I am posting some of the reviews of World of Warcraft from the Amazon.com website. I am doing this, so you can see the hooks and descriptions used to pull people into this game.
People have NO IDEA what they are getting into when they start playing this game.
It all appears so INNOCENT and FUN and a great enhancement to one's real life. We know better.......we have all paid.
DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ!
Product Description From Amazon.com
World of Warcraft didn't invent the online role-playing genre, but it certainly benefits from the missteps of other titles that have come before. A mind-boggling array of improvements in graphics, gameplay, networking, and interface--really every category--makes this game the crown prince of the genre, a great starting place for newbies, and a challenge to any other MMORPG currently in the works.
The game's beautifully rendered locations are filled with small details, such as flying birds and flowing water.
A History of Conflict
WoW takes place just four years after the real-time strategy Warcraft series, which chronicles a 25 year struggle between the Alliance (humans, dwarves, gnomes, and elves) and the Horde (orcs, tauren, trolls, and undead). Even though there's tons of accumulated story to the series, new players should not be daunted. The background is there for you to explore, but you don't have to tread a lot of Azeroth history to get into the action.
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The makers boast 2,000 existing quests with more being added, many of them noncombat in nature.
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The game looks magnificent. There's plenty of detail and variety to the landscapes and interiors, and the artwork has a refreshingly playful style. There's not a lot of variety in the character creation process, but with all the skills and proficiencies to combine in the game, WoW focuses its customization not on the appearance of your character but rather on the character of your character. The game lets you adopt any two trade skills, regardless of character race or class, and combine those skills in useful ways. If you choose skinning and leatherworking, for example, you can fashion bags from the carcasses of monsters you defeat, which will allow you to carry even more inventory items.
Expanded Commerce
You can sell the items you make, find, and loot through a variety of outlets. Like any role-playing game, WoW has merchants who will buy your cast-off items for fixed prices, but you can also sell to other players at your own price through in-game chat or by leaving it with one of the auction houses located across the map. This virtual free market is a game within the game, like Monopoly somehow inserted into the middle of Chess. Heck, you can even send items C.O.D. to other players via the game's mail system.
The game's Quest Log keeps track of up to 20 quests at a time.
In other online role-playing games, starting players have to invest dozens of hours whacking at small prey and doing other odd jobs one at a time to gradually "level up" to more interesting challenges. WoW lets players accept a variety of quests--up to 20 at a time without penalty for abandoning any of them before they're complete. The makers boast 2,000 existing quests with more being added, many of them noncombat in nature. Where some games only grant experience through battle, WoW grants experience for exploring and fulfilling quests too.
A Level Playing Field
There's also a built-in handicap for casual players where your character enters a rest state when you log off from the game. The longer you're logged off (up to a week), the bigger the experience bonus you'll get when you return to battle. An enemy tagging feature--the player who lands the first attack on an enemy claims the loot for himself or his party--prevents onlookers from swooping in and pilfering items from a monster that you brought down. That resolves a common complaint of other titles.
Icons and pop-ups help put complex controls easily within reach.
Most games severely penalize players when they die in-game, usually by shaving experience points, funds, or both. In WoW, death just relocates your ghost to the nearest graveyard, and the only penalty is the time it takes you to get back to resurrect your character's corpse.
All of this makes for a very complicated game, but the well-designed interface puts all the game's elements into icons either visible framing the action or within a simple keystroke. The enemy's artificial intelligence is quite strong too: Monsters will join nearby fights to aid their comrades, switch targets strategically midbattle, and ambush players. The map system fills in details on places you've visited, so you always know where you are and where you've been.
Overall, World of Warcraft is a game that's easy to learn, challenging to master, beautiful to watch, and tons of fun to play. --Porter B. Hall
Amazon.com Product Description
For the first time, players can experience the lands of WarCraft's Azeroth from a new, in-depth perspective. As heroes, they explore familiar battlefields, discover new lands, and take on epic quests and challenges in Blizzard's massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Blizzard has taken care to make the game accessible and fun both for hard-core 60-hour-a-week players and for more casual adventurers.
