This post is directed at the older gamers, the ones in the 21- 40+ age range. I know im not the only one thats noticed this. The young kids playing mmos hardcore. They get home at 3 and play MMOs until its time to goto bed. Hell some actually lie to thier parents and stay up way passed to raid or do other mmo activity. I hear these kids go on and on how thier grades are getting worse, how they never had a GF/BF before. They don't go out and chill or play a sport. When I was younger I didnt really pay attention to the kids playing these games, now that im a father it kind of scares me a bit to think these kids are missing out on life like this. I don't know what type of person I would be if I missed out on my entire childhood like alot of these kids. The parties, the sex, the sports and bonding with my friends. Just imagine if you thought back on your childhood when ur 30 and all you could remember was a raid or a certain character you played 24/7. Its freaking sad, really. What do you guys think? I know we all played videogames when we were younger but we also made time for other things, we didn't have MMOs that required commitments like second jobs then. Do you think these games are damaging these children in anyway? I think about this as a parent. My children are all either into dancing or sports and are only allowed to play Wii on the weekends. But some of these kids don't have parents to guide them, makes me think these games are hurting these kids. Anyway, thanks for reading. Just something i was wondering about, Let me know what you guys think.
To be honest, I dont know any kids, so I cant say for anything but hearsay. But what I see is the impression that kids today spent way less time outside than I did when I was a kid. Ok, back then, there WERE no computers, lol, I was 15 or so when the Commodore C64 came and I got one, and I sure didnt spent all my spare time at it, even though I was a computer nerd relatively speaking back then. What I observe here with kids in Germany is that parents allow their kids much less freedom to go out a roam at their own leisure. When I was kid in the late 70ies /early 80ies we just went out and were out of sight the entire day. Today, parents even drive their 12 year old kids to school with car. I never was driven to school! Heck, I even made a railroad trip to my Aunt when I was 13 all alone! It wasnt so hard, but I see kids today are kinda over-protected and overly held inside the house, so its not all their fault.
I see that as a dangerous development. Kids need to have physical experiences, they need to go outside and not sit in front of a computer all day long. Partially kids today are way too focussed on computers and doing stuff in the house, but thats also partial the parents fault, maybe just shove them off that way, glad to be rid of them, when they are at some monitor or screen. A sad development.
Children NEED outside experience, they need to exhaust their body, they need to do stuff with real people in the real world to learn something about themselves, about the world and about social bonding which you can not learn inside a computer or video game. So its balderdash to say people 20+ also waste away their time in front of the computer or TV. Thats sad enough, but kids still need to grow and learn things. They end up "socially dumb", and you can see where that leads us to already. Too many sociopaths out there. Kids need to run around and take a little bloody knee or stuff. They need to be out, play soccer (or whatever is fashion in your part of the globe), get a bit rough, play hide and seek, experience nature's seasons asf. Childhood just isnt healthy otherwise.
I have a similar view about that, but it is not only about the childhood the life goes ahead and nowadays you are not "old" in your 30ish/40ish like it was maybe some generations ago..heck even societies starts to changing their minds slowly. If you learn or if you get in touch with outdoor activities in your childhood/teenager time you have probably less problems to motivate yourself later on to do sport or any physical activities cause you need them in your 30ies or 40ies too, maybe reduced due to time issus but you need it for your current body/health and later health aswell.
Of course it is not only about outdoor activities or sport, its about socializing which is just important already in a very young age otherwise there is a risk you dont learn it later on, but it is important for partnership, jobs and just for your development of your character, heck even to communicate with your neighbours/environment instead to be totally anonymous.
What i see in this thread is that some people/parents are just to "carebeer" with their kids, but those did exist already years ago, maybe this just happens a lot more nowadays. Kids needs to be shown/learn the limits but they need also their freedom for some parts and are not pet toys living mostly at home. You cant totally protect them from the bad sides of society, but support them and educate them not to get in touch with it.
Some of you do need to consider that crime is a bit different than it was 15, 20, 30 years ago if you want to call parents 'carebear'.
Being gone all day was normal. You came home for meals or toilet breaks or if the other kids had to go home.
What use to be settled with a fight - punching, etc., progressed to knives to guns. There have always been bullies, but they use to beat you up or steal your lunch money, not shoot you. Honestly when I was a teen lots of people had guns, but I don't recollect any kid ever shooting up their school or another gang or anyone because people just didn't do that! I'm sure accidents, etc., happened but not how it is today where peopel react much more violently to incidents that are basically pissing contest crap.
