are real people out there!!
Do you know whether you are having fun? You enjoy it, look forward to it, but don't feel guilty while doing it, don't have people in your life being seriously neglected at the expense of your fun. Including yourself.
Then, when your aren't having fun...stop.
If you are having fun...fine.
Problem is, most people can tell whether they are having fun, but some cannot. Furthermore, there is no difference between MMOs and most other activities in life. They can all be addictive. Heck, exercise can be addictive, ever hear of "runners high"?
And the symptoms are pretty much the same. If you don't have a life outside the game, you need to walk away, cold turkey.
Now let's see. I have pretty much dumped WOW. Now what should I do. Hmmm, STO beta? Go back to Lotro? D&D seems fun. Or maybe...... I should read a book. Gaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!
Fortunately, I have everything under control.
Ted: "I'm feeling a little disconnected from my real life.
I'm kinda losing touch with the texture of it. You know what I mean?
I actually think there is an element of psychosis involved here. "
eXistenZ
Great article and it couldn't have come at a better time for me. My cousin just made the decision to quit the genre, which inevitably lead to my contemplation of those very same ideas you touch upon within your article.
Now first I must say that initially I was shocked when my cousin informed me that he had made the decision to quit. Our friends and I were always referring to him as the "MMO Pimp", stemming from his constant need to entice anyone he came into contact with, into playing whichever game he was at the time.
However, after that initial shock wore off, I found myself asking if I should follow suit. I then went through the very same thought process, almost to the T, as you describe and to make this brief, decided that I was going to stick with them as I am still very much enjoying the genre.
Now, some of you may wonder if I may be addicted and the answer that I can give with the utmost confidence is a resounding no. I have come to the realization that I might have been blessed with the ability to not become addicted to anything, it would seem. I perhaps am the opposite as I get temporarily bored of something very quickly and therefore need to be doing something new every so often. I am a person in which the definition of "variety is the spice of life" would be fitting.
While this does deter me from leveling a character as quickly as my friends and colleagues seem to, that boredom never seems to last completely and I'm usually back at the game within a period of time. Are there going to be any 5+ hour gaming/raid sessions in my future? Definitely not. I guess I could be referred to as a moderate player. Perhaps that is the very reason why I don't grow tired of a game, like some. My reason for leaving is usually due to the fact that my friends have moved on to another game in which I follow, not because I am tired of the first.
Having said all that I will admit that I have yet to find the MMO game that has everything that I am looking for. Maybe that is something that may never happen, who knows. I can say that I'm still very much enjoying the ride in the meantime.
Gameing has been my hobby since I was a kid and it`s been a great hobby. I never was a addict though, until I played Everquest back in 2001. EQ did take over my life in a way, but that was my own fault. I left EQ in 2004 for WoW and EQ2 and became pretty hardcore with those games also. MMOs were the only games that I played anymore at that time. I guess my MMO addiction is finally over now though. Gameing is still my hobby but I have finally started playing console games again. I`m haveing a blast with my PS3. I can put down the controller so much easier than I could have walked away from the computer. I still play Vanguard from time to time but I rarely group now because I know I will have to dedicate at least 2 or 3 hours of my time for that one group. My time with Vanguard is mostly to talk to guildies and just stay in touch (kind of what the article was saying).
This may sound wierd, but does anyone else still get the urge to play the MMO that they were hooked on but quit? I`ve not played Everquest in a while, but I still get the urge to play it sometime.
i quit like 2 years ago still floating around the f2p world not spending a dime on any mmos. Free trials and betas (real betas) testing the waters until the time comes to actually spend money on something worth my time. So i knew what i had to do. Stop funding any pile of crap to continue forward and bring more shame to the genre. So i quit a long time ago.
I have the same feeling when i had urge to play Asheron's Call. Which I didnt return anyway because I know it will be the same thing. Just gotta move on or maybe expansion or whatever comes out next.
Great Article Jaime . Bravo. I see these things over and over and just wish for some way to relate it to others. I will certainly be pointing them at your great Article.
Good read, great article, however, I don't 100% agree about there being an addiction issue with trying out a whole bunch of other MMOGs. That's called MMOADHD.
I know my days of MMO gaming are going to end. I don't try every game out anymore. I can choose what I will entertain me and I what I can avoid. Even then, I know I will not play two or three MMOs at once any more. It got too crazy.
Especially when the games that consumed by time like a Fast Foward Remote control. Gosh, how many times did time run away from me. Now I know if its midnight I am done. I no longer feel the urge to advance, and keep up and level up, and camp, and grind for that last nugget of virtual goodness..
It all seems the same now. I know once Star Wars Knights of the Republic is launched, I will no longer play any more MMOs. I just won't because I am tired of even looking for the next new thing.
Thank you for this article, it says everything I've thought for a long time. I figure it this way, if you can walk a way for a week and not miss the game you're not addicted (provided you're not just leaving to play another game, but to participate in real life). I do realize there are those that are truly addicted and they need help if they are. And most of my friends from online gaming I know in real life or on social websites as well (i.e. facebook, myspace, etc.), so I can still enjoy our friendships outside of the games. That's my line of thinking anyway
.
I came to MMOs (relatively) late with the launch of EQ2 in 2004. Over the next 2 years I must have spent hundreds or thousands of hours playing only EQ2 and no other games at all. That all changed forever with the birth of my daughter in 2006. Since then, I've migrated to LoTRO and only play once a week or every other week. Over the past 6 months I've even drifted away from LoTRO and for a time, I must have tried out 20-30 new MMOs just searching for something new.
Now we are about to have another baby, a son this time, so I canceled my LoTRO subscription (somewhat regretfully.) I plan to return by Christmas, maybe.
My point in all this is that for a time, I think I was definitely addicted. Eventually I got older and Real Life (tm) made it clear I wasn't going to be immersed in MMOs anymore. A blessing in disguise really, since I have a great time with my daughter. I can say this: if you ever want to really break your MMO habit, have children. You will find that playing only from 10PM to midnight, once a week has a severe dampening effect on your ability to raid or group. (Or play, period.) :-)
I can honestly say that WoW endgame ruined my fun with MMOs.