Game Informer Review
Having had the privilege of playing in the World of Warcraft beta for the last several months and logging several days playing in the retail version, I feel qualified to say this to all the haters and the doubters: You are wrong. Blizzard has done it again, succeeding in epic fashion to craft a title that once again makes me fear for my social life. Though WoW doesn't radically differ from the tried-and-true MMORPG formula, the subtle tweaks, additions, and special layer of Blizzard polish make it an amazing and fresh experience.
From the moment you log in to WoW, it draws you in and keeps you enthralled with its endless content, entertaining combat, and delightful presentation. Perhaps the single thing that makes adventuring and crafting in WoW so captivating is the way that you can choose your own pace and style of play. Whether you are popping in for half an hour before dinner or pulling a 16-hour power session on the weekend, you'll be able to find something to do, accomplish it, and feel like you actually got somewhere. This has largely to do with the quest system AC/a,!aEUoe throughout my playtime, I was on a variety of quests, ranging from simple delivery to intense dungeon crawls. Unless you're trying to get a crew together to do something very specific and all of your friends are offline, it's awfully unlikely that you'll be sitting in town looking for a group like some other MMOs are infamous for.
The sights of the world of Warcraft are anywhere from grandiose to chilling to simply beautiful. While the Forsaken (my race of choice) battle to keep the evil Scourge and do-gooder humans from eradicating their fledgling undead society in the corrupted Tirisfal Glades, the night elves work ceaselessly to purify the towering forests of Kalimdor of the aftermath of the great war against the Burning Legion. These struggles are epic, and the way that they are presented hammers the point home. Also, the world is drawn in the slightly off-kilter Warcraft style, which lends that extra little immersive touch. Though WoW doesn't sport the sheer bleeding-edge technology of EverQuest II, it nonetheless is one of the best-looking games I've ever played. Plus, this allows WoW to run acceptably on even low- to mid-end machines.
WoW also does many more things that almost completely remove the tedium and "grinding" commonly associated with the genre. Tradeskills are easy to learn, simple to use, and allow you to craft useful items. Combat is fast and fluid, with little "sit on auto-attack until the monster is dead" going on. Travel times are not bad at all, since all of the towns and cities are linked by quick transit. Basically, nothing ever feels like a timesink that's just there to keep you playing and paying the monthly fee. It really says something when I've yet to be bored or annoyed for a single moment after playing an MMORPG for weeks.
Some people have been afraid that WoW sacrifices its long-term appeal in favor of ease of use, much like the way certain folks think of City of Heroes. To this criticism, I say humbug. WoW offers both depth and breadth of content for players to experience, and I seriously can't imagine anyone getting bored with the game before the inevitable expansion comes out. Between tradeskills, questing, exploring, high-level dungeons, and player-vs-player combat, there is so much to do in WoW that it seems silly to think that there's not enough content. What really blows my mind, though, is that it's all fun. This truly is the best online role-playing game to date. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to defend my people from a filthy human invasion.
Concept:
Perfect the model that EverQuest made popular
Graphics:
Colorful, diverse, and a gorgeous fit for the Warcraft universe
Sound:
Mood music, thundering effects, and limited Warcraft 3-style voices make a rich environment
Playability:
The default user interface has its limitations, but there are already wonderful mods out for it
Entertainment:
Simply the best, most polished, and flat-out fun MMORPG to date
Replay:
High
Rated: 9.5 out of 10
Editor: Adam Biessener
Issue: February 2005
2nd Opinion:
Blizzard didn't do it first, but they've done it the best. While most of the standard massively multiplayer conventions are in place, all of the non-fun fat has been trimmed away, leaving behind a wholly unique and absorbing experience that is simultaneously simple, deep, and incredibly engaging. The game's acronym of "WoW" may be the first word that escapes your mouth when you emerge into the gorgeous artistic beauty of Azeroth. The epic grandeur of the setting combines with continually entertaining activity. You never feel bored or disinterested . Every turn of the corner brings a new sight, sound, battle, or wonder. Combining many of the best qualities of Blizzard's former games, along with the finest aspects of MMOs, World of Warcraft's only major fault is that it may make playing other similar titles seem like a chore. It's quite simply phenomenal as it solidly sets a new high bar for the genre.
