Curse

beanerman_99 · Aug 05, 2009, 05:05 PM // 17:05

How I Broke My Addiction to Games:

1) Got Married
2) Had A Kid

Results: Gaming has dropped to bare minimum and I don't think about it anymore.

Zahr Dalsk · Aug 05, 2009, 05:16 PM // 17:16

Playing a game for a long time and playing it for brief periods does not make you hardcore or casual, respectively.

Hardcore and casual isn't so much how often and how long you play the game, it's how you play the game.

A hardcore gamer wants a good storyline, solid game mechanics, and challenging gameplay. A casual gamer wants pretty graphics and a game that requires no conscious thought to win. This is why casual gamers are killing off quality gaming, because they desire next-gen games, the casuals come in large numbers, and next-gen games are relatively easy to develop.

Both of these people might play their game for hours on end. Both of these people might play their game for an hour at most.

Zinger314 · Aug 05, 2009, 05:29 PM // 17:29

I don't know how it's even possible to get addicted to Guild Wars.

Addiction is caused by the carrot-on-the-stick mentality, i.e. you keep doing something as long as you're getting rewarded.

But reward in GW is zero. null.

kupp · Aug 05, 2009, 05:34 PM // 17:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeraCombi

gaming addiction is a legitimate problem and GW is just one of the many "addictive substances" that can feed it. If you are addicted, you need to cut yourself off cold turkey from all games. No handhelds, no pc games or console games. The only way to retain control is to remove gaming from your life 100%. Anything less will lead you right back into full-time addictive behavior.

For most people, we can play a little here and there, working towards life-goals outside of the game. But for addictive personalities, the game consumes ALL their daily time, and the only solution is abstinence.

I guess it depends on the person and their ability of self-control, but isn't that somewhat harshe? You're talking about games the way people talk about heavy drugs creating mental and physical dependance.

If people can work out a schedule and do a real effort to keep to it if they must, 99.9% of the people out there shouldn't have a problem.

Tahlia Tane · Aug 05, 2009, 05:59 PM // 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fallen

You wasted, probably about fifteen minutes of your life getting together that story about your addiction to Guild Wars? And then you complain that it's addicting?

Go see Dr. Phil please loser.

What makes you think I wasted my time putting together my story? Maybe braindead people such as yourself don't know, but stringing your thoughts together like I did in the OP is good for the brain and conducive to decision-making. This is the case with so many situations, when, for example, facing a dilemma and there are several options. Simply writing down your options can be extremely helpful, even if, intuitively, you would expect that not to make such a big difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by trialist

The fact that you have to post this gigantic wall of personal text shows you have a bigger problem than just gaming.

Step. Away. From. The. Computer. Now.

I didn't take such a long time to post that. Like I said, I don't have a problem with regulating my time on the computer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Test Me

Instead you did not quit. You came here bragging that about how you "will quit". To what purpose? You want to start an anonymous guild wars addicts club? You need our sympathy?

What are you talking about? Deleting it made me quit. For example, when I deleted TF2 on my computer I never had the urge to download it again. So I quit. With GW, I quit. I didn't say I will quit. I already quit.

I'm not sure if I need your sympathy, but I do think I need everyone's thoughts, even if they are really stupid ones (see: top).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zahr Dalsk

A hardcore gamer wants a good storyline, solid game mechanics, and challenging gameplay. A casual gamer wants pretty graphics and a game that requires no conscious thought to win. This is why casual gamers are killing off quality gaming, because they desire next-gen games, the casuals come in large numbers, and next-gen games are relatively easy to develop.

Wow. You have no idea what you're talking about. The difference between hardcore and casual is all about amount of playtime and dedication. Casual gamers may indeed want game experiences that could be seen as 'easier', but that doesn't mean hardcore gamers have better taste somehow. Plenty of 'hardcore gamers' play grinding MMOs that don't require you to think. If I play RA 10 minutes a day in GW and stick with that, that's casual gaming. And that's enjoyable and stimulating because the combat works so well, it forces you to think. That doesn't make it a bad game. Casual games are games that are casual-gaming friendly, i.e. possible to be played for short bursts. It has nothing to do with quality.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zahr Dalsk

Both of these people might play their game for hours on end. Both of these people might play their game for an hour at most.

Sure, but games have to be casual-gaming friendly, like I said. For example, a game that requires an hour of playing before the next checkpoint or savegame isn't casual friendly.