Its like being an alcoholic and then trying out light beer or non-alcoholic beer.
Other games simply don't do it anymore.
I am one of those people who would most certainly fit in as not just a MMO addict but a gaming addict in general. I also suffer from ADHD which doesnt help either. I can tell you from personal experience just what "gamming addiction" can do to your life. Sometimes I think Im a walking-talking poster boy for gaming addiction. There are times when I tune out everything else around me or even pass on the horizontal mombo with the old lady...been there. for hours and hours on end. Mater of fact, my gaming habits are a direct cause of the divorce I am now going through.
Articles like this one are what guys like me need to see. I cant even go over to my mom's house for 2 hours to have dinner without thinking how much more fun I could be having if I was sitting at my computer logged into whatever MMO or game that happens to hold my attention that day. In fact I even play them at work, when I should be working. Good thing my job doesnt require me to do much actual work I guess. As long as I can manage to stay awake all night they prety much leave me alone. Not that that is good justification for it to begin with. The bad here, is that I know I have a problem. And I tell myself to step away every single day. I just never seem to accomplish it.
I dont think I am addicted to any particular game however I do find I get itchy to play something if I have not played a game for a while.
This applies to all games. PC or Console. MMO FPS RPG Puzzle .... pretty much anything
I would not call myself an addict I just find it a good way to relax and let off steam.
I would disagree. I believe that knowing or admitting there is a problem is the first step and is a very good thing.
Best of luck to you in resolving it.
This is quite an awsome read as I too have been part of the MMO live and learn life. I wonder if people really just get burnt out or if its more of "looking for that spark" you got from your first MMO experience. I started out in EQ and also began to neglect my wife and son to many hours of endless raids and griding that next level/AA point. I made myself quit after 2.5 years and get my life back in perspective. To my astonishment it worked however I bounced around lots of MMO's in the last 5 years playing casually to semi casually trying to find something that caught my attention the way EQ did. I honestly have to say though I think its more that I have learned in my older age to balance my gaming and RL. I spend maybe 2-3 nights a week now playing 2-3 hours per on LOTRO, but still allow myself time for the gym. I also allow for at least 2 nights of watching a movie or TV show with the wife and helping my son with his homework. In recent revelations however my son who is 12 is now addicted to playing COD online on the PS3, is this the beginning of a new cycle or just life repeating itself?!?!?! GAWD I hate IRONY lol
Great article! I've been through the burnout, break and rediscovery of the genre and couldn't believe how much I could relate to it.
I must work too much to get burned out, from my perspective, so many MMO's out there, not enough time to give even a 1/10 of them a try.
Right now I'm playing EVE (I'll probably die in my Tempest 20 years from now) and Aion, and would love to find the time to give FE, DFO, MO and a couple of others a try.
Sometimes I do feel a bit burned out, but then I just ease up and focus on real life activities for a spell and then come back for another round.
I am glad someone finally wrote about this. I can barley get three months out of a mmo anymore being the exploration type who does not feed of item reward systems so well. I am getting good at quiting :D
hmm......
OR your real life DOSENT last forever, which is why you shouldnt waste the few years away on shitty games that bore you ha.
I enjoyed the article and the responses and can relate to alot of people here. I have been a pretty active gamer since around 1987 when i was 5 years old and my first game ever was dragon warrior. I have played mostly rpg's ever since then and was always sad when the game ended.
I am so addicted to MMO's that even though i am not playing anything atm i am always on forums looking for something good to play, but still chasing the excitement of my first MMO which was Lineage 2. I am one of the ones that overplays and gets bored if the content is not there or the pvp isn't fun enough and would rather be gaming than well.. anything really (although i have not once turned down my wife for sex, ever).
It is a great hobby, and it keeps me from getting drunk or anything else that costs money, so i feel its all ok. I don't have any kids yet so im sure things will change even though i wont want them to. With my go hard or go home attitude that may be the time to give up MMO's for good.
Interesting write up, funny thing is I just finished doing the closed beta of STO and now after just a few days of open beta I decided not to buy the game due to how fast I was becoming bored with the game. i went through the same thing with the last few betas I have been in, so I was just thinking maybe its time to stop playing even betas for a while and find a new hobby.
I think mmo gaming has run it's course every developer is trying to copy wow and it has ruined the genre imo. WoW is a great game for people new to mmos but for verterns like myself find it very boring and repetitive and way to easy. I have pretty much given up on mmos for the time being until a company decides to break out and do something really different or try to clone daoc eq or swg pre ngu. The companies that made those games need to just remake them wiht pretty graphics so the people so used to wow will play it and just take the controls and combat from wow.
After a friend of mine got super addicted to EQ (lost her job and her apartment. She ended up moving out of state to live with her mother . . . and play EQ), I vowed never to play another MMO (at the time I had played UO and a bit of EQ.).
Then SWG came along. I became ADDICTED to that game. My wife hated the game. The CU/NGE saved my marriage.
I did not play any MMO's until a few years ago. I decided to to try WoW. I chased the carrot they dangled in front of me through three characters who never made it to lvl 60. played a year before I decided that it was not worth it.
I almost got hooked on DFO, but I got burned out through beta.
I have bounced around a few free trials, but nothing hooks me.
All I am looking for now is APB. Nothing interests me at all. I am almost completely burned out of the genre.
SWG was not my first MMO, but it was certainly the best I played. Nothing I have played since has compared to it , and nothing on the horizon looks like it will compare.
Great article.
I've hoped from MMO to MMO over the years, starting with EQ and ending with WoW, but "burnout" is a thing bound to happen to a power gamer like myself. Its a shame most people get addicted, but addiction is a human epidemic due to how people grow up these days (unfortunately) & escapism is seen as the "lesser" evil to drugs, sex, or other more physical addictions.
