Curse

Tharg · Aug 05, 2009, 01:14 PM // 13:14

I recognize a lot of the Op's feelings. I have stopped GW once before (sold my account) and then coud not stay away. So now I have 3 accounts and am playing too much again... I too can spend 8 hours straight on the weekend - and for what? Another title....? Speed Vanquish to max the Luxon title takes 80 - 90 hours - are we nuts?

As to the addictive character of GW and other MMORPG's, I think it has to do with the relatively short time you spend on a task, being it a quest, a mission, an AB fight, a vanquish. There are people with a certain mindset that cannot resist to do 'just one more'. And before you know it, another hour went by. I know that's the case with me.

And each task has an immediate reward - instant gratification. This is how addictions work.

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.

As mentioned, I am playing way too much as well. I have set myself certain hard goals to achieve and then will stop playing cold turkey and try to stay away from GW2.

Solas · Aug 05, 2009, 01:23 PM // 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theus Latius

play DotA instead. 45min a game average. sorted

Yeah, Dotas pretty fun, did you try that Heroes of Newerth thing?
Only played a game so far but seems pretty good.

Rothan Celt · Aug 05, 2009, 01:31 PM // 13:31

Get a Man or a Gal if you don't have one already there are better funner things in this world than games and its better to explore them with a sidekick! keep in touch with your internet friends Via msn or something.
just a thought

Shursh · Aug 05, 2009, 01:38 PM // 13:38

i feel exactly the same was as you - i get some enjoyment out of the game, but not enough to warrant the 6-hour investment, especially when i could be doing a thousand other useful things.

what i think i'm going to start doing (and i'd advise you to try the same and see if it works) is set an alarm before i start playing. Set it for like 1 or 2 hours after you play, and MAKE yourself stop what you are doing when it goes off. obviously if you are in the middle of a mission or whatever, finish it - but then log off immediately.

with MMO's, unlike other games that have defnite stopping points, it is SO EASY to lose track of time as you are pulled further into the virtual world.

trialist · Aug 05, 2009, 01:51 PM // 13:51

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.

Go find a live body, hug that live body. Live life.

Problem solved.

P.S. What has this got to do with GW? It reads more like an article of "confessions of a gaming addict" than anything else.

MarkusParkus · Aug 05, 2009, 01:55 PM // 13:55

6 Hours isnt that long... as im sure the residents here will later say lol....
Get a girlfriend! to nag you to come off Gw after 1 hour Always works for me lol

If not.. give everything to noobs

when i was a noob i got given 5k and i think it set me up for most of the game lol.

Markus

Aleta · Aug 05, 2009, 02:05 PM // 14:05

I pretty much can understand what really ends up being a love hate relationship with a game. I was like that with GW in the beginning. I'd start at like 5pm until 1-2am on weekends. It was truly crazy. I was having the same problem with EQ2 recently. What it took for me was looking at the last time I went to lunch with friends. And did I even know my husband anymore or my grandkids?

The best advice you are getting is to walk away until you are the master of your time not any game. And it's easier said then done.

Good luck because I for one know how hard it can be.

@Fallen So who is the real loser? Someone who is honest who wanted to just maybe get some input? When is that so wrong? Must be great to better than others that you can point a finger and say "loser" Sad

SeraCombi · Aug 05, 2009, 02:10 PM // 14:10

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.

Test Me · Aug 05, 2009, 02:15 PM // 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tahlia Tane

I really think that's kind of ridiculous...

Tried to be nice to a fellow in pain and this is what you get. That'd teach me

So OK, I've read your post, relate to it in some ways... but what exactly is your point? If you quit you quit. End of story. Turn it off, get it out of your system and never mention it again.

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?

To really quit you need to erase all chars, uninstall the game and forget about all game related forums including guru. What you're doing here?

Shasgaliel · Aug 05, 2009, 02:17 PM // 14:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeraCombi

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 think it is a very good post. I would just add that eliminating every possible way back is also very important in this process.

AngeliqueSynner · Aug 05, 2009, 02:29 PM // 14:29

I've been in that position before.
And in some cases I still am. >__o¿
I'd personally take some of the suggestions in this thread before you swear off something you obviously like.
The timer is a good one. :3

Demonlord Matt · Aug 05, 2009, 02:45 PM // 14:45

I have a timer on my game and i only play from 9am-11am and 6pm-8pm and it works fine for me, sometimes i wish i didnt have it but im happy that im not obsessed like some of my friends got >.> all in all good post and im happy that you're not letting GW take over ur life.
\,,/>.<\,,/

Mordakai · Aug 05, 2009, 02:51 PM // 14:51

Let's help Tahlia Tane out.

Add Justine Grace to friends, and if you see him* playing, tell him to stop!

*assuming male, if not, apologies

Mr Fizhman · Aug 05, 2009, 03:17 PM // 15:17

Have you ever played Professor Layton? Great DS game, looks like it suits you from what I've read. I am playing GW too much but I don't want to quit because of that, going to try to limit my playing time.. try..