Rated: 9.5 out of 10
Editor: Matt Miller
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From the Manufacturer
Four years have passed since the aftermath of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and a great tension now smolders throughout the ravaged world of Azeroth. As the battle-worn races begin to rebuild their shattered kingdoms, new threats, both ancient and ominous, arise to plague the world once again.
World of Warcraft is an online role-playing experience set in the award-winning Warcraft universe. Players assume the roles of Warcraft heroes as they explore, adventure, and quest across a vast world. Being "Massively Multiplayer," World of Warcraft allows thousands of players to interact within the same world. Whether adventuring together or fighting against each other in epic battles, players will form friendships, forge alliances, and compete with enemies for power and glory.
A dedicated live team will create a constant stream of new adventures to undertake, lands to explore, and monsters to vanquish. This content ensures that the game will never be the same from month to month, and will continue to offer new challenges and adventures for years to come.
Game Features:
Adventure together with thousands of other players simultaneously.
Explore an expansive world with miles of forests, deserts, snow-blown mountains, and other exotic lands.
Join the Horde or the Alliance as one of 8 playable races.
Select from 9 classes, including holy Paladins, shape-shifting Druids, powerful Warriors and Mages, demon-summoning Warlocks, and more.
Encounter many familiar and new Warcraft characters and monsters.
Learn the continuing story of Azeroth by completing a wide variety of challenging quests.
Journey through an epic world filled with dungeons of different styles and depths.
Explore 6 huge capital cities, which serve as major hubs for the races inhabiting them.
Practice various trade skills to help locate reagents, make and enhance custom items, acquire wealth through trade with other players, and more.
Purchase tickets for travel along a number of air routes flown by creatures such as Gryphons and Wyverns. For global transportation, travel by Boat or Goblin Zeppelin.
Once a certain level has been achieved, players can choose to purchase permanent personal mounts, such as Dire Wolves and Horses.
Establish a guild, purchase a custom guild tabard, and promote or demote recruits to different ranks within the guild.
Locate and engage other players with easy-to-use features and tools, including chat channels, friends lists, and animated and audible character expressions.
Customize the game's interface via XML.
Enjoy hundreds of hours of gameplay with new quests, items, and adventures every month.
Product Description
World Of Warcraft lets players experience the lands of Azeroth from a newer, in-depth perspective. They'll discover new lands and take on epic quests and challenges in massive online multiplayer action. Adventure together with thousands of other players simultaneously A monthly subsription fee is required to play online
Edited by: lizwool at: 6/7/06 6:36
Liz Woolley
WoW is more than it's cracked up to be, September 14, 2004
Reviewer: Seth Mclagan "Bullroar" (Florida, USA)
I just spent the last week playing the World of Warcraft Stress Test Beta, and I can tell you that it was better than I expected. Even though the game wasn't finished, it still has many features that make it head and shoulders above every other MMORPG I've played.
Now, I, like many others, have been waiting in ancicipation for this game to come out, and when I had the chance to play the stress test, I was elated. Considering the majority of my MMOG experience is in EverQuest, I will list a few of the improvements (at least what I see as improvements) over the MMORPG "norm."
1) Experience from completing quests is noticable, and the rewards from completing them are worthwhile. I was always frustrated with EverQuest's quest structure, and the only reason to do a quest was for the item quested for, not for the experience gain. In WoW, it is possible to gain more experience from completing a quest than from killing a monster.
2) Experience progress is anything but vague. Every time a character kills a monster or completes a quest, the experience points are clearly given, and a meter with the character's progress within a level is clearly marked with numbers. So it's impossible not to tell how much experience killing a monster was worth. No more questionable meters with random values.
3) The world is easy to get around in. And it doesn't take an hour to get where you need to be, if you know where you're going. This was one of my biggest problems with EverQuest, because, as a semi-casual player, sometimes I don't have the time to run for an hour to complete a quest, or, in some cases, die, then have to make a corpse run and take twice as long as it originally was supposed to take. Which leads me to my next point.