I'm glad I can finally quit games & know when to focus on RL, especially now working out of college - but I kind of feel sorry for those with such a magnetized addiction; is there anything developers can do? or really is that now part of the business plan (or so it seems) .
God speed to those stuck :)
PS. FFXIV better not get me addicted ><
I would disagree. I believe that knowing or admitting there is a problem is the first step and is a very good thing.
Best of luck to you in resolving it.
What happened to it just being a game! Good luck cblodgett, the best thing to do is find something involving outside of the computer - Mountain biking or skating or just something.
I loved the post here and can relate to those posting in many ways, I rid my self of WoWcrack when my first daughter came and it was super hard. I still can visualize eating Gnomes with my Feral Druid, nothing better than Gnome blood for a shiny coat! (see it still is there even after 2+ yrs away). Its a shiat game for the dependency its creates!
I still play games but maybe 1-2 hrs a week if I am lucky, the wife hates them but knows after a long hard week my brain needs the down time. I only play Spellborn because I can solo it , achieve progression and have a great time in 30mins. Never touch a sub game again - creates part of the addictions in the first place!
Peace, thanks for the article.
I've been heavy into games every since I was young and my sister and I would spend the weekend playing Monopoly (no computer games back then.. yup, I'm an old timer). When computer games arrived in the 1970s, I loved to played the adventure games like Zork. Then I got my first PC and there were all kinds of games available on floppy disk. Then public computer networks with games became available and I spent nearly a decade playing MUDs and other RPGs.
I liked the Ultima series, so I bought UO when it first came out, got it all installed and signed in for the first time. I was promptly killed by someone any had my meager starting posessions stolen while I was still figuring out how to move the character. I took the game back to the store the next day and have never enjoyed UO since, although I've tried it again.
My first 3D MMO was The Realm in beta, but the PvP kept me from buying it. Then I got an early invite to the AC1 beta and was hooked for over 4 years. That was when my first quitting occured. I'd maxed out my main character and almost maxed out a couple of others. I had tried just about everything in the game and there wasn't anything interesting left to do. Even writing JavaScript macros to automate the tedious parts of playing got old.
So thats when I started trying various new games. First, trying any available betas, and then playing one than was fun until I got tired of it and moved on to something else. The average ones were good for 3-4 months, the better ones for 6-9. And then when I was in the WoW beta, I knew it was a keeper. I played WoW for a full 2 years and only stopped because the new expansion ruined nearly all my fancy addons that I'd developed over the months.
So since then its been back to betas, free trials, F2P games and playing interesting subcriptions for 3-6 months. At this point I've got enough betas, F2P and endless trials so that I have lots of variety without a paid subscription. Like many others, I'm still looking for the holy grail of their ideal MMO, but I'll be satisfied with just another well done one like WoW was. I'm currently in the STO beta and had hoped it might be worth a subscription, but its another disappointment. Maybe later on, it will reform itself like DDO did and be more fun to play, but for now I'm just making due with things that don't cost much (which also helps my entertainment budget).
I doubt I'll ever quit MMOs completely, but I've been going back and revisiting some of the older strategy games that I have and buying the occasional puzzle game on sale like Portal. I've even been dabbling with Java a bit to see if I can code something interesting for my cell phone. But I stil track what going on here, hoping to find something new and interesting.
Good article.
I can say that I'm almost to that point. For the most part companies with the money to pull off an MMO look heavily to WoW, a game I do not enjoy, for inspiration. That's a turn off for me so I'm finding less and less games that I can say with some measure of comfort that I'm looking forward to them. If not the WoW forumla, then these same companies are taking leaps and bounds away from world building with more simulation aspects and choosing instead to make more arcade-like, single player type games. This too is not appealing to me.
I plan on trying FFXIV for the reason that I've never played a SE MMO. I doubt my time there will be long. After that World of Darkness Online and possibly the game that 38 Studios is working on if it has more sim, less SP/game aspects. After those two, unless a developer flat out states they are making a game for those who enjoy a sandboxy, world simulation type game I'm done. There is just too much room in this genre for those type of games and no one is making them that has the financial backing to do them halfway decent in all aspects of game design. There are enough gamers out there that with interest in such a game that at least one AAA company could produce such a game and make a tidy profit.
I gave up EQ and WoW because of the grind, and boredom. Sad part about it is I let both of those games ruin my college grades. I've seen engineer students go into complete failure due to being sucked into the life of a raider. I can honestly say quitting EQ and WoW was the best decisions I've ever made when it comes to gaming and it has nothing to do with them being bad games.
The only MMOs that I have enjoyed without being sucked into hardcore carrot on a stick mode were games that basically weren't built for it, Guild Wars, Planetside, UO. I could honestly play these games 2 hours a day and be fine with it, enjoy myself, and not feel like I'm left in the dust, or under-geared to do anything remotely fun. However boredom over took me with these as well but the decision to quit was never as painful or excuse ridden as the former MMO's I mentioned. I could easily and happily put down Guild Wars or Planetside for a few months and never have a bad thing to say other than, I just got bored, trying new things out.
To be honest its the industry itself that is making me less and less interested in playing mmos. With the latest developments of paid betas and cashshops im really thinking about getting some good single player games that i,ve missed. Dragon Age comes to mind as its suppose to be along the path of baldurs gate.
However i will continue to play eve:)
bobm111
When I first started MMO's I never wanted to play anything else. However, I didn't have a computer so I actually did play my xbox to kill time until I could get on and level my character in Ragnarok or WoW.
Now that I do have my own computer, I have played TONS of MMO's and logged hours on in without trying the other games. Really, after I played WoW for 4 years, I found all other games to be very boring. I tried quitting when I felt the game was a fruitless endeavor but, I kept coming back and starting fresh to feed my addiction. However, never really realized it until WoTLK. Basically, the game was clearly the same thing over and over at that point.
Now I play all kinds of different games again! And they are really fun and I wish I played them long ago. I tried Warhammer Online for a year, but it never stuck with me because the end game made me think of the boring loop in WoW. Then I tried Aion but never got to 50 because of the endless grind.