The first order of business for me is to get my shit back together. I haven't had a good, productive day in a couple of days now, and that has made me very cranky. In the meantime, I will not think about downloading GW again just to delete my characters. I may or may not do that. It doesn't really matter. I quit WoW permanently and I don't recall deleting my character there either, so for me it doesn't seem necessary.

Inde · Aug 05, 2009, 06:06 PM // 18:06

Moved to off topic as it's about gaming and even though the subject matter is Guild Wars, it's not related to Guild Wars the game but rather your feelings on quitting/addiction.

Tahlia Tane · Aug 05, 2009, 06:06 PM // 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvalentijn

Another aspect might be that MMORPG's continue while you are not online. So, if you are not online you miss out on things. In GW this has become more prevalent with the introduction of daily Zaishen tasks and the weekly farming of stuff for The Traveler's Gifts. If you don't do it on time you miss out.

That's interesting. I've been thinking about how MMOs could have different accounts that allow you to play only for a limited time. For example, 2 hours a week, or something like that. You could decide to play 10 minutes a day or if you plan on doing a mission save that time and use up an hour for that particular mission. I don't think such a thing would be flexible, and that's not good. I think that also kind of defeats the purpose. You'd play not because you feel like it, but because you have time available on your account and you want to use it up because it would feel like a waste otherwise.

mHtt · Aug 05, 2009, 06:18 PM // 18:18

Well I just got through reading this entire thread and I gotta say I think it may have help changed my life.

I was <24hrs away from moving away into a minimum wage job and small town because what I really love to do most, is play video games. I have finished 2 years of a 3 year university (college in the US) degree and just felt like video games were able to make me happy, so why search for anything else? While this may be true I came to know that I would regret not finishing school and always beat myself up for not finishing what I started.

I came across this thread and it really helped hammer things home. While gaming is hella fun, it can't be the be all and end all of things. There are more important endeavors in this life, other than self centered hedonism.

I have decided to finish my degree and then perhaps go be a hedonist, hehe. At least then when I'm asking myself why I'm working minimum wage in a dead end job, the reply won't be because I didn't finish college, it will be because that's what I chose to do, degree in hand.

Thanks OP

Tahlia Tane · Aug 05, 2009, 06:34 PM // 18:34

Sure. I guess that's how good my topics are. It CHANGES PEOPLE'S LIVES!

trialist · Aug 05, 2009, 06:44 PM // 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tahlia Tane

I didn't take such a long time to post that. Like I said, I don't have a problem with regulating my time on the computer.

Contradiction much? You are able to control your time and your OP is telling us you can't control your gaming time? That you have to give up GW2 totally to be able to control yourself?

Also, I guess you didn't get the point i was making. It isn't about the amount of time you spent typing out that wall of text, it was that you had to type it out in the first place.

If you really are able to just drop gaming and control your time, you wouldn't have needed to start this thread. You would have just left and not bothered to buy GW2 without telling the rest of the world. Plenty of other players have done just that. Left. Without any indication, without starting threads declaring they have left the game. They just left. Period.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but just think about it.

Tahlia Tane · Aug 05, 2009, 07:13 PM // 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by trialist

Contradiction much? You are able to control your time and your OP is telling us you can't control your gaming time? That you have to give up GW2 totally to be able to control yourself?

Also, I guess you didn't get the point i was making. It isn't about the amount of time you spent typing out that wall of text, it was that you had to type it out in the first place.

If you really are able to just drop gaming and control your time, you wouldn't have needed to start this thread. You would have just left and not bothered to buy GW2 without telling the rest of the world. Plenty of other players have done just that. Left. Without any indication, without starting threads declaring they have left the game. They just left. Period.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but just think about it.

Those people that do leave with doing anything are people who aren't bothered by it. I was greatly bothered with what's been going on and that's why I made a thread. I don't have all the answers.

trialist · Aug 05, 2009, 07:20 PM // 19:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tahlia Tane

Those people that do leave with doing anything are people who aren't bothered by it. I was greatly bothered with what's been going on and that's why I made a thread. I don't have all the answers.

The answer has already been given by yourself as well as others.

Walk away.

Watch me do it with this thread.

Bobby2 · Aug 05, 2009, 07:54 PM // 19:54

Good read lol. If it bothers you this much, cold turkey.

Mars Dragonblade · Aug 05, 2009, 09:48 PM // 21:48

I feel compelled to post in this thread, since I feel as though I have to get these thoughts off my mind too. Test Me has said exactly what I feel; I honestly don't want to buy GW2 despite all the hype.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Test Me

But the more time passes and the more I get bored and frustrated I kind of realize, like you do, that I actually don't really want GW2 either, as that would be a totally different game requiring a lot of time investment where I would start from 0 as it will discard all time I've spent in GW1... so... the fact that I don't want to start another game might as well mean I don't want GW2.

