Comments on: Online Gaming Addiction Part 3 – Coping Strategies

By: In Defense of Free-to-Play | Professor Beej

In Defense of Free-to-Play | Professor Beej — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:28:09 +0000

[...] online games, one of the ways to deal with the stress is to wean yourself off of the genre by using free-to-play games as a kind of MMO Methadone. If you’re not tied to a game by a subscription plan, it’s a lot easier to kick the [...]

By: Online Gaming Addiction – Series of Guest Posts at World of Matticus

Online Gaming Addiction – Series of Guest Posts at World of Matticus — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:21:46 +0000

[...] Gaming Addiction – My Experience Part 2: Online Gaming Addiction – Signs and Symptoms Part 3: Online Gaming Addiction – Coping Strategies [...]

By: anonnn

anonnn — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:25:49 +0000

I recently decided to quit WoW due to the negative impact it had on my real life commitments. I went with the cold turkey method. I have not once gone back to a single online game since quitting. I check up on WoW related websites and my old guild progress and members about once a week. I played WoW for about a year with 4 months of that time spent in one of the top 10 raiding guilds in the US. My desire to get better and “catch up” to the place where my other guild members were at drove me to play for insane amounts of time. I failed out of school (being a straight A student for most of my life). After quitting, I have gotten a job and am starting to take a few classes again. Although from an outside perspective, my life is much “better,” I do not feel that way at all. Yes, I have a job and go to school again and my real life relationships have shown significant improvement. However, I am unhappy. I was truly happy during my time playing WoW. I am strong in my determination to solve this problem which has enabled me to stay away from the game. I just can’t seem to find the same enjoyment in anything else. Please help.

By: Beej

Beej — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:03:57 +0000

I think it is possible to find that kind of structure in-game. My problem is that I didn’t know anyone else who would be willing to devote that little time for the same reasons I did, and I really didn’t have the energy to set up my own 10-hour a week raiding/PvP guild.

I think it can be successful, but it has a lot of pitfalls that could lead to even more substantial backsliding.
.-= Beej´s last blog ..Thoughts and Impressions – SyFy Rebranding and Warehouse 13 =-.

By: Abscissa

Abscissa — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:37:58 +0000

I really enjoyed this series of posts. One thing that doesn’t seem to be addressed as much, but would be interested in hearing your thoughts on – is it possible to structure a guild to create a satisfying gaming experience without requiring a significant amount of player time? Is it possible to have a guild be reasonably successful and not require more than, say 10 hrs/week of game time from its members? The only examples I can think of are small guilds formed out of groups of friends in real life.

By: Beej

Beej — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:47:34 +0000

@Tankette: That’s the perfect reason to get away from that lifestyle, if you ask me. I was in the same boat, and I am finally comfortable with the “accomplishments” in life. Since I realized that I was addicted and started doing something about it, I’ve received my Master’s degree, presented my first paper at a national academic conference, become Assistant Director of my college’s tutoring center as well as survived my first academic year teaching. That’s an awful lot of goings-on in just a few years. And it all started with me realizing that I was on a no-where track with nothing going for me. It took *me* wanting to change to be able to get myself on the right track.
.-= Beej´s last blog ..Choosing Sides in the Geek Wars =-.

By: Tankette

Tankette — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:25:16 +0000

I play WoW instead of doing other hobbies because it is more fun than the other hobbies. I don’t watch TV or movies because they are boring compared to playing WoW. I don’t feel any sense of loss for missing TV shows. I don’t read much for pleasure any more either. Why? It is not as entertaining. Again, there’s no sense of loss.

I can admit I am addicted to WoW, however. Here’s the scary part: When I think about how meaningless my accomplishments in WoW are, I mean it is just a game and my 3 level 80s could disappear tomorrow if Blizz shut their doors, I am forced to realize that so many other things I have done in my life are just as meaningless. If I got hit by a bus tomorrow, what would all my various “accomplishments” in life be worth? Sometimes after I think such thoughts I go spend time with my kids. Other times I just figure playing WoW isn’t any more of a waste of time than all the other things I would be doing instead so I just keep playing.

By: wojtek

wojtek — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:21:04 +0000

You could try private servers, nothing works there as expected, and gradually, you just get bored with the game…

By: DeÃ¥dly

DeÃ¥dly — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:21:35 +0000

I think that i sorta played WoW because i couldn’t really meet up or talk with any of my friends IRL (im 12 btw) but now that I use facebook i generally play wow a lot less and not considered “the nerd” anymore =) it just takes time. i would say i used the MMo methadone method

By: We Fly Spitfires - MMORPG Blog

We Fly Spitfires - MMORPG Blog — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:54:31 +0000

I think taking a break is a good idea. I usually find going away on holiday helps put things into perspective. Still, I don’t think I’m an addict in the sense you’ve described – I think I have more of a deep seated fear about being parted from technology or something. Like I just need to know I can play a MMORPG even if I don’t want to. It’s weird

Great article
.-= We Fly Spitfires – MMORPG Blog´s last blog ..Aion Beta =-.