4) Death is reasonable. If your character dies, its ghost spawns at the NEAREST graveyard, so there is no need to manually bind your character somewhere. Also, there is no XP loss if you choose to run your character over to its corpse. In my opinion, the death system is one of the best, as you can choose to lose XP by ressurecting right at the graveyard, or just run to your character's corpse and revive there with no experience loss. And before you can ressurect your character in a graveyard, it will let you know exactly how much XP will be lost. This replaces the 3 hours of grinding time needed to replace the lost XP.
5) An XP grind is perfectly possible, but not necessary. It is very possible to level up consistently without having to play for 5-7 hours a day. Between XP from killing monsters and the great quest completion XP, I was able to level a character to 17 in 3 days of semi-casual play. Now granted, those were the first 17 and the easiest, but it's also possible to gain a level a day, almost unheard of in EverQuest.
To make a long story short, this will be a great game, but there is still a lot of work needed to make it release-ready. Since there is no official word yet on its release, I wouldn't hold my breath, but it's certainly something to keep an eye on.
-Bullroar
Liz Woolley
Awesome Game, Even For Older Players, September 15, 2004
Reviewer: Walter Milford (Vancouver, WA USA)
This game is, quite simply, the best Fantasy MMORPG I have ever encountered. Having played during the entire 11 day Stress Test, I can honestly say it will probably be around even longer than EverQuest. This work of art has all the magic of EQ, without the many frustrations that finally caused me to give up on EQ (such as extreme grind, a very punitive death penalty, and being forced to group at high levels).
The graphics in WoW are awesome. Some people complain about the "cartoonish" colors, etc. I find these graphics to be very pleasing to the eye, and extremely well detailed and arranged. Guess this just shows that it isn't possible to please everyone, particularly those who go out of their way to find a flaw in other people's creations. To me, it is just right.
I won't elaborate on the basics of the game, such as the 8 races and 9 classes. Others have already covered them. Rather, I will focus on some other areas that are important to older players (I will soon be 60 years old, and no longer have the lightning-fast hand to eye coordination and sharp vision I once enjoyed).
There appeared to be no need for extremely quick reflexes in this game, but instead a player needs to use strategy and planning to avoid getting in over one's head. The wonderful hotkey bar across the entire bottom of the screen was very helpful and well thought out. Kudos to Blizzard for making such a great interface. The screen is not all cluttered up like it is in most games.
The game runs on a 24-hour clock, so it is dark nearly half the time. Blizzard wisely chose to not make the game black as night in most locations. It is possible to play effectively in caves and other usually extremely dark areas, without benefit of an external light. I thought this was a very wise decision and really enjoyed playing in those locations for the first time ever in an MMORPG. Some players complain that it is too bright. I would say to them: Turn down your Gamma control in the game if you like. Many of us do not have your young night-vision, and we are paying customers too. I think that Blizzard got this part just right.
The quest system in this game is better than I have ever seen. I actually liked doing quests, something I haven't previously enjoyed. Also, quests give lots of experience, and since they can usually be done on a casual basis, they don't require the same level of one-track focus that they do in other games I have played.
During this "way too short" Stress Test, I decided to try a variety of different characters and locations, so played the following characters: Night Elf Druid, lvl 12; Tauren Hunter, lvl 13; Human Mage, lvl 8; Human Warlock, lvl 6; Gnome Warlock, lvl 6; Troll Shaman, lvl 6. Unfortunately, I have a full-time job and could only devote about 40 hours a week to the game. The initial leveling rate is quite quick, with it slowing down a lot at about level 12. Just about right, IMO.
The game is bug-free, for the most part. It is way more bug-free than SWG is even today. I would be willing to pay a subscription now, if it would "get me my game back!". There are only two problems I see with this game:
1. Even though the Stress Test ended at 6pm Sunday evening, three days later I am still going through withdrawal and still have no desire to play on my two City of Heroes and three SWG accounts.