I don't enjoy those boring routine MMO's anymore. Once you break from them, you don't feel like going back (well sometimes you do, because the community was fun). Now I'm waiting for new-age MMO's like Global Agenda, APB, or even MO that will hopefully have the same fun as my favorite non-MMO games but bring the small knit community that comes with traditional MMO's.
I could tell you my life story but I wont :) I'll keep this short. I've been addicted to games before.
I should of seen the signs back in the 80's when I got my first console (Atari 2600). I would skip Church, School or pretend to be ill just so I could sit at home and bash some space invaders.
The 1st game that I played too much was Championship Manager back in 1992 but it didn't take a proper hold on me (probably because it was single player).
Counter-Strike was my first real online gaming addiction, 2nd game was Star Wars Galaxies. Both game however came at a time in my life where I had moved to a new City. I was kinda lonely, vunerable, in new surroundings and not knowing a soul apart from work collegues . I needed some social interaction. Going to bars was an option but I didn't fancy going alone. I was a computer geek and gamer and started playing games like Counter-Strike and Star Wars Galaxies. These provided me with a platform in which I could interact and socialise with other people. To this day some of my best friends are people I met while playing those games.
I still game but I don't get sucked in and addicted like I used to. Its probably down to the fact I now have 2 children, 1 on the way and a gorgeous girlfriend. I think life in general contributes to many addictions and games can definatly fill some holes :)
(Man my spelling sucks)
Very good and appropiate article! MMOs can ruin lifes, many examples out there. Devs know they're creating game dynamics not focused on enjoyment but addiction (basically grind) and someday those corporations will get a blowback.
Not playing any mmo currently (since many months ago)...but testing STO beta XD (what a grind!)
One of the best articles I have ever read on this sight, Nice work Jaime:) Struck a cord in me as well. I think gaming adicction is a very real problem, and its nice to see somebody looking at it objectivly for once. I was expecting a lot of the replys to be very self defensive and negative but was pleasently surprised by what I have read through so far. Very interesting thread.
There certainly are those who hang on when they should go. But there are far more who go before they should, like a swarm of locusts they buy each new MMO, play a month and move on. On a personnal level not quitting is harming players, but not staying is harming MMO's.
Great article.
It is sometimes hard to leave a character that you have put so much time into to develop. Ingame friends make it even harder. New lures of content and items are even harder to resist. But in the end you are no longer playing a game - the game is playing you to pay for the sub.
Very few players actually quit until they are really pushed away. This can ofc be RL issues. But more often than not - this happens when the devs screw up. The class you play is beeing nerfed to death. A feature of the game has been changed and new added that you dont like. And over time these things pile up and turn into hate rather than love for the game. Many gamers need to be pushed to this point before leaving a character(s) that they have developed over long time.
In the end it is becoming very aparent that the gaming industry is very stagnant atm. The big companies are no longer creating games. They are creating software to make money. The best games I have been playing lately (with truely enjoyable gaming features) are games like Trine - Hinterland and Torhclight. But even those games are bringing nothing new to the table. They are just focusing on the improtant parts of games (for me).
Gamers pre-order or buy new MMO titles cause they are actually looking for a new MMO (are playing a game that they should have left long time ago). They leave the new MMO game BECAUSE that game is not delivering the basics that the old game got right.
You can not blame the gamers for leaving a MMO game that doesn't have the features - they quality - or the gameplay enjoyment that the gamers are looking for. Those MMOs are harming theselfs in not focusing on the true parts that the majority of gamers are looking for.
Niche games like WAR - AOC - Darkfall will never be mainstream games even if they were launched as such. THey have to many annoying features (that were actually designed into the game and supposed to be part of it) for the normal gamer to consider it as enjoyment. Games like WOW try to remove this annoyance part asap and manage to keep the majority of their playerbase happy that way. But games like WAR and AOC ignore this majority - or are simply unable to deliver like in case of AOC with long loading screens and torn apart landareas, single player storyline - and broken core systems like the stats on items and the entire city building and siege system. Just to name few. Add on top of this very poor quality control and you see mass exodus of gamers that are STILL looking for new game.
You can not blame gamers for not wanting to play bad games.
I will admit that I have reached a wall with WoW. Like most people, that means that I should probably take a break and/or fundamentally decide whether or not I should leave the game entirely. I've taken breaks from WoW before, generally to test or play games that were about to launch or had just launched.
Hopefully this next expansion will bring something 'new' to the table for WoW. Hopefully it will be something much, much different than what WoW has given us over the past 5 years. I don't necessarily believe that will be the case, but I hope that it will be.
I'm also hoping that other MMO's will step up and do something 'new' with the industry. I have high hopes for The Old Republic. Aside from Final Fantasy, I think that's really the only game in development worth caring about at this point.
The question of 'time to quit' has to be on the minds of the Dev's too. I mean, they must look at these games from a 'player retention' perspective. I'd love to hear their thoughts on this subject.
hmm......
OR your real life DOSENT last forever, which is why you shouldnt waste the few years away on shitty games that bore you ha.
I think ProfRed pointed out the obvious flaws of modern MMOs these days, they're too linear and only offers a "path" which is what single player games has, too many MMOs lack the open free feel that older MMOs had. Once you get your first character up to 50 or 80 or whatever then reroll a new alt, you'll probably end up doing the same quests all over again but likely 3x faster then powerleveling comes to mind for many players.
If it weren't for the NGE in SWG, I would've still been playing, and I've played it nonstop from June 2003 to November 2005, ever since after that I've been MMO hopping with City of Heroes being my longest played game since then. None of the newer MMO games has enough holding power for me to stay any longer than a month or 3 months, Tabula Rasa probably would've been my next longest played game if it didn't get shut down because I liked the combat, gameplay and the open world (despite quests being slim and content was shallow).
I myself have been down this road, and I can say that I am still looking for that "Fun MMO" to keep my interest. But I am slowly starting to realize that that "Fun MMO" doesnt necessarily need to be an MMORPG.
