Curse

Fluffiliscious · Jan 07, 2008, 08:07 PM // 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryant Again

Nonetheless, ANet can't be held responsible - and they're actually trying to go against it. The mini does nothing besides walk around and look angry once in awhile. You won't deal more damage, get more loot, nothing.

I agree with Bryant Again. I have OCD and GW is one of the only games that I've played online that I haven't felt addicted to. I don't have a "need" to play, I play because I enjoy it and quit when I'm ready to do something else. Heaven forbid I ever take up WoW....

ElinoraNeSangre · Jan 08, 2008, 01:35 AM // 01:35

There's two kinds of people with this sort of behavior in my opinion. People who get addicted and people who have an honest compulsion. People who get addicted have no excuse on the basis that they still have judgment to avoid it, and people with an honest compulsion who ALSO have no excuse because if they've got something like that they should be noticing and getting some help. People have to really take responsibility for what they do, the more the world gets foam padded the more we end up with societies of wusses that don't know how to deal with their problems or with real life. This stuff isn't going to go away.

It's like any other thing, like a gambling addiction or a drinking problem - freaking notice you have a problem then do something about it. It really isn't rocket science. And I'm speaking as someone who does have a touch of diagnosed OCD herself - not enough to cause me trouble but enough that I occasionally do some wacky OCD stuff (my fav is fixing up the paint sample colors displays in hardware stores - the paint department probably loves me and my OCD because it means less work for them).

The bottom line is that there comes a point when a person is responsible for their own actions, and this goes for anything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLBadKarma

Microsoft can code a mandatory logoff into the OS. No more problem.

They seem to want to control everything else, why not this too?

Please understand, the "Sarcasm" button was on.

Oh hah hah that is so not true! :: snicker :: Not out to control people! Be nice!

Peter Panic · Jan 08, 2008, 01:46 AM // 01:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Swift

And by the way, I have OCD and so I do understand what you are saying. But there really isn't much ANet can do about it. It's my responsibility to adjust to life - not the world's responsibility to adjust to me.

QFT, thats one of the more intelligent things Ive heard on guru in my time.

I understand that OCD and obsessing over games is a serious problem (I have OCD as well...), but when you are aware that you have that kind of problem, you need to do something about it. It bothers me when people sit at their computers(or whatever else they obsess over) for 20+ hours with the excuse "I have insert brand X psychological problem, so its not my fault".

I think Tom Swift summed it up quite nicely. its you're responsibility to adjust, not the worlds.

o m g pizowned · Jan 08, 2008, 02:47 AM // 02:47

i kinda wish it would kick me off sometimes during my 6 hour gaming binges. i'm in 'bad' health now because i play too much. although limiting my gameplay is to an extent my own responsibility, i cannot myself limit my playing sometimes.

Joe Fierce · Jan 08, 2008, 07:28 AM // 07:28

A persons drive to be sucessful in life is a drive deply rooted in the desire for some p**n imo... dont' blame anet, blame internet pr0n... think about it, everything in life is rooted to the reproductive act, everything we ever do is a attempt to further that drive... a good job so i can afford a nice car and house = a chance to win a girl that wants my money since i've got mediocre looks.. a haircut = better looks to win a girl... once you take away the reason for the someone to actually do something in life more than just to keep themselves alive you get a lack of activity and a immense amount of apathy... a lack of reason to try to get a girl (i.e. internet pr0n is easier for some) = more time to sit there and do what they really find entertaining, for many thats online gaming... and guess what else is located close to online gaming, pr0n, and the more games you play instead of exercising or doing something physical = even moreso decreased physical appearance= even harder to get chicks, making pr0n and GW a easier option than real life.

i know i've made all of these statements in a really joking matter, but in all seriousness think about it... i do have a point. it's a vicious cycle folks.

Personette · Jan 08, 2008, 01:36 PM // 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Fierce

... a good job so i can afford a nice car and house = a chance to win a girl that wants my money since i've got mediocre looks..