Daesu · Aug 05, 2009, 03:51 PM // 15:51

How to be happy:

1. Something to do
2. Someone to love
3. Something to look forward to.

Try finding another hobby that is actually useful. Playing games waste too much time. I prefer writing games.

prey monkie · Aug 05, 2009, 04:10 PM // 16:10

WORD!@!, maybe try one of the following things.
1, start smoking, when u smoke ur gonna take small brakes every 2 hours or something. so thats a good way of not playing 10 hours straight away.
2. obviously ur are a real man. cuz u wanna be the best in everything. --> soo mmorpgs are kinda dangerous for u cuz u cant b the best. there is always somebody better than u. thats why u keep playing over and over again. this also explains why u can quit RA easy cuz ur the best there, and u archieved ur goal, but in hm ur not the best and u qont stop before u are.
3. i didnt read the last part of ur mesage to the GW people buuut. u shouldnt delete ur gw chars. cuz if u start again u need to start all over again. and that is a WASTE of time. capping skills again, making money. so just keep ur chars so u dont need to farm 6 hours long to buy new gear.

brb smoking cig

may dwayne be with u, always

Enon · Aug 05, 2009, 04:27 PM // 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by prey monkie

1, start smoking, when u smoke ur gonna take small brakes every 2 hours or something. so thats a good way of not playing 10 hours straight away.

Very, VERY good advice. I definitely recommend smoking. In the end you might end up exhausted after walking down the stairs or maybe even breathe through a tube - Hey, it's worth it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by prey monkie

2. obviously ur are a real man. cuz u wanna be the best in everything. -->

Definitely something that defines a real dude!

Quote:

Originally Posted by prey monkie

soo mmorpgs are kinda dangerous for u cuz u cant b the best. there is always somebody better than u. thats why u keep playing over and over again.

The line must end somewhere, right? Like... at the best player maybe? So all he needs to do is keep practicing, perhaps buy a better pc, mouse and/or keyboard, and he'll end up being the end of that line!

Vel · Aug 05, 2009, 04:27 PM // 16:27

Quote:

I no longer play a long time, and generally I don't spend a long time on the computer anymore. It used to be the only thing I had, sadly, but now I spend like 2 hours a day or less on my computer.

This means you are growing up (mentally) and that's good.

Quote:

It seems I am utterly obsessed with games and I didn't want to acknowledge that until recently.

That's a fact. Neither good nor bad. But, realization is priceless. You can build from there.

Quote:

This is something I have put behind me. At least, something I thought I had put behind me. I have things to do now. I read my books, I play my guitar, I study foreign languages and I love it. I especially love reading about history and so on. And it's making me a better person. I get something out of it that is deeply satisfying.

That's exactly what you should focus on and not on the "worry of obsession".

This is coming from someone who logged over 7k hours. So, I do know what obsession is. And, in last few months I hardly put in over 50 hours. But, I do log on regularly just to chat w/ folks or to play a mission or just to scrub in RA for a few minutes. But, my focus has changed.

That said, I can guarantee I will buy GW2 and play it. I may not play it like GW. I am sure my life will be different when GW2 comes out and I won't have time to play video/computer games like a maniac.

Good stuff mate. Just bring back your disciplined self and you'll be all set to enjoy life and videogames at the same time.

wilebill · Aug 05, 2009, 04:57 PM // 16:57

I appreciate your post. Me, been there done that. With WoW, GW, and EVE Online. There is a simple solution. Limit your playtime. For 1 hour, two, whatever.

Buy a cheap timer or alarm clock. Put it in another room. Set its alarm sound to maximum, or just get one of those cheap alarm clocks with a nasty ringing bell. Once you are up to shut off the alarm, just don't sit back down to the game again except to exit.

Intentionally ignore the computer for days at a time except for checking email and having a glance at the news headlines. When you feel tempted to play a game go for a walk instead; weather permitting. Make a list of chores and things to be done. Refuse to get near the computer until all that is taken care of for the day.

Game addiction is real and will ruin your life if you let it. Break the cycle and get over it.

In the 1960's some researchers discovered the pleasure center in a rat's brain. They then surgically inserted electrodes into the center. In the rat's cage they then placed a lever that the rat could push down and trigger a burst of pleasure. The experimental rats would continually bash themselves against the lever, ignoring eating, drinking, and sleep; eventually killing themselves in the process.

Later on Larry Niven incorporated this idea in his Ringworld Novel series (highly recommended). At one point, his chief character Louis Wu has become a "wirehead" to escape from terrible memories. I always keep that "wirehead" thing in my mind when gameplay becomes more than casual. Wirehead, what a disgusting thing to be.

Nature Loves Me · Aug 05, 2009, 05:00 PM // 17:00

Good for you :O All important things to be doing.

Unfortunately for me, the only thing that makes my life worth living is a game to distract me from all the issues/misery in my life.

I actually don't play anything anymore, since I've done most everything in GW and every other game I try to play refuses to let me play. I suppose that now makes my life not worth living... I just hope GW2 comes out sooner than expected. Or I can get a doctor xD. Before I stopped actually playing a lot I had an AVERAGE of 8+ hours a day. I was on the internet 16 Hours a day(Still am, don't judge if ya don't know why, which ya don't). I'm sure I had over 14+ Hours a day on GW, but I did stop for a few months.

I do occasionally try to finish an e-Book called Visual C# 2008 Step-By-Step. For only about half an hour though at a time

Anyways, like some of these guys have said, you don't have to give up games entirely, although IMO I think it's best if you do(Not you specifically, just in general).