For Instance, the most fun I have had is playing with people I have met on a Single Player game called Neverwinter Nights, a title I am sure many of you are familiar with. But what this game had (and still does to this day, though in smaller numbers) is a great community, who knew exactly what they wanted for their online experience, and because the game came with a Content Builder and the fact that it you can create custom content for it with a widely known 3D modeling tool called "3DS MAX" made it easy for people to put their own worlds together.
Granted, the games graphics are way behind the times, but that doesnt matter when you can use your imagination! Of course this wont apply to everyone, but I feel I have found "my game" and I enjoy the time I get to spend on it.
This is a great article! I'll bookmark the article to find it back quickly, since I want to use a link to this article when responding to many complaints in other threads on this (and other) forums...
Anyway - I've seen a few broken families and careers due to World of Warcraft. When your gaming starts to interfere with Real Life stopping might become very urgent.
"Explorer style" gamers trying other games isn't really a sign to stop, though...
MMO games should focus on the social part. Item oriented games like WOW are addictive and are forcing players to play more than they really can afford. I hope the Random dungeon system will give ppl the chance to rejoin reality instead of sitting in raids 4-5 hours per night.
PVP focused MMO games are not social games. They are anti social and cater behaviour that is damaging both the the players and the game itself. Call it niche - or call it whatever you like. In the end its all about gankers and zergs. And these games are feeding the gankfest by offering better gears for the gankers to destroy the true enjoyment for other gamers.
Finally. There is one thing that is dissapearing from the MMORPG - genre. And that is true RPG. True in the sence that you can log into a game and truely feel like you are your toon - and others around you share the same enjoyment. LOTRO is probably the only game at this point that has any sort of this feel - Maybe Eve does it too. Others dont fee like RPG anymore with players chatting more about other things than actually the game and their toons. Im ofc talking in general. YOu can still be lucky and meet up with true RPG ppl that know how to play with emotes, talk in character and if not - they still respect other ppl that try to do this. Maybe the Developers need to learn something from these ppl. In the end - its the developers that are turning the genre away from true RPG - and turning it more into tournament style gameplay like WOW did with arena. PPL do not meet up there as their characters. They meet up as the looser that sits behind the computer. Thats not what RPG is about. And neither is it about payed character transfers or faction change or whatever. That takes the character out of context of the world it was living in before.
For me, the biggest reason to quit playing an MMO, or all of them, is because I've discovered that when I do I come back 3 months or more later very much refreshed; I can enjoy the same game - or a different one - far more if I take the occasional extended break.
;)
Im not really sure what to think of the article. Clearly from the responses and from the underlying message i got from it was about addiction.
Without giving the evolution or de-evolution of the genre side by side with these, it's hard to tell whether this is just advice for some, or excuses for the Current state of MMO's.
This was a great article and I got so much out of the honest comments in the thread. The larger co's should take the time to read some of this stuff. I would give them better insight on how the community really feels.
I'm right there with you Frob! I played through Trine 2x to get some of the stuff I missed. That game is just fun. I bought Torchlight this weekend and am enjoying it a lot. But I didn't hear of Hinterland and it looks interesting. Thanks for the Reco!
What it seems to me that these smaller software concerns, the indie publisher and programmers have one shot to make it. They know that there is heavy and stiff competitions amongst the larger game companies. So they bring their 'A' game, putting their best foot forward. Trine and T-Light are prime examples.
If the larger game companies like Act-Blizz and EA thought like this these indie co's wouldn't stand a chance. But unfortunately the passion is no longer there and they already know they have a foothold. So they make a game and publish it however good/bad it is and they know that we will buy it because it has the 'big name logo' on it.
I didn't want to go too off topic, just add this insight.
Props for a good article...
Like a lot of you I've been playing mmo's since the very addictive EQ came out and only in the last 3-6 months I have virtually stopped playing in them bar the occasional free play in WAR/SWG/EQ/EQ2/VG etc. I think generally the age of the mmo gamer has got older and relised that gaming can become very addictive and you can become less pro-active sitting in front of a computer screen all day. This is why most of the newer worlds coming out have a stronger casual side to them, which I think is good because a lot of lives can be ruined by mmo's and I've seen it first hand the way players can take a game to serious.
Anyways I'm waiting on SW:TOR before I start playing mmo's again and even though I did think it would be released this year I was actually releaved when they announced it wont be out for another year + because I have so many things on the go in my life at the moment I know chances are I will be playing SW:TOR a lot lol. In the mean time I'm content playing the xbox360 and single player rpgs. I will mention this thread to my friends on other gaming networks so if anyone is feeling the addiction of mmo gaming then they know they are not alone.
Nice aritcle. I just have a couple comments.
First, in regards to the second sign, that of playing the same game a different way. In my exprience it is not always a sign that you are getting bored of a game. Players may just be getting bored of the way everyone else is playing the game. Going against the grain is hardly a sign that players are getting bored of an actual game in my opinion. Just because everyone else is rushing to max level and running heroics doesn't mean that someone who is taking thier time and couldn't care less about heroics and endgame, is not necessarily bored. Perhaps just fed up with the attitudes of players who play that way. Perhaps they are bored of quests and instead of going to a guy with a "?" above thier head to get a task to go kill 20 boarasaurs, the player may decide to just do this himself. He or she can make up the quest dialogue for themselves and use whatever reason (or no reason at all) to kill this or that or to collect a certain number of things. I thing it's more a sign of imagination and creativity than being bored of any specific game.
Second, with regards to forgetting what other games are like, I think it's healthy for any MMO player (addict) to take a break and try new or different games out. I love MMOs, but I also enjoy single and multi-player turn based strategy, FPS, and RPGs. Alot of times taking a break to play these other genres actualy makes my MMO experienc much richer. There are ways to incorporate certain attitudes or ways of playing these games into any MMO. The single player games also cause me to miss the social or grindy aspects of the MMOs so when I do decide to return it's that much sweeter.