Or a good job, nice car, and house = a dynamic, driven individual with a good head on his shoulders who can value long term benefits over short-term gains = someone a hell of a lot sexier than a listless loser with poor impulse control.

There are a few gold diggers out there, and a lot of women (after a certain age) who are concerned with money because they want to start a family - but it's all really about the most basic, desirable masculine traits: power, virility, and the ability to take care of others.

Abonai Laguna · Jan 08, 2008, 01:43 PM // 13:43

Well, I gotta admit..
This is absurd, do not blame Anet...
But, Anet has imported a warning to stop playing, more like a little push but w/e.
I think they did they're best, and the person should decide for him/herself to play/farm alot and very long.
---
I do admit, I farm alot.. But I draw lines! I take breaks from GW to go outside, and connect with the outer-world, I sometimes farm 4 hours a day, but that is the occasional time where the weather is terrible.
---
Ty

makosi · Jan 08, 2008, 02:22 PM // 14:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by unienaule

People kill people, in this case, by depriving themselves of food and water for hours on end.

I find that difficult to believe, not that I'm disputing it. I've had many a crazy farming expedition in my GW lifetime and never let myself go hungry or thirsty. After a while, that nagging hunger pain would surely overwhelm you, wouldn't it (unless you were deliberately restricitng)?

I've read reports about this sort of 'addiction' and it seems to be that people who appear to be addicted to a game are in fact addicted to the Internet - which is a broadens the problem's horizons. These are often (but not always) people with low self-esteem, angry, frustrated or unfulfilled and they can cover their true self with a facade. It's this anonymous facade that creates the annoying yet humorous decent person + anonymity = total asshole equation.

You can't deny that this is a problem to the affected people but it's not a problem that any legal or corporate bodies can solve so there is no point in pointing the blame-finger at anybody. I believe ANet added the "You have been playing for 5 hours. Please take a break" message so that if you do happen to die or fall extremely ill from crash-farming, they can say in court, "well we told you so". It's a great business decision if you ask me.

Another problem faced by MORPG/Internet 'addicts' is that unlike crack, heroin, tobacco, junk-food and sex addicts, they, or their doctors, will probably not recognise or understand that it's an addiction. In terms of addictions, this type is relatively new and health professionals probably aren't equipped with the knowledge and resources to deal with such a problem.

Rocky Raccoon · Jan 08, 2008, 02:25 PM // 14:25

[QUOTE=Loviatar]

Quote:

........so what is your brilliantly moronic solution?
[/B]

Why do you have to add a line like this which moronic in itself. Do you have problems with a civil discussion? To the OP, we are all our own keepers, to have others protect us from ourselves is just irresponsible.

17eIvIoN · Jan 08, 2008, 02:38 PM // 14:38

theres nothing really compullsive in guildwars, i mean we played for 4 hours to get someone a rank 8 hero yesterday apsaloutely grinding but we had breaks of 10mins between runs.

i mean i get bored after a while naturally i mean gw's is good....but not life chaning good

Avai · Jan 08, 2008, 02:39 PM // 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haijiibirdhead

There is no "learn your limits", because the compulsion becomes near irresistable.

True, but...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haijiibirdhead

What Anet can do is not set up instances where OCD behaviour is triggered for people to farm 20+ hrs straight. Perhaps some blame might fall at the person, but much of the blame falls at the corporation for setting that scenario up.

You couldn't be more wrong.

I think instead of getting ANet to change anything, this thread should really focus on being a warning message to people who play this game we all love so much. The people behind GW made a great game and if you lack the self control to take a break, you should take the appropriate steps to break your addiction.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Swift

there really isn't much ANet can do about it. It's my responsibility to adjust to life - not the world's responsibility to adjust to me.

You are absolutely right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antheus

The only solution to this problem is a level 80 female only persuasion spell.

This would definitely stop me from playing a game!