2. World of Warcraft is still not out, so my pre-ordered copy hasn't arrived, nor do I know when that will happen. The sooner, the better, IMO. There is no doubt in my mind that this game will be way more popular that EQ2, which I also plan to try. Hopefully WoW will arrive first.
I for one really appreciate these Reviews that Amazon has. I find them very helpful. The only problem I see with them is that there are only FIVE stars in the rating system. This is a shame, for World of Warcraft certainly deserves a TEN.
Liz Woolley
The epic online game, May 27, 2006
Reviewer: Terence Ma
Yet another perfect game made by Blizzard entertainment after the release of Warcraft III, StarCraft and Diablo II. Four years have passed after the third war in the world of Azeroth between the four races of the Human Alliance, Orcish Horde, Night Elf Sentinels and the Undead Scourge. The races used their times wisely to rebuild and reclaim their battle-shattered homeland, meanwhile, preparing for war again...
World of Warcraft (WoW) is an online role-playing game that brings you back to the unique world of Azeroth and start your own adventures with Eight playable races with four of each race of the two factions - The Alliance and the Horde. The alliance has the Humans, Dwarfs, Gnomes and the Nightelves. Meanwhile on the horde side, you can play as the Orcs, Taurens, Trolls and the Undeads.
There are also Nine classes you can select each with their unique strength, weakness and racial traits. You can start your adventure as a Warrior - A powerful class with great strength and defense, or as a Paladin - A holy warrior with weaker strength and defense but with the ability of restoring health. If you are Stealthy enough, how about playing a rogue? -A master in Assassination and killing enemies with nasty tricks with their awesome melee skills! If you prefer shooting over stabbing, a Hunter should be your best choice. If you like to keep yourself and you allies alive, you can play as a Priest or a Druid, both masterful at restoring health with their mystical strgenth. At last, if you are a big fan of spells, either play as a Mage - A powerful class based on Fire, Frost and Arcane spells, as a Warlock - A master in Demonic and Shadowy spells, or as a Shaman - A hybrid class that knows almost everything.
You can play this game for years and not get tired of it. There are just too many things to do; there are thousands of quests for you to do in more than thirty areas you can explore throughout Azeroth! It is just too fun for you to stop playing!
Blizzard also introduced the "instance" system which allows only you and your friends to enter a special "room" without the disturbance from the outside gaming world. Most of the instances are possessed with high difficulties and powerful creatures preparing for an epic battle. You can travel to the Plaguelands and discover the secrets in the mystic school of Scholomance ruled by Dark Master Gandling, join the war between the Scarlet Crusade against the Undead Scourge in the abandoned city Starthome, or travel into the deep wilderness to discover the ancient energies inside the dreaded Diremaul. If you are powerful enough, you may consider forming a Raid of 40 men and challenge even more dangerous instances, such as the molten core, a Hallowed Core ruled by the Demi god Ragnaros, or the Blackwing lair, an instance full of black dragons commanded by Nefarian, the dreaded lord of the balckrock.
It doesn't matter if you have the whole night for gaming or only half an hour, an epic world of adventure awaits.
Liz Woolley
It is good till level 60, then it is completely pointless., May 26, 2006
Reviewer: Joseph P "Joseph P" (Edmonton)
The game looks and runs great. Easy to level up until you are level 35. Then you better group up. Not for a solo player. Once you are level 60, you have to apply to get in to a guild. That is the only way you can do instances.Otherwise be ready to spend pointless hours trying to get a group going. Only through a guild you can obtain good armor sets. If you like to group and apply for a guild like if it was a part time job, then this game is ok. If you want to enjoy playing solo this game is definetly not for you. The crafting system is pointless and the rewards for most quest are lame. On the plus art work is great, but that is about it.
Liz Woolley
If you only play one Online RPG, May 23, 2006
Reviewer: Jeff Travis "Stormfury" (Apex, NC United States)
I'll spare you the long review on what this game is as there are several well written reviews of this game.
What I will say is that I've explored several Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) including Star Wars Galaxies, City of Heroes, Guild Wars, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Lineage and a few others, but none of them came close to Worlds of Warcraft. WOW is an appropriate acronym for this game as it simply caters to power games and casual alike.
