Curse

Zeek Aran · Nov 22, 2007, 03:25 AM // 03:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biostem

I don't put off social things in favor of playing, but I do prefer to play as opposed to getting drunk or high.

=O Liez. There's no way you've played GW and never gotten drunk.

azizul1975 · Nov 22, 2007, 07:20 AM // 07:20

err.. is that drunk IRL or drunk as in the game?

Ulterion · Nov 22, 2007, 11:52 AM // 11:52

GWars is an addictive game. I know, I've been around since the beginning of it. They've turned this game into a grind so that it gives people something else to do after beating the game. IMO Anet's title charts are way too unrealistic and unachievable and cause some players to have to dedicate way too much time just to get a reasonable rank or title in the game.

Ask yourself this though: Does Anet really give a s*** if you develop problematic anti-social behaviors? Do they care if you lose anything for the seemingly endless time spent grinding just to recieve a few kewl words underneath your character? Will it even matter after GW2 comes out? I'm willing to bet that GW1 will be shut down some time after the unvailing of GW2, and all that grind will become lost.

So, is it essentially even worth the grind? Hell to the NO! Give up on Guild Wars (especially if it's creating problems in real life). Online Gaming can become like crack to people if they allow it. Just don't allow it. Say NO to Guild Wars.

creelie · Nov 22, 2007, 02:24 PM // 14:24

Addiction is defined as continuing to do something despite negative consequences. People are very quick to label a thing "addictive", but aside from various powerful pharmaceuticals, the capacity for addiction is not in a thing but in a person.

I have a fairly addictive personality. If I like something, I want to do it as much as possible. If I were to follow the accepted wisdom of groups like AA, I would have to stop doing every fun thing as soon as I realized I liked it. Instead, I acknowledge my tendency to overdo stuff, and make a conscious effort to maintain a balance in the different areas of my life.

Guild Wars is no different. I find it fun; not everyone does, but I do. I find it entertaining and rewarding. Not every part, obviously; I did Legendary Guardian once and enjoyed it, but I'm not going to do it again and I'm not going to go for any other titles. My rule is that I can only play GW in my free time; I won't cancel or avoid other activities to play it.

I guess this is where I differ from the people most at risk of addiction: if I do something enough, I eventually get bored of it and move on. I still have a few things left to accomplish, but I can tell that in the next few weeks I am once again going to start only logging in to play with guildies, and that less and less. I've done it after every single campaign release so far.

Friar Khan · Nov 22, 2007, 07:35 PM // 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by creelie

Addiction is defined as continuing to do something despite negative consequences. People are very quick to label a thing "addictive", but aside from various powerful pharmaceuticals, the capacity for addiction is not in a thing but in a person.

I think this was expressed very well.

Titles are just one of the many ways this game can provide you with a feeling of accomplishment. Also, becease titles are visible you can believe other people can/will/should be impressed when they see it; i.e. they function as status symbols.

I think the pursuit of these feelings of accomplishment and status can and should be enjoyed in moderation if one choses to pursue them. Titles aren't to blame because poor decision-making by the player is the problem. I think the expression "Guns don't kill people..." is applicable.

That said, I personally find it problematic that it's so easy for casual players to gradually become more committed to the game. I suppose this is true for all MMORPGs in general. To Anet's credit, compared to other online RPG makers they seem to make efforts to make it negligibly rewarding to put excessive hours into the game.

crazy diamond · Nov 22, 2007, 08:07 PM // 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ulterion

Ask yourself this though: Does Anet really give a s*** if you develop problematic anti-social behaviors? Do they care if you lose anything for the seemingly endless time spent grinding just to recieve a few kewl words underneath your character? Will it even matter after GW2 comes out? I'm willing to bet that GW1 will be shut down some time after the unvailing of GW2, and all that grind will become lost.

Why would they shut it down just because the sequel came out? Far less successful games with no fee are still up and running, and so far no mainstream MMORPG sequel has been successful enough to merit the shutdown of the original.

For all we know GW2 could be a huge flop of Asheron Call proportions, where the sequel was such a disaster they shut it down, while the original is still going.

ThisSuddenInjury · Nov 23, 2007, 05:14 AM // 05:14

Flyin [Nugz]

hey hey hey smoke weed everyday!