EDIT: Added another quote.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 17eIvIoN

i get bored after a while naturally i mean gw's is good...but not life chaning good

/signed

Sjeng · Jan 08, 2008, 03:47 PM // 15:47

I sincerely doubt much people outside the die-hard forum readers even ever heard of this mini polar bear thing. I seriously wonder why Anet hasn't made that public. I never heard of it either, and I regularly visit guru AND incgamers. I heard nothing about it ingame, never ever saw a polar bear mini, and if Anet really created an ultra secret mini polar bear pet that you could only get from some ultra-rare farm drop during the wintersday finale, then I'd say: make it permanent just like you did the Icy Dragon Sword. At the time that thing made it's appearance, people started farming it like mad, thinking it would stop dropping after Wintersday. Then Anet made it a gold item and a permanent drop (it used to be a blue item with fixed stats). It would be incredibly unfair to the players if only the few elite die-hard forum readers and farmers were able to get it, and therefore make a gazillion selling them.

Most of the time I think Anet is doing a hell of a great job with GW. I really do. I love GW.
Sometimes though, I really wonder what the hell they were thinking when things like this pop up... Maybe there is this ONE mischievous guy at Anet who likes to drive the players crazy by slipping in things like this...

Back on topic: The 1-hour notice is enough imo. People should take responsibility for their own actions. Do grown up people really need a nanny to tell them the obvious their whole life? I think that's sad.

Abnaxus · Jan 08, 2008, 05:55 PM // 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sjeng

Most of the time I think Anet is doing a hell of a great job with GW. I really do. I love GW.

Sometimes though, I really wonder what the hell they were thinking when things like this pop up... Maybe there is this ONE mischievous guy at Anet who likes to drive the players crazy by slipping in things like this...

Back on topic: The 1-hour notice is enough imo. People should take responsibility for their own actions. Do grown up people really need a nanny to tell them the obvious their whole life? I think that's sad.

I quote the above sentences because I agree about the first 2 but not on the last.

The game as it is now is the result of A.nt effort to satisfy 2 opposite requirements from the playerbase:

- the "casual" players, who are interested in game content, like missions, dungeons, and also like to get the titles achievable playing the game.
A casual player can be also a very skilled player, someone with legendary guardian or vanquisher, his distinctive feature is that he's interested in challenges and improvement in his skills rather than on items or gold.

- the "grinders", those who like to spend 6-8 or more hours per day in game doing the same repetitive actions to increase some "counter", be it amount of gold, ectos, alcohol, everything which can be measured with a number.
They come to forums like this asking for "gold sinks" "uber rare items" "no level cap" and so on, they need goals that can be achieved repeating elementary sequences of actions for endless hours.
When I say "grind", I don't refer to some titles like SS/LB, norn asura and so on. Those fit to "casual" players, are achievable in 20-30 hours max, which are absolutely nothing compared to the time a real grinder is available to spend in game.

A.net changed several things in the game to make it more enjoyable for the "casual" players, namely:

- greens, inscriptions, insignias, that allow every player to get every kind of customizable item simply playing the game;

- loot scaling, which combined with the previous reduced dramatically every price for runes, upgrades and so on.

Well, if you remember, both the previous changes have found a fierce opposition from the "grinders", they saw those features like something that removed some goals for the endless hours they wanted to spend in game.

***********************************************

In my opinion, A.net has never taken drastical actions to get rid of the "grinding" attitude, simply because grinders are customers and they don't want to alienate a part of their customer base.

They left in game several things designed for pure grinders, because they know that there are people who buy their games to grind 8-10 hours per day, without even having to pay for a monthly subscription.
Maybe as the poster I quoted said, there can be some guy in A.net who also likes this kind of game design, who knows ...

***********************************************

The 1-hour alert has been introduced just to avoid possible legal actions against A.net, and it's totally unsufficient in my opinion.

A.net should have taken a more courageous attitude and deployed some significant changes in game design, even at the cost of losing some potential customers, totally removing every possible goal to grinders.