The interface is simply easy to use and colorful. Playing solo with some of the classes can be a challenge and the skill system tends to be a bit limited, but the amount of explorable area, diverse missions and game design greatly offset any disadvantages.
I was amazed at the wonderful job Blizzard did with guiding you from area to area based on your level. You start out in a low level area and as you progress through levels, the world starts to open up to you. While it is possible to stray into higher level areas, the missions and layout of the maps keeps you in the areas that are appropriate to your current level.
Simply the best MMORPG I have ever played and well worth your money if you're only going to try one of these games. My only complaint is that we may never see another version of Diablo from Blizzard since WOW's release.
Liz Woolley
Last modified by: Ryan Simmons on Apr 10, 2006
World of Warcraft isn't just a game it's a community! At last count according to Blizzard Entertainment over five million people worldwide play the game. All kinds of people play the game from Engineers and MD's to five year olds. You would be suprised at who comes out as a leader in-game, sometimes it's the MD's who follow the five year olds into simulated PVP battles. It's not just a game it's an experience and if you get into it don't miss out and play it single. The benefits come from meeting people and joining with them to complete objectives. Don't grind away the day to level 60! Instead join a guild and reap the benefits. Also visit www.craftingworlds.com for some great videos that showcase the gameplay and the community.
Liz Woolley
Quote:There's also a built-in handicap for casual players where your character enters a rest state when you log off from the game. The longer you're logged off (up to a week), the bigger the experience bonus you'll get when you return to battle.
That is something they should implement in all MMORPG's. Not only is it an incentive for addicts to take a break, but also allows people who don't have too much free time to be able to level up at the same rate as other folks who play longer.
-Mutt
Creator of Perki Goth/Candi Raver
And MPLH
Quote:There's also a built-in handicap for casual players where your character enters a rest state when you log off from the game. The longer you're logged off (up to a week), the bigger the experience bonus you'll get when you return to battle.
Every 8 hours of downtime a player is rewarded 1 bubble of xp bonus to a 30 bubble maxium.
there is 20 bubbles per level so this equals 1 1/2 levels of rested xp.
It's not charity from blizzard.. I don't believe so anyway.
The reward helps those that needed downtime to come back and keep up with their guild, online firends etc..
The rested xp also allows those addicted to play other toons and alternate the rested xp.
Um....
This strikes me as a pro-game thread.
I thought we didn't promote games here, Liz...
Especially one as addictive as WoW?
Leveling in Real Life
I posted this, so you can see the hooks and descriptions used to pull people into this game.
People have NO IDEA what they are getting into when they start play this game.
It all appears so INNOCENT and FUN and a great enhancement to one's real life. We know better.......we have all paid.
DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ!
Liz
Liz Woolley
Okay.
Perhaps that should be inserted into the first post???
Leveling in Real Life
Done....