Snype · Nov 23, 2007, 05:24 AM // 05:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coridan

While no diagnostic criteria have yet been established for video game addiction, the symptoms of impulse control disorder include regular or repetitive displays of at least five of the following:[

Persistent thoughts of the activity or performance of the activity. (Preoccupation)
Use of activity to escape problems or relieve bad mood. (Preoccupation)
Need for increased time spent on the activity to achieve satisfaction or diminished reward for the same amount of time spent on the activity. (Tolerance)
Inability to control, stop or diminish the behavior. (Loss of control)
Restlessness or irritability when prevented from partaking in the activity. (Withdrawal)
Lying to friends or family about extent of involvement with activity. (Continuance despite adverse consequences)
Committing illegal acts to sustain activity. (Continuance despite adverse consequences)
Relying on others to finance activity. (Continuance despite adverse consequences)

I have problems with 1-5 not the last 3 yet....so yeah i guess i am probably addicted. Mostly i use it as a way to relax after a frustrating day at work. But it has caused problems with my wife on occassion...not anymore because i play less than an hour a day now...bored with it...

I have problems with 1-6. Yeah I'm addicted; I know it. But the game doesn't stop me from having a girlfriend, going out with my friends/family, or working, so tbh it's fine with me for now. It's either watch TV or play GW for my 3 hours a day; I can sell my account for a lot more then my TV atm

Keifru · Nov 23, 2007, 10:37 AM // 10:37

I think I have a problem.

I am addicted. To water. It's quite unfortunate; I just cant stop drinking the stuff for the life of me. Are there WA meetings?
~~
Anyway, there ARE worse things to be addicted to than guild wars. Atleast GW has social interaction (for some...atleast compared to slots I belive) some form of thinking is required (smoking: 1. Light 2. Puff 3. Repeat step 2) it doesn't have mandatory, prohibitive, or increasing pricing (drugs, wow, gambling)...
Also: that #1 seems kinda...vague. I have an extremly overactive imagination, and I'll just be sitting there, with a random song (currently Portal's credits song "Still Alive") while thinking of things ranging from science, new builds for my derv, new decks to make for MTG, whether I have enough dragons, if I can steal a cookie from the cookie jar... *munches on cookie*.
#2. Everyone uses SOMETHING to deal with problems. If the method is different, yet achieves the same ends, how does that make it bad? (some smoke, some smash things, some play games, some meditate)
#3. More time on computer=more happiness all around I say.
#4. Who says one has lost control? There can be fine lines =/
#5. I'm sure if you love pie, and someone said you cannot have any more of it, yet they leave a pie sitting uncovered on the window sill every day, you might get restless or irritated.
#6. Hey, you might NEED an excuse to not go out with friends or family. or you could not like them. (Nothing like telling your parents to bugger off because your doing Urgoz HM)
#7. Yeah, that is addiction. Or being cheap. Flip a coin on it.
#8. Yet guildwars only requires ONE payment (atleast for each campaign). It's kinda hard to abuse "relying on other to finance activity" with only 4 payments available (or 5 I think for BMP).
That's just how I see it.

(1,2,4-6 for me)

Im Using The Force · Nov 26, 2007, 07:08 AM // 07:08

Truly a vast amount of quality thinking from some people.
Thx

Sol Deathgard · Nov 26, 2007, 09:40 AM // 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Im Using The Force

Im a healthcare professional. I work in an ER and Ive consulted Phd's in both Mental Health and Addiction about some of my concerns.My guild is one of the oldest in the game and among our core members we have many tens of thousands of hours in-game.While initially a fan of Titles, recently as I made a list of Title " Pro's & Con's ", the list was empty of Pro's & the list of Con's was extensive. Now before I voice the many specific concerns of the Doctors Ive been in consultation with, it was suggested that I gather some feedback from the constituency. Granted a relatively small number of players utilize the board but the feedback you generate may, in review be used as we formulate our concerns regarding game design & features. Diplomacy & professionalism will be greatly appreciated.
Thank You for your time & consideration.

Being a former member of your guild, let me clairfy that for the last yr and a half or so, the core people were me, the leader of the guild, & his GF. The guild is Kurzick, yet you spend most of your time guesting in a Luxon guild to AB, and that's after you've afked at the GH for about 2-5 hrs, then complained about everything you dislike in this game for another 3. Chief among your complaints are how much you hate AB, hate titles, hate HA, hate GvG, hate PvE.
Now like I said, you spend most of your time ABing as a luxon, while you are a "member" of a Kurzick guild, you have the People Knows Me Title, and was working on HM titles for the next lvl of that title. You are Rank 8 for HA, and ALL of your titles come from pve.
Your constant complaining became so bad in alliance chat that you forced the 1st guild ever to join your guild's alliance to quit, simply because they got sick of you crying about how everything in this game is so bad. You've threaten to quit playing many many times, yet you still play and do all the things you hate. Perhaps the truth is Icey Dead People, you seek attention in the virtual world because you feel ignored in the real world. You seem to fish around in the alliance and on this forum hoping beyond hope that someone, anyone will agree with you, yet everytime no one does, you take it personally.
In closing, if there is nothing in this game you enjoy, like you so like to keep saying, then stop playing and get into a new game.