Families in general, along with the neighborhood, community, etc., policed themselves and kept the majority of 'gang-like' activity to a minimum, pedophials and drug dealers had less access to chilidren too.
Some areas of our country (USA) it's just not safe to shove your pre-teen or teen out the door to play. If it was a matter of coming home with a bloody nose or black eye I wouldn't worry, but the call from the police or morgue - no thanks!
For those of us fortunate enough to live in relatively safe areas that our kids can go outside you bet they do!
This post is directed at the older gamers, the ones in the 21- 40+ age range. I know im not the only one thats noticed this. The young kids playing mmos hardcore. They get home at 3 and play MMOs until its time to goto bed. Hell some actually lie to thier parents and stay up way passed to raid or do other mmo activity. I hear these kids go on and on how thier grades are getting worse, how they never had a GF/BF before. They don't go out and chill or play a sport. When I was younger I didnt really pay attention to the kids playing these games, now that im a father it kind of scares me a bit to think these kids are missing out on life like this. I don't know what type of person I would be if I missed out on my entire childhood like alot of these kids. The parties, the sex, the sports and bonding with my friends. Just imagine if you thought back on your childhood when ur 30 and all you could remember was a raid or a certain character you played 24/7. Its freaking sad, really. What do you guys think? I know we all played videogames when we were younger but we also made time for other things, we didn't have MMOs that required commitments like second jobs then. Do you think these games are damaging these children in anyway? I think about this as a parent. My children are all either into dancing or sports and are only allowed to play Wii on the weekends. But some of these kids don't have parents to guide them, makes me think these games are hurting these kids. Anyway, thanks for reading. Just something i was wondering about, Let me know what you guys think.
(by the way, im not in the range of the people who your asking the questions to but i gotta say somethingg)
okay im in high school . Ive had quite a few girlfriends. Im one of the most popular kids in my class grade and school. I play almost every sport and im naturally athletic and i get straight A's. Im not bullshitting you. (And i dont want to sound like a little cocky jerk but im just stating facts here.) I also love video games with a fucking passion. no idea how or why, but i think i found a way to mix my life into both worlds. ya know, stay normal and party like a normal little shit and game up whenever i want to and not feel like a little queer. Thank you for this topic seriously, this is a really good point. I would hate to look back on my life and see that i totally missed out on all the fun stuff, but i guess i wont so yay
EDIT: oh and PS, im happy to say ive never been 100% commited to a game. i played WoW. Had a 70, had absolutely No tier gear, flying mount, or high level professions. I was flat broke. Actually i asked a kid for 1000g for a mount and never paid him back.. oh well. havent been on WoW for a year now so i bet he forgot
EDIT EDIT: Oh and im also scared about the generation im growing up in. I mean 5/8 kids in my class are the biggest tools i have ever met. i swear. "hey lets smoke pot man!" "heh heh! okay! it makes me cool right!" "oohh yeahh dude!" haha wow i fucking hate those kids that think theyre cool but really no one likes them.
Here's my take on the whole thing. I think it depends if you're talking about jr high or high school. And I also think it's a matter of balance.
When I was in jr high, I was a massive D&D and tabletop gaming geek. Painted miniatures, played Risk all afternoon, enjoyed marathon weekends exploring the Temple of Elemental Evil or the Keep on the Borderlands, etc. I was an absolute dork who didn't get enough exercise. I don't regret much of the fun I had - I only regret that I didn't have more balance in my life. But realistically, in junior high there's a lot of time to goof off. School work really isn't that challenging (I was an A student), and you can easily do sports and have time to enjoy some nerdy hobby.
In high school, I realized I wanted to meet girls and one day go to college, so I started working out and getting involved in extracurricular activities. I still did some gaming (including computer gaming), but it was in moderation. I think high school is a far more critical time for teens as not only are you preparing for college, but you're also learning about your sexuality and the personality that you will carry somewhat into adulthood. College alone is tough to get into today and even tougher to pay for, so high school students should be studying their butts off.