It is completely depressing to see most developers conform to "the MMO formula". Being tired of said formula and wanting something new and innovative and creative is not wrong, it's the natural response for a person who has played too many MMO's that are all the same game but with different visuals.
i call it quits whenever i have to look for groups to enjoy content/quests.
hence, i only last 2 or 3 months in any game, which is fine, i only play 1 mmo a year if i'm (un)lucky.
guild wars 2 will be an exception if they do it right.
age of conan WAS doing it right, but they decided to change, so i told them to F off.
I have SOME hope for the star wars mmo by bioware, but not sure yet, they haven't spoken on it too much, i'll wait for feedback before deciding to try or not.
i still would love to be able to play LOTRO, but i know there's too much content i'd have to sacrifice being a solo player, so not even going to bother with that one either.
Agreed. I've quit the genre until a good game comes out that isn't yet another Tank-Healer-DPS game. I'd be interested in one that wasn't loot-focused either, but that looks like it would take a miracle.
I believe that taking breaks from a game or even form the genre are essential if you want to play mmos for a long time. Most people will get bored with a game after a few months or so of playing nothing but it. I have been playing WoW for over 2 years now and have yet to play for more than 4 consecutive months. I play for a few months and when it starts to bore me or i find another game to play I take a break from it for a month or so. When I come back it is almost like new to me and I have fun again. If you do nothing but play 1 game for months and months and months, then it is only expected that you will become bored with it.
I think taking a break from mmos is a way to renew your interests in them, not a sign that you should quit them for good.
This is a great topic to talk about, most mmo gamers can relate to this in some way or another. I think it's a little extreme for someone to maintain their monthly fee just to socialize on random occasions. Isn’t that what a phone bill is for? If you chat with a person long enough to become their friend in a mmo, wouldn’t you upgrade to ventrilo or an actual phone?
A MMO can be grouped up with all those other addictions. Common sense will tell us to take it in moderation, but those plump healthy achievements say, "Get me now!" The time to quit goes in the common sense category.
For those gamers who want to quit, including me, it's actually harder than it sounds.
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. However, if something has occurred to really sour the game for you(changes to the game or to your income(thus making you have to rethink cost/worth analysis)), then perhaps even playing with friends isn't enjoyable/worth it. Such needs to be looked at on an individual basis.
For example I played The Fourth Coming for the longest time because I enjoyed logging in and spending time with the community. However, I had known for a while that I was bored of the game itself. So once I no longer regularly spent time with friends or acquaintances on the game I stopped playing. Then again I played T4C almost from(I think) 1999 until just last year so it is little surprise that I become burned out from the gameplay.
Which brings me to the sampling deal. I don't really see that as time to quit, merely it is that ones interest in a particular title wasn't strong enough. How will you know if it interests you if you don't try it first. I for example had a strong dislike towards WoW from the start, but I never actually played it for the longest time, I had just read about it. Tried it a couple years ago. Didn't like it, but I figured that it wasn't right for me to judge without testing the waters first.
I do think it is a good article and it does discuss very important points, however, I feel that in my mind it didn't go far enough into the various points. Then again I like to read articles that are miniature books, so making things my way would put a lot of people off.
As for the addiction talk. Honestly I have a hard time imagining it in the long run. Yes, when I play a game for the first time I may play several hours a day(as much free time as I can will go into it). However, after the first couple days that gets old and I play something else or read a book(I may not even ever finish the first game. . . I have a long list of unfinished games. Good games, but I do bore soo easily). That is just how I am(same is true for books, sports, people, conversations, etc. . . Anyways I suppose that just makes me lucky since Gaming addiction isn't a bit worry for me. . . though books may be another thing.
Life is too short........MMO's are a big waste of time.......Go get a life or a second job and increase your bank account.......Travel and bang broads in different countries........Learn how to fly an airplane and learn to skydive from that plane....Get a divorce from your right hand and get a real GF...There is a bazillion things a whole lot funner to do than live vicariously through an avatar in someone elses cartoon fantasy......The wife has that twinkle in her eye alot more since I quit mmo's a few years back.......time to go get some......<end lecture>
You know... reading some of the replies here... I'm half-expecting to see a follow-up article:
"Jaime Skelton Posts Article - MMO Player Population Drops By 50%"
Seriously though, very good article and I've felt those things about certain MMOs before, only to find that I just needed a break. I'd come back a few months later and all would be well again.
So... if it seems to center around one or two MMOs, it may just be a sign that you need a break :)
Good article. Reminds me of the time when I quit playing seriously mmorpgs 2 years ago. I realised there were other good games around other than mmorpgs. I do play mmorpgs but without as much dedication as before because we know that in the end, its just an addiction and a waste of time(or money).
This article describes me completely. =(
There is a place for MMOs for anyone who wants to play and moderation is the key. Your wife problably has that twinkle in her eye because you were ignoring her before. Women don't hate vidoe games, they hate that men take time away from them to play them. I'm on a different shift than my gf and I play when she is sleep and on our days off together I don't period. She enjoys console games and we play co-op games together sometimes. MMOs are fun and incredibly imaginative I don't think I'll stop anytime soon. You can play casually and still enjoy life.
Someone already covered that earlier in this thread, games like WoW and Lineage and EQ tend to kill marriages and social lives.
"eXistenZ IS PAUUUUUUUSED!!!"
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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'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.
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.
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 >>
I found the addiction part when playing EQ1 weekends at a time sometimes 20 hours a day when not working. And while working always with my head in the game thinking about what I will be doing in the game when I get off of work. It put a strain on my marriage to say the least and my wife and I almost got divorced. For the first time ever I am glad my computer died, I was not able to play for about 3 months while assembling another and it broke my addiction to the game.
Now a few years later WoW comes and I feel the same jones sometimes when not playing the game, but older and wiser now I have learned how to manage game time and real life time, I found many things that I can do that I enjoy just as much as MMO's. Great article for those who are struggling with this.
Oh btw, I am returning to WoW again after a break of about 3 months, why? Because I am interested to see new content, visit some friends and just pass the time.