Red Sonya · Nov 26, 2007, 11:41 AM // 11:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Im Using The Force

Im a healthcare professional. I work in an ER and Ive consulted Phd's in both Mental Health and Addiction about some of my concerns.My guild is one of the oldest in the game and among our core members we have many tens of thousands of hours in-game.While initially a fan of Titles, recently as I made a list of Title " Pro's & Con's ", the list was empty of Pro's & the list of Con's was extensive. Now before I voice the many specific concerns of the Doctors Ive been in consultation with, it was suggested that I gather some feedback from the constituency. Granted a relatively small number of players utilize the board but the feedback you generate may, in review be used as we formulate our concerns regarding game design & features. Diplomacy & professionalism will be greatly appreciated.
Thank You for your time & consideration.

I'm in the healthcare profession as well and all that you stated is nothing more than a load of rubbish as I have consulted with my own professional Phd's and Masters on the subject. Lol nice try troll.

Fried Tech · Nov 26, 2007, 03:51 PM // 15:51

I will admit. for a good while i was addicted. I did the math and it came out to about 30% of my life for a year was playing guild wars. Factor in school and work, and sleep (very little of it) leaving very little time for my once active social life. Then it all changed when i was forced to go a week without the internet in my apartment. During that week i accomplished a lot, and when the internet was back my desire to sit infront of my computer for 8 hours a day had faded. And now i realize that i missed all the things i used to do before gw sucked me in. I still play but in moderation now. If it wasnt for friends in game i doubt i would play anymore.

and to all those flaming on the OP i have a question that only you can answer:
Is ignorance bliss?

Im Using The Force · Nov 26, 2007, 05:26 PM // 17:26

The lack of logic & personal attacks in some posts serve little purpose save my own amusement. It is a curious statement in human nature that people would choose to post on the subject. It brings to mind the old saying
" Thou dost protesteth too much ". Certainly there are people that have nothing good to say about anything in any of their posts on any subject in this Board. Their thoughts have nothing to add to the fact there are Features within the game structure that ENCOURAGE obsessive behaviour.

Mordakai · Nov 26, 2007, 05:39 PM // 17:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Im Using The Force

The lack of logic & personal attacks in some posts serve little purpose save my own amusement. It is a curious statement in human nature that people would choose to post on the subject. It brings to mind the old saying
" Thou dost protesteth too much ". Certainly there are people that have nothing good to say about anything in any of their posts on any subject in this Board. Their thoughts have nothing to add to the fact there are Features within the game structure that ENCOURAGE obsessive behaviour.

Please get off your high horse.

Again, explain how Video Games are different from watching TV or even reading a book. People can watch TV 8 hours a day... is that bad? Is it worse than playing a game, which one can argue, is at least interactive?

I'm not saying game addiction doesn't exist: it does, and for some people, it can be deadly. But don't assume that just because some people are gaming addicts, everyone is.

lennymon · Nov 26, 2007, 07:00 PM // 19:00

pros: none = time to quit
pros: fun to play = go ahead and have fun

QQ less, enjoy more

if you aren't having fun, why do it?

Phaern Majes · Nov 26, 2007, 07:21 PM // 19:21

Sounds like another lame attempt at a study showing gamers to be anti-social, depressed and sociopaths to me.

If you really are who you say you are then you should know, and I quote "People are bastard coated bastards with a bastard filling." That is the whole reason for people wanting titles and to be elitist. For no other reason than, quite simply, they can. But then I'm a cynic at heart.

Though I will say your lumping of addiction with elitism and titles isn't really merited. Some people have had over 2 years to achieve their titles. And before I get the "but titles haven't been available for 2+ years," I'll explain that not having titles didn't stop people from getting fame, exploring every map, getting 1+ mil experience without dying, death leveling in Presear, and gods know what else. All those things and I'm sure a few others predated titles and you got credit for them when the titles came out. So a few maxed titles doesn't necessarily make one an addict. Not to mention I know people with relatively few titles that are addicts to the game.