That being said, I still remember quite a few weekends where I was bored out of my mind and had nothing to do. Most American communities do not have all ages concerts or dance clubs, unlike in Europe where teens have more social outlets. There's not much to do on a Friday or Saturday night for many American teenagers, except go to the movies, or sneak out into the woods and drink cheap liquor, or raid for new epics. I also have been noticing that recreational opportunities targeted at teens - ie, skateboard parks - are the first projects to get cut in a recession. So maybe, we as a society should start offering fun things to do before people turn 21.
The OP has a point...the good thing is the current crop of MMORPG's just suck so I doubt kids will play them for as long as some of us older gamers. AOC cured me of MMORPG's. Thank you Funcom.
The OP has a point...the good thing is the current crop of MMORPG's just suck so I doubt kids will play them for as long as some of us older gamers. AOC cured me of MMORPG's. Thank you Funcom.
I guess it all depends on what your definition is of waste of time. Everyone has a different opinion and no one is right. It's hard to judge the value of what one does in ones life. Some may be more interested in just living a queit happy life. Others might feel that it's important to get involved in the world and try to make a contribution in some way.
This post is directed at the older gamers, the ones in the 21- 40+ age range. I know im not the only one thats noticed this. The young kids playing mmos hardcore. They get home at 3 and play MMOs until its time to goto bed. Hell some actually lie to thier parents and stay up way passed to raid or do other mmo activity. I hear these kids go on and on how thier grades are getting worse, how they never had a GF/BF before. They don't go out and chill or play a sport. When I was younger I didnt really pay attention to the kids playing these games, now that im a father it kind of scares me a bit to think these kids are missing out on life like this. I don't know what type of person I would be if I missed out on my entire childhood like alot of these kids. The parties, the sex, the sports and bonding with my friends. Just imagine if you thought back on your childhood when ur 30 and all you could remember was a raid or a certain character you played 24/7. Its freaking sad, really. What do you guys think? I know we all played videogames when we were younger but we also made time for other things, we didn't have MMOs that required commitments like second jobs then. Do you think these games are damaging these children in anyway? I think about this as a parent. My children are all either into dancing or sports and are only allowed to play Wii on the weekends. But some of these kids don't have parents to guide them, makes me think these games are hurting these kids. Anyway, thanks for reading. Just something i was wondering about, Let me know what you guys think.
You think its better for kids get drunk have sex then play games?
Ive seen many very disturbed kids become idiots when they grow up as adults, becouse they had alot partys and sex:p
But some sports would do some kids good besides gaming.
If it takes to extreme i think both are not good.
Let your kid play some games do some sport and from time to time party, try regulate it so kid is happy and you have feeling he wont missing anything hehe.
Games played:AC1-Darktide'99-2000-AC2-Darktide/dawnsong2003-2005,Lineage2-2005-2006 and now Darkfall-2009..... In between WoW few months AoC few months and some f2p also all very short few weeks.
The OP has a point...the good thing is the current crop of MMORPG's just suck so I doubt kids will play them for as long as some of us older gamers. AOC cured me of MMORPG's. Thank you Funcom.
AoC as in Age of Conan?
how is that?
Well if its enough to stop a person from playing MMOs completely...then I dont think you wanna ask how it is.
Needless to say, I'm in the same boat. Ever since AoC I have not touched an MMO. Its been about 6 months. I'll admit I lurk these forums, read the news and even follow an MMO in development in the West (Aion).
Personally thats my last hope for MMOs. If Aion doesnt pan out I think a LOT of people are going to either revert to old MMOs or like me, leave the MMO scene for quite some time.
Currently waiting for the MMO industry to put out something good.
It a shame that these types of discussions have people arguing the extremes. Pro MMO playing advocates arguing that it is better than getting drunk, doing drugs, or having unprotected sex as if those are the only options if you don't play MMO's. Come on people. The problem isn't the MMO's anyway, it is the obsession/addiction to them that is the problem. That can happen with anything. If kids would rather play an MMO than a sport, that is fine. That is who they are. If it wasn't an MMO, it would be something else. I'm sure a lot of parents had similar concerns back in the PnP days. However, if it gets to the point were they are neglecting important things in their lives, like school, then the parents need to step in and regulate the situation. It is their responsibility to determine the difference between a hobby and an obsession and do their best to keep things in moderation.
Yeah, I have to admit I was one of those kids, and still am. What you say is true, Lots of young kids waste their lives playing MMO these days. Why? Because theres two choices in the MMO World.