Sums it up. The guild I am in at the moment to it's credit is a fantastic guild, and I owe them a lot of fun times and great memories, and what I've said here is something I've been keeping to myself until now. We planned to move on to GW2 and start newer and stronger but I think if and when that happens and the original guild dies off then I think I'll call it a day.
I hope everything works out for you, TC, good luck with whatever you choose to do

.

Massive Impulsa · Aug 05, 2009, 11:28 PM // 23:28

REALLY Good post!

I've been/is there myself

Luckly i just quited GW kinda now, before the summer. But i keep logging in sometimes, now im too bored tought to play for a loong time

Also i recommend not playing MMORPG games.

Im sticking to FPS;(BF,Css etc) cause in the long run, you get really boring, and it isnt as "rewarding"...

I will now Bookmark this site, and show it to my parents (im 16 btw.) hopefully this will give them a better understanding in my gaming

Tahlia Tane · Aug 06, 2009, 04:03 PM // 16:03

Yesterday I downloaded GW again just to silence the critcs and delete all my characters. I tried to find a n0ob to give my stuff to. It was a bit hard at first, but I eventually found someone (asking for directions to 'Arch Lion').

It was very funny. I gave him/her 28k, 3 essences of celerity, a green sword and shield, 3 elite and 32 regular assassin tomes, a ruby and two onyx gemstones.

About what I wrote in the OP: I think I nailed it. I discussed how a new game is possibly easily played moderately because it is a new game and therefore is more enjoyable. I think I know how it works now.

The reason why I had so much trouble quitting is because I wanted to be satisfied, like I used to be satisfied (I can't remember what that's like, it must have been years). But because it's a game I've played so much and so often, this is more difficult, and because of that, it takes more time. This is reasonable and goes for so many things in life, surely. If you enjoy something several times, it follows that you may not enjoy it anymore after doing it a million times! Regardless of how much you enjoyed it the first few times (although that might influence how long your enjoyment lasts). In the case of Guild Wars, I just kept on playing but was never really completely satisfied. But still I kept coming back, why? Because I didn't get my fill the previous time. It makes perfect sense to keep coming back, even if you don't enjoy it, because you want to enjoy it like you used to enjoy it. This may not happen, and because of that, quitting is difficult, despite... no, because of the lack of rewards.

It seems I kept coming back because it always felt like those rewards were just over the horizon. But they weren't. I, almost tragically, tricked myself into thinking this.

As for my past experiences; I don't recall having trouble playing casually when I first played Guild Wars, or for that matter Team Fortress 2. However, I should not forget that when I first played these two games, it was when I did a lot of things on the computer (it was the only thing I had back then). So I may not remember how long I played exactly, but it could have been very long playing sessions, because I had no qualms about spending a great deal of my free time on the computer, playing games. I have matured and I, rightly, believe that spending a long time on a computer is unhealthy.

So while this means that I may in fact play Guild Wars 2, and thus never completely abandon MMO-style games, I should be extremely careful still. I'm very happy that I made this thread because it unequivocally helped me think very deeply about the causes of my relapse, but also about games in general. I thought I already knew a great deal about videogames. Apparently not!

Bobby2 · Aug 06, 2009, 04:39 PM // 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tahlia Tane

I thought I already knew a great deal about addictions in general. Apparently not!

Fixed, gl&hf

Shursh · Aug 06, 2009, 04:47 PM // 16:47

so i actually took my own advice yesterday, and set a time limit for playing (1 hour). i was in the middle of a group that was forming a speedclear, and my time ran out. since we hadn't entered UW yet, i left the group and logged off.

i felt very empowered and in control. it felt good. not to mention i had TONS of extra time to do other things.

Tahlia Tane · Aug 06, 2009, 06:17 PM // 18:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shursh

so i actually took my own advice yesterday, and set a time limit for playing (1 hour). i was in the middle of a group that was forming a speedclear, and my time ran out. since we hadn't entered UW yet, i left the group and logged off.

i felt very empowered and in control. it felt good. not to mention i had TONS of extra time to do other things.

That's good. Keep it up. You'll feel even better and better.

Tahlia Tane · Aug 07, 2009, 12:27 PM // 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby2

Fixed, gl&hf

Well, I don't think I learned not just something about addictions, but also about games. That is, the way it seems to work with rewards in general. No two addictions are the same in any case, so this was valuable lesson.