Liz Woolley
Hobbies are sought for enjoyment =) I'm not a psychologist, however I did take almost 18 semester hours in psychology, so I'm about as close as you get to a psychologist without having the paper to say it =P.. Here is the problem guys. Usually someone that endulges themselves in a viedo game for hours on end is one that first of all has no self control. I cannot say I'm completely in control at all times but thats where the wife and kids can do something to get my attention off the game. BUT. IN not all cases can someones attention be diverted; allow me to explain. Video games seem to be the venue of "escape" for those with depression. Usually someone with depression looses all intrest in most hobbies; they loose self-esteme (usually of their physical appearance) and MMRPG's allow you to converse and communicate with people, satisfying your social needs without having to meet someone face-to-face. So in essence; these worlds are call "fantisy" because its all a world that is consider to be as a "dream". Like me, sometimes, I find myself wanting to sleep in just so I am able to finish that dream. Games can be like this IF the person allows it to be, but that applies to any game, any HOBBY, or anything that is enjoyable and a venue for satisfaction and relief from a stressful lifestyle. In short, I disagree that any game is addictive as anything else "fun" in this small world we are in; however I can agree with one thing; for the ALREADY DEPRESSED, games may tend to 'draw' someone inside of it; and the only way to pull that person out; is to treat that illness. Trying to treat the "game" is simply futile. But lets get back to the social satisfaction of depression.. You see a MMRPG provides fuel for this; the same way any message board, like this site has may also do. People on this site may converse with a community without having to meet them face to face. With that said; I personally saw one of you guys' members on this site for about 5 hours strait last night. Everytime I check that person was logged in. Now how does a MMRPG differ from a message board now? You admins are pretty much the same way; Achilleus has been logged in for about, what 2 hours now? Izwool has been logged in for 3-4 hours? Again what makes a MMRPG diffrent from this site? POINT: Anything in excess whether it be a website with a message board, answering and writing emails, chatting, MMORPG, Alcohol, food, etc etc can be classified as "addictive" and furthermore dangerious and unhealthy. We all love to do these things; it is human nature, but we are not fat blobs or chat lunes because we SHOULD have some self-control. Again the primary of this point is, without moderation, anything is bad and unhealthy for someone; furthermore, the most important part is if someone doesn't have self control, then they are accessive compulsive, and that is a treatable mental illness (Can be associated with depression as well), thus the illness should be treated; without placing belame on the game or hobby in which that person decided to smother themselves in :)
he he he; may I? I play EverQuest; lol, costs 15 dollars per month wether I play it ever day or once per month... With that said you think i'm going to login every week? LOL... nope, I'm going to get my money's worth out of it; and I'm going to ensure that my character STAYS logged in 24/7 just so I get that veteran award; I may be away from my PC but I assure you unless my internet bumps me off; my character is logged in. Now I have to aslo admit this is also in part to me being a guild leader of one of the largest guilds on that server as well :)
You said it yourself, Darthinator. You are NOT a psychologist, and 18 hours (4-6 classes) does NOT EVEN COME CLOSE to making you a psychologist. I, on the other hand, am a fully qualified health care professional (I decline to say exactly what type for personal reasons) with 11 years of undergraduate and graduate education under my belt. I am fully qualified to diagnose and treat depression and I will tell you in no uncertain terms that my son was NOT depressed until he entered the World of Warcrack. He was happy, intelligent, active, and was having the time of his life in high school, making new friends after spending 10 years with the same 30 kids in our local elementary school. He had NONE of the symptoms of depression. He ate well, slept well, had hobbies and interests outside the computer, never did drugs or alcohol, and got all A's and B's his last 2 years of high school, and had plans for the future. He also has two loving parents and a stable home. After 18 months of playing WoW, he eats and sleeps poorly, he is fearful, anxious, uncertain, has no plans for the future, cannot express himself verbally, cannot interact in a meaningful way with another human being, cannot read and comprehend anything more than simple literature, and cannot even follow simple instructions involving real-life tasks. This game completely re-wired his brain. I'd never seen anything like it until now. He's been out of WoW for about 7 months and his former self is just starting to emerge, but it's a maddeningly slow process. I'm so sick of people who want to dismiss this tragedy as simply a pre-existing depression, or a kid who must have been somehow defective to start with. This child was normal and is now emotionally scarred for life.
If you are indeed a retired Army Major, I thank you profoundly for your service to our country, and I'm glad for you that you have the time now to run a guild, but as you lead your guild, I hope you will ponder from time to time the amount of time the teens and 20-somethings in your guild are spending online in your game, and wonder a bit about whether they are studying or even going to school. Those kids are the future of our country, some of the best and brightest, and they are being ruined. I pray that none of your children or grandchildren will end up like my kid did. I'm convinced it can happen to any kid.
"Small service is true service while it lasts. Of humblest friends, bright creature! scorn not one
The daisy, by the shadow that it casts,
Protects the lingering dewdrop from the sun." -------William Wordsworth
((GamersMom)) What you said is truly powerful stuff. You are right about the game changing people. It sucks. And yes, I think that Darthinator should consider all the people who are involved with him gaming and what lives are being ruined because of what he runs. :) Hang in there mama! You are setting a great example for us!
"This is the end...." The Doors