A. Play 24/7 on world of warcraft after you reach level 80 to farm all your epics, and keep doing it every expansion + Alt Characters ect.
B. Hire someone to play it for you power leveling/Item Farming Costs a ton, and buying cash as well from IGE ect.
These are the MMO's that ruin the world too Time Consuming. Although wow is still the best mmorpg out there currently, It is really time consuming.
Future Games that dont involve all the hard work are those that will succeed.
SecondLife, STAR TREK ONLINE, STARGATE WORLDS, GLOBAL AGENDA, GUILD WARS, ECT.
Thse games dont require gridning 24/7 to achive something really, and that is why they wont be too time consuming to play, and take everyones real life as it did mine... I have played all the games listed on your Quote, and many many many more. MMO Wise That is.
Hi, I don't usually post on this website but I read around once in awhile and when I find a thread I want to chime in on, I will, which is what I'm doing now. This is a pretty contraversal and interesting topic to discuss...Here are my two cents:
(note that this may be a long post, hear me out though and try to read through it all!)
Ok, starting off, I am 21 years old. I have just matured into an adult. I've learned a lot about life in the last few years through many personal experiences I've had. I've had my ups and downs in life. I've made many mistakes that I wish I could turn back the clock and change. I almost got myself stuck in a marriage and I almost had a kid with this girl TWICE, both pregnancies resulted in miscarriage. I was sad, but now looking back. I am glad I didn't get stuck with this becuase I am definitely not ready to be a father, not yet, I'm too young. I solely believe god interveined and saved me from this. I've experimented with many things, drugs, sex, friends, getting into trouble, all that. I would like to think that for my age, I have a lot of experience...Even though I am still very young and I will always respect my elders as most of them have more knowledge then I do. My point here is, I've learned a lot from my mistakes, and this makes me a stronger person. I definitely do not condone getting a girl pregnant and learning from that one as most people probably won't be as lucky as I was...but you got to make mistakes so that you learn. Its all apart of growing.
I've been playing games my entire life. From the Atari when I was young and the Apple Quadra...I was using a computer at 2 years old. I've played many games, the list is too long. I've spent many hours and hours in the created worlds. Enough time that if I had dedicated it to working, I would have at least a hundred thousand dollars.
My standpoint on this topic is complex, I think the younger generation has a right to play games and have a good time, as I did. I am concerned though, with the new generation of youth. They are growing up in a new era of video gaming, and this era of MMOs concentrate on sucking the player in for the sole reason of money making. And when it comes to money, these companies will do everything they can to keep the income. It is not like buying a game in a box, playing it, and beating it, then moving on. These companies want to keep the player investing in the same game, so they get more money. THEY DESIGN THESE GAMES TO BE HIGHLY ADDICTIVE. The more time that has been invested, the more a person will continue investing, the more they will want to continue building what they have. It really is a false sense of accomplishment as in the real world, your game time invested is worth little. Yet, people who play MMOs get a serotonin high when they accomplish things in a video game.
I played Dark Age of Camelot since it was released. When I first started, and during the first few years, I really loved this game. I invested so much time into it, and people who played DAOC at its peak may know what I'm talking about. I built two RR11 Characters...all my toons in that game had a played time of aprox 200 days or so which is probably 1/38 of my life spent or something around there I don't know but I should do the math. I suffered in high school grade wise, and the school I went to was a top grade school and only wanted the academicly inclined, they asked me to leave and I had to enroll in an alternitive school which was one of the best experiences I've ever had.
Video gaming throughout my life has tought me many different kinds of skills, whether it be typing, to problem solving, stratagey, and even reflexes as their have been many close calls I've had while driving my car where I could of been killed becuase of a situation, but a certain survival instinct kicked in and mixed with my strong reflex and motor skills, I got myself out of a very dangerous situation. I remember these close calls very fluidly, and I still can not figure out if it really was my skills that saved me, or if it was god...or both.
Anyway, Video games are not what is causing the problems. However, MMOs that target people solely for their money can be. These companies are almost preditorial. They want your money and they don't care about the person's livelihood. People of my age can understand this, and smart people who see this won't let it get too much out of hand, and people who have played MMOs for a decent period of time KNOW how it works. but in the example given earler in this thread about the 8 year old, that is very, very, concerning. A child that young can not understand the world as it is, does not know. Everything he knows is the game. Personally, I think its really sad. I've played my fair share of games, I've been sucked in myself and i've had consaquences at times. However, I've still lived my life and done things in RL that were awesome, fun, great learning experiences. I never let it got too much out of hand to the point where it was literally BECOMING MY GROWTH completely.