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.
WSIMike,
Absolutely. I don't think I could have summed it up better. Well put and well said, my friend.
Great article; the best one in a long time on the site.
this article is more like, what are the warning signs that you're an absolute loser? IF you are finding excuses to do something that is boring and you aren't enjoying, that just means you don't have enough to do with your life! The warnings signs for me that I shouldn't be playing an MMO are that I'm enjoying it too MUCH, not finding new ways to force myself to keep playing.
What a wonderful article, and very much on the money. I have my own little story to add...
I actually spent more than four years playing, and happily addicted at times, to Star Wars Galaxies. However, I for one miss the original game (pre-CU) and even a bit post-CU. In the summer following the CU and Rage of the Wookies (summer 2005), I had just finished my BA and my wife (who's Japanese) went to Japan for four months over that summer. Since launch (2003) and up to that summer of 2005, I had dabbled in SWG (casual player) depending on school, my wife, our life together, etc. Then, when she left for Japan for those few months in 2005, and after my graduation, I was actually out of school AND out of work. I soon got a job at a local fast food restaurant, but still had a massive amount of free time (compared to being a triple-major in college with 22+ credits a semester). That summer I played SWG well-over-12 hours a day, 7 days a week. I soon requested my two days off for each week to come back-to-back, so I could play 18-24 hours the first day, sleep the morning of the second, and play about 12+ hours on the second day off. My best friend, who also worked at the same place, moved into my apartment for the summer, and also began played SWG. We lived off of sacks of free burgers and fries from our work we brought home on our bikes afterward, and Miller High Life 30-packs from the gas station near my apartment. When patches were released, or when the servers were restarted, my friend and I would freak out. I remember a few of my days off, waking up, ready to get in game immediately and disappear into a Galaxy far, far away... and seeing that my server Flurry was restarting or down: I would pace my porch eating microwaved day-old burgers and drinking High Life at 7am to the sunrise in Colorado...my buddy smoking nervously, the both of us chatting emphatically about our characters, what we had planned for the day, how much these down-times disturbed our lives, etc.
Then, one day, my wife called. She always did every Monday, Thursday and Saturday evening (morning there in Japan). She always asked how I was, how things were going, what I was up to. "Good, great and just hanging out, missing you." This particular phone call, however, I hung up afterward and was literally looking in my bathroom mirror by chance. An overwhelming feeling of guilt and selfishness overcame me, actually to the point of nearly tears. Staring back at me was not a recent honors graduate 24-year-old that should have been writing a knockout resume. Instead, there stood this slightly-more-chubby, shaggy and scruffy, red-eyed, yellow-toothed man that looked like someone who lived in his parents basement on a video game. That was about two weeks before Asuka returned from Japan. I took a temporary break from SWG, quit my job at the fast food place, started jogging and working out twice a day, and within a week landed a much-more-decent job at a video game store as it's assistant manager (then store manager shortly after, if not temporarily: that next year I would put my BA to good use as an archaeologist at a local wilderness organization). My wife returned from Japan, and I couldn't wait to spend every minute with her.
I look back on that summer with mixed emotions, but mainly I miss it in some weird way. I was able to devote every waking moment, just about, to Star Wars Galaxies. Then I had to grow up, all over again, and did. Over the next few years I would play a number of games, if not briefly: Vanguard, Guild Wars, WoW, LotRO, Aion, and many others, most recently Fallen Earth. However, I am always conflicted. I desire to have those endless days on days to play a beloved MMO, to be taken whole by that addiction and relish it, but at the same I sense overwhelming guilt while playing a game for more that a few hours. Recently, over the past month or so, I've barely even turned on my desktop. I don't have any single MMO, not counting Guild Wars (which I haven't really played much since November), and likewise I can't even get much into Fallout 3 or the Elder Scrolls series (my usual stand-by's). I think, in some ways, I am waiting for that right game that I can play in BALANCE with my life. So far, since SWG, no game has swept me away, and I wonder often if I will ever find another that will. Possibly, it's not the game that matters in that respect, rather our life situation. Maybe I only got addicted to SWG at the time because of it not only being a great game but my life, free time and manner being aligned to allow me to disappear into it. Who knows...
I miss that addiction in many ways. I miss SWG, that summer, and all that free time and sense of haplessness. It reminds me, very much, of being a child in a way: long summers with little to worry about except having fun. But at the same time, I very much enjoy taking my wife out for coffee on a friday night, or a movie, or just reading a great novel (which I've very much fallen in love with again, thanks to Glen Cook and his "The Black Company" series). I don't know if I've grown out of MMOs so much as just scared myself away from them. Maybe that's a lesson in and of itself? But I do know one thing for certain: Colorado sunrises sure are more beautiful while jogging high up on a ridge overlooking the mountains then they are pacing my old porch while sucking down burgers and High Life, fretting about when the SWG servers will come back online...
Quite possibly one of the most elegantly written posts I've read on a forum... I know and understand what you've been through, and you're better off!
If it wasn't for my Wii I would still be playing MMO, RTS, FPS online games. I used to spend all my waking time other than work time playing online games. Now with my Wii I spend maybe an hour a day online, and an hour on the Wii. It's amazing how much free time I have to go outside for walks and what not. Wii ftw!
Probably the biggest sign imho is if you're playing or have played 3 different MMOs in the past month, it's time to quit hehe (guilty of playing 6 or 7 back in march/april)
I was once addicted and put aside a lot of responsibilities. But it's like the guy said. It's a lesson learned. But I grew up on gaming. I'm not going to complain about grinds or content or even the social aspect. If I play a game and everything kind of just falls into place then I would be sticking with it for the long run. I have a wife and kid so during the day it's full of errands, chasing him around, making meals and going out to have fun. When the kid and girl is asleep I log on for a few hours and maybe do this a few times a week. But I'm not in a race and it makes the game more enjoyable. MMO's are just like any other hobby. It is something you enjoy and invest time in. And people tend forget that it is in fact a hobby and spend too much time and start to neglect things in their life. As for me, gaming isn't a "phase". I play when I can and enjoy every minute of it. I have my outside life with the family that I enjoy but I still require personal time for the things I like.