I know this is very hard to accept though ...

IslandHermet · Jan 08, 2008, 06:55 PM // 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haijiibirdhead

MMO's bring out obcessive-compulsive traits in people. That is a known fact.

Now recently, with the polar bear incident for example, one's heard instances of people farming 10-30 hours straight.

There's a warning in game that tells people to take a break every hour. That warning isn't just for laughs I'd imagine. Prolonged gaming/ computer exposure does have adverse effects on health.

Now a friend of mine thought that farming that long is their own conscious decsion, while it is in a sense , many of those people do it out of obcessive behaviour, and are mentally compelled to keep farming in the hope that the the next time will be it.

- Regardless of the damage that they are doing to themselves.

Farming is good etc , but crash farming certainly is not. Remember when it was reported that people died through over gaming?

Now Anet cant force ppl how to play, but they can certainly help matters.

My message to Anet is simply out of consideration for their players physical well being , is to not have instances where people's inner obcessive compulsive behaviour gets triggered to that extent, and they arehighly motivated to farm for an entire day or more straight , causing anything up to significant damage to their health and maybe even death.

Agree? Disagree?

Well consider this have you ever thought that people just do not give a damn.
And most people do not care about how health they are.

Anet can not take players health into consideration just like you should not you should only care about your own health and the health of your family and friends not some stranger on the internet.

This is called Social Darwinism "only the strong and smart survive"

Darksun · Jan 08, 2008, 07:56 PM // 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haijiibirdhead

MMO's bring out obcessive-compulsive traits in people. That is a known fact.

yes, based on Dr Nick's famous psyco-phantom research done in Moldova in 2005. Oh wait....

Shakti · Jan 08, 2008, 08:28 PM // 20:28

Are you referring to true diagnosable OCD or addictive personality? Honestly I think Anet has done all they should do. People are responsible for their own lives and actions. If you're discussing true OCD, their behaviors are up to them to control with the help of professionals, possibly medication family etc. It is up to them and their network to know the limits and accomodate accordingly. If you're referring to addictive personality disorders, those are much more common. However, blaming Anet for someone neglecting themselves and their health is rather like blaming Budweiser for someone's alcoholism or McDonald's for someone's high cholesterol and weight problem. The individual has responsibility for their condition.

We're adults here kids lol, it's time we accept our crap as our own.

Look at it this way...If a diabetic binges a box of Twinkies, can they blame Hostess when they go into a diabetic coma because they shouldn't sell them in such large packages? Say they should only come one to a pack because some of the population can't handle the temptation of a whole box? No. Most of us can limit ourselves. Beyond that, it's up to the diabetic to know their limit, not the company making the sugary treat.

Zahr Dalsk · Jan 08, 2008, 08:41 PM // 20:41

I have OCD and Gw (the w is uncapitalized to separate Gw, Guild Wars, from GW, Games Workshop; GW is actually copyright of Games Workshop and legally belongs to them; see here for reference http://uk.games-workshop.com/legal/copyrights/) has never given me problems.

Zeek Aran · Jan 08, 2008, 09:55 PM // 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zahr Dalsk

I have OCD and Gw (the w is uncapitalized to separate Gw, Guild Wars, from GW, Games Workshop; GW is actually copyright of Games Workshop and legally belongs to them; see here for reference http://uk.games-workshop.com/legal/copyrights/) has never given me problems.

...You can't own an abbreviation. Besides the previous phrase, there's really nothing more for me to add to this thread as four pages covers it all.

Vinraith · Jan 08, 2008, 10:02 PM // 22:02

It's Anet's responsibility to give people sufficient information to make their own decisions, I believe they've done that. It is not Anet's responsibility to make decisions for people, and I wouldn't want to live in a world where it was.

Zahr Dalsk · Jan 08, 2008, 11:23 PM // 23:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeek Aran

You can't own an abbreviation.

Then how do they own it? Because they do.