Recently, I got cought for a DUI which was the worst mistake of my life. I lost my licence which I heavily relied on to get around and do things. I live in the hills and it is a hassle to get out to where life really happens. Since the DUI I have been playing DAOC way too much.
Through my experiences, I can realize that and agknowledge it. Kids that young that are sucked in to THAT EXTENT do not even know. It worries me a lot becuase I have a feeling that this kid is not the only one, and that their are a lot of kids like this one. Not only kids, but adults too.
I played my fair share of games, and I'm joining the military to make up for that time lost and to gain skills in that department. I am concerned about what kids like that 8 year old will end up becoming when they are adults if they just keep MMOing their childhood away. I douby they will become seiral killers, but they will have some very serious underlying issues personality wise. It is important to have balance...Its ok to play and have a good time, its ok to do a couple all nighters, its all in the fun. but when it becomes your entire life........
I am one of the results of the 90's gaming generation. But, this new gaming generation is completely different. I do not believe that kids as young as 8 years old, who are still developing their brains, should be playing MMOs for many hours on end every day. However, as you get older, it should be acceptable as long as a balance is maintained.
I still can't get over that damn kid...It really bothers me if he is infact spending all his time in a fake world. any kid that is like that.....it just really bothers me becuase it isnt too much their fault....their parents are really bad.
sad? the drugs, the sex, the parties? those are sad. i did that stuff when i was young, and i regret every minute of it. if i could take it back and replace it with mmo's, i would. think about it a little harder, if you must. they are staying away from drugs, staying away from sex (i already had a kid by the time i was 18), and staying out of jail. good? bad? who knows? maybe its the "lesser evil"? i know i would rather not have those memories, if all i could remember was having fun playing games with friends i think i would be better off right now.
Yeha, but do you think you would be who you are right now? Of couse not!
Its not about looking at your past and regretting things you've done, you've obviously learned from your mistakes. Most normal people are the same way.
But would you rather be a product of your learning experiences, or a product of spending all that time in a game, a fake world. Really think about it, if you spent your entire childhood playing MMOs and doing little else....what would be different about your current personality? You dont have to answer that, just think about it.
It keeps the children off the street and them from going to jail or worse. In the past before videogames it was T.V. and toys which is what a majority of the older generation doesn't understand. I remember my mother used to always tell me to get off the game even if I just turned it on, but when I just watched T.V. all day she didn't care? People still live in the 40s,50s,60s, etc even though its 2009 now and things have changed.
Videogames aren't all that bad. Studies have proven that videogamers make better surgeons because they're better and more precise with their hands. Some videogames actually educate you even though you might not know it. Play a military game and you learn things about the military. Play a medieval style MMORPG and you learn about some of the things they used in the past.
Also, the people who play MMORPGs 24/7 nowadays usually were the ones staying home play D&D with their friends in the past. Except nowadays I'd say its more fun which is why people play longer.
Comments
To be honest, I dont know any kids, so I cant say for anything but hearsay. But what I see is the impression that kids today spent way less time outside than I did when I was a kid. Ok, back then, there WERE no computers, lol, I was 15 or so when the Commodore C64 came and I got one, and I sure didnt spent all my spare time at it, even though I was a computer nerd relatively speaking back then. What I observe here with kids in Germany is that parents allow their kids much less freedom to go out a roam at their own leisure. When I was kid in the late 70ies /early 80ies we just went out and were out of sight the entire day. Today, parents even drive their 12 year old kids to school with car. I never was driven to school! Heck, I even made a railroad trip to my Aunt when I was 13 all alone! It wasnt so hard, but I see kids today are kinda over-protected and overly held inside the house, so its not all their fault.
I see that as a dangerous development. Kids need to have physical experiences, they need to go outside and not sit in front of a computer all day long. Partially kids today are way too focussed on computers and doing stuff in the house, but thats also partial the parents fault, maybe just shove them off that way, glad to be rid of them, when they are at some monitor or screen. A sad development.