My experience started with an old online game called the Realm. My character was Nagic and though I never progressed past level 300 of the 1000 levels available I truly enjoyed the social aspect of the game. I was a trader and through skills I did almost all of my progression in town. As a trader I interacted with others in the game more than most and made lots of friends. I found myself paying for a months membership to find an old friend named 0ak some 7 years after I had quit the game. A guy from Canada (im from Michigan) that I even managed to meet IRL.
From there I moved to Everquest. 7 yrs later my girlfriend of 6 yrs informed me that 40+ hours a week of gaming was no longer acceptable and it was then I took notice that I had addiction issues. It was named Evercrack for a reason. I chose to give up my addition and moved on to WoW. Been in WoW now for some 4.5 years and I have yet to raid anything. I get on...socialize a little, run a few instances or quest then get on with my day. I still think sometimes I play to much but its far better than when I was in EQ.
Even with this reduction in game play silly addictions still plagued me. While bored with WoW I took a break a couple times and found City of Heroes and Eve online. CoH was great out of the shoot and held my attention for a long while. Eve online was however a very difficult game for me to pick up on but I loved their skill training progression. I could improve my character even when off line. I was hooked. My inability to pick up on the skills needed to survive in lawless space had me put the game on the back burner for over 4 years. I kept telling myself, I will keep playing WoW or CoH for fun, and training my skills in Eve so one day I will be able to play. I was around 60 million training points in, some 4 years subscription time, and I could still not effectively play the game. I would log in long enough to reset my training to the next skill..talk for 10-15min then log out sometime for as long as 40 days of training before logging back in to reset to the next skill. One day I asked myself WTf I was doing. At 60 million training points if I still couldn't grasp enough of the game to survive it was never going to happen...what a total waste of $. $15 x 48 months of paid time...preparing to play a game.
These games definitely have massive addiction potential that need to be guarded against and can make it very hard to know when its time to quit. They can quickly become an excuse to be ones only interaction with other people. Nothing can replace face to face interaction with people. For entertainment purposes only. Not to meet your mate, not to meet your only friends, Not to find new friends. Can they help in these areas? Absolutely. But if getting out there and doing it face to face isn't a part of the process you are missing what life is supposed to be about.
As a longterm player of MMO I have to say that I have faced this basic problem over and over again.
For all the immersion and realism of tadays games, there always come, for me, a point when a game is no longer sufficiently engrossing to hold my attention.
That said, I have always found the problem to be more one of lowering populations, especially at the this time of year, when people return to school/work or cut out on less necessary expenditures of time/finances for a while in order to recoup from the festive season.
At the moment I am downloading LOTRO, a game I vowed never to play again :P, simply because I cba to play the game I spent 12 hours a day on over xmas - more a case of burn out than boredom. LOTRO has a nice easy pace and it doesnt matter too much if there are few people around to group with.
Thumbs up for the basic point of the article. It is always waise to retain some self aware objectivity in MMO simply because they can be so compellingly immersive that you lose perspective on how much you are starting not to enjoy them.
For me, a change of pace or scene always seems to do the trick, providing an injection of new energy and enthusiasm.
Probably the most important thing I found is to remember that it actually is the social aspect of a game that ends up being the most engrossing and to focus on developing a good framework for socialising rather than on loot, kill or xp count.
That said, lol, how often have I forgotten exactly that in the mad dash for ingame excellence :P
Enjoyed the article, As a very old gamer (Star Trek input via a deck of punched cards) I would expand on one factor. No closure. MMO's just go on and on until you reach the final level resulting in endless dailies and dungeon runs until the next expansion pack is released. While I have played a great many MMORPG's I always end up bored falling into the habit of creating about every possible combination of character and class just to play a little while longer. Part of the problem of course is "me". I have played RPG's for so many years that elves and dwarfs have absolutely no appeal anymore. Logging in and just chatting with guild members for a few minutes holds my attention for a few weeks prolonging my final departure from the game. Playing a Star Wars/Star Trek MMO's is not much better and sort of like digging out old VCR movies stored in the basement.
Even standalone games such as Dragon's Age did not hold my interest past a few days. The first game I have completed it a while was Mass Effects 2. It was a nice change and I was sorry to see it end, Yes I have completed others, Hellgate, Fallout 3 etc but they fell in to the category of lets just get it over with.
Unlike the younger players, I do miss out on many aspects of some of the game features. PVP and raids are no longer possible. Slow reflexes, and stiff fingers eliminate them as viable game options. I don't expect game makers to accommodate my special needs. However; it would be nice if they could create intermediate milestones in the game that at least make you feel as you have achieved something important relative to the storyline. Something that you an accomplish on your own without a group or the reflexes of a 10 year old. Different storylines based upon consequences of actions you chose or quest series for different classes or races would be nice abet time consuming from a developers standpoint. I know some developers have tried to a limited extent.
So here I sit a GAME ADDICT looking for something new to help pass the time of day until late spring arrives, meanwhile there is housework to do, meals to fix and crossword puzzles to solve. Oh joy!
Maybe that new BETA I saw will be the fix.
I also eventually get bored with MMORPGs. My first time through WoW I got up to a level 41 Warrior (not that high really), I have stoped and started several times since then, including: 38 rogue, then 37 priest, then 32 rogue, then 12 mage, 30 hunter, 10 warrior, 12 priest, 8 druid, 5 rogue, and probably others, and all with various breaks in between. What I notice is that it takes less and less time to get bored. [Kill, loot, level, repeat]=GRIND. I'm playing EVE now, and even with my Hulk, Iteron V, Orca, and Obelisk, I will eventually get bored.
One bit of advice for MMORPG companies, you better make it easy to quit (not confusing, and annoying, and calling customer service). Easy to quit also means easy to come back, and I probably will. If you make it hard to quit, I will never come back.