Children NEED outside experience, they need to exhaust their body, they need to do stuff with real people in the real world to learn something about themselves, about the world and about social bonding which you can not learn inside a computer or video game. So its balderdash to say people 20+ also waste away their time in front of the computer or TV. Thats sad enough, but kids still need to grow and learn things. They end up "socially dumb", and you can see where that leads us to already. Too many sociopaths out there. Kids need to run around and take a little bloody knee or stuff. They need to be out, play soccer (or whatever is fashion in your part of the globe), get a bit rough, play hide and seek, experience nature's seasons asf. Childhood just isnt healthy otherwise.
I have a similar view about that, but it is not only about the childhood the life goes ahead and nowadays you are not "old" in your 30ish/40ish like it was maybe some generations ago..heck even societies starts to changing their minds slowly. If you learn or if you get in touch with outdoor activities in your childhood/teenager time you have probably less problems to motivate yourself later on to do sport or any physical activities cause you need them in your 30ies or 40ies too, maybe reduced due to time issus but you need it for your current body/health and later health aswell.
Of course it is not only about outdoor activities or sport, its about socializing which is just important already in a very young age otherwise there is a risk you dont learn it later on, but it is important for partnership, jobs and just for your development of your character, heck even to communicate with your neighbours/environment instead to be totally anonymous.
What i see in this thread is that some people/parents are just to "carebeer" with their kids, but those did exist already years ago, maybe this just happens a lot more nowadays. Kids needs to be shown/learn the limits but they need also their freedom for some parts and are not pet toys living mostly at home. You cant totally protect them from the bad sides of society, but support them and educate them not to get in touch with it.
It is concerning but some kids do play with their real life friends in mmos like this so that is a positive thing.
Some of you do need to consider that crime is a bit different than it was 15, 20, 30 years ago if you want to call parents 'carebear'.
Being gone all day was normal. You came home for meals or toilet breaks or if the other kids had to go home.
What use to be settled with a fight - punching, etc., progressed to knives to guns. There have always been bullies, but they use to beat you up or steal your lunch money, not shoot you. Honestly when I was a teen lots of people had guns, but I don't recollect any kid ever shooting up their school or another gang or anyone because people just didn't do that! I'm sure accidents, etc., happened but not how it is today where peopel react much more violently to incidents that are basically pissing contest crap.
Families in general, along with the neighborhood, community, etc., policed themselves and kept the majority of 'gang-like' activity to a minimum, pedophials and drug dealers had less access to chilidren too.
Some areas of our country (USA) it's just not safe to shove your pre-teen or teen out the door to play. If it was a matter of coming home with a bloody nose or black eye I wouldn't worry, but the call from the police or morgue - no thanks!
For those of us fortunate enough to live in relatively safe areas that our kids can go outside you bet they do!
Proud member of Hammerfist Clan Gaming Community.
Currently playing: RIFT, EQ2, WoW, LoTRO
Retired: Warhammer, AoC, EQ
Waiting: SWToR & GW2
(by the way, im not in the range of the people who your asking the questions to but i gotta say somethingg)
okay im in high school . Ive had quite a few girlfriends. Im one of the most popular kids in my class grade and school. I play almost every sport and im naturally athletic and i get straight A's. Im not bullshitting you. (And i dont want to sound like a little cocky jerk but im just stating facts here.) I also love video games with a fucking passion. no idea how or why, but i think i found a way to mix my life into both worlds. ya know, stay normal and party like a normal little shit and game up whenever i want to and not feel like a little queer. Thank you for this topic seriously, this is a really good point. I would hate to look back on my life and see that i totally missed out on all the fun stuff, but i guess i wont so yay
EDIT: oh and PS, im happy to say ive never been 100% commited to a game. i played WoW. Had a 70, had absolutely No tier gear, flying mount, or high level professions. I was flat broke. Actually i asked a kid for 1000g for a mount and never paid him back.. oh well. havent been on WoW for a year now so i bet he forgot
EDIT EDIT: Oh and im also scared about the generation im growing up in. I mean 5/8 kids in my class are the biggest tools i have ever met. i swear. "hey lets smoke pot man!" "heh heh! okay! it makes me cool right!" "oohh yeahh dude!" haha wow i fucking hate those kids that think theyre cool but really no one likes them.
Here's my take on the whole thing. I think it depends if you're talking about jr high or high school. And I also think it's a matter of balance.
When I was in jr high, I was a massive D&D and tabletop gaming geek. Painted miniatures, played Risk all afternoon, enjoyed marathon weekends exploring the Temple of Elemental Evil or the Keep on the Borderlands, etc. I was an absolute dork who didn't get enough exercise. I don't regret much of the fun I had - I only regret that I didn't have more balance in my life. But realistically, in junior high there's a lot of time to goof off. School work really isn't that challenging (I was an A student), and you can easily do sports and have time to enjoy some nerdy hobby.
In high school, I realized I wanted to meet girls and one day go to college, so I started working out and getting involved in extracurricular activities. I still did some gaming (including computer gaming), but it was in moderation. I think high school is a far more critical time for teens as not only are you preparing for college, but you're also learning about your sexuality and the personality that you will carry somewhat into adulthood. College alone is tough to get into today and even tougher to pay for, so high school students should be studying their butts off.
That being said, I still remember quite a few weekends where I was bored out of my mind and had nothing to do. Most American communities do not have all ages concerts or dance clubs, unlike in Europe where teens have more social outlets. There's not much to do on a Friday or Saturday night for many American teenagers, except go to the movies, or sneak out into the woods and drink cheap liquor, or raid for new epics. I also have been noticing that recreational opportunities targeted at teens - ie, skateboard parks - are the first projects to get cut in a recession. So maybe, we as a society should start offering fun things to do before people turn 21.
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The OP has a point...the good thing is the current crop of MMORPG's just suck so I doubt kids will play them for as long as some of us older gamers. AOC cured me of MMORPG's. Thank you Funcom.
AoC as in Age of Conan?
how is that?
I guess it all depends on what your definition is of waste of time. Everyone has a different opinion and no one is right. It's hard to judge the value of what one does in ones life. Some may be more interested in just living a queit happy life. Others might feel that it's important to get involved in the world and try to make a contribution in some way.
You think its better for kids get drunk have sex then play games?
Ive seen many very disturbed kids become idiots when they grow up as adults, becouse they had alot partys and sex:p
But some sports would do some kids good besides gaming.
If it takes to extreme i think both are not good.
Let your kid play some games do some sport and from time to time party, try regulate it so kid is happy and you have feeling he wont missing anything hehe.
Games played:AC1-Darktide'99-2000-AC2-Darktide/dawnsong2003-2005,Lineage2-2005-2006 and now Darkfall-2009.....
In between WoW few months AoC few months and some f2p also all very short few weeks.
AoC as in Age of Conan?
how is that?
Well if its enough to stop a person from playing MMOs completely...then I dont think you wanna ask how it is.
Needless to say, I'm in the same boat. Ever since AoC I have not touched an MMO. Its been about 6 months. I'll admit I lurk these forums, read the news and even follow an MMO in development in the West (Aion).
Personally thats my last hope for MMOs. If Aion doesnt pan out I think a LOT of people are going to either revert to old MMOs or like me, leave the MMO scene for quite some time.
It a shame that these types of discussions have people arguing the extremes. Pro MMO playing advocates arguing that it is better than getting drunk, doing drugs, or having unprotected sex as if those are the only options if you don't play MMO's. Come on people. The problem isn't the MMO's anyway, it is the obsession/addiction to them that is the problem. That can happen with anything. If kids would rather play an MMO than a sport, that is fine. That is who they are. If it wasn't an MMO, it would be something else. I'm sure a lot of parents had similar concerns back in the PnP days. However, if it gets to the point were they are neglecting important things in their lives, like school, then the parents need to step in and regulate the situation. It is their responsibility to determine the difference between a hobby and an obsession and do their best to keep things in moderation.
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Yeah, I have to admit I was one of those kids, and still am. What you say is true, Lots of young kids waste their lives playing MMO these days. Why? Because theres two choices in the MMO World.
A. Play 24/7 on world of warcraft after you reach level 80 to farm all your epics, and keep doing it every expansion + Alt Characters ect.
B. Hire someone to play it for you power leveling/Item Farming Costs a ton, and buying cash as well from IGE ect.
These are the MMO's that ruin the world too Time Consuming. Although wow is still the best mmorpg out there currently, It is really time consuming.
Future Games that dont involve all the hard work are those that will succeed.
SecondLife, STAR TREK ONLINE, STARGATE WORLDS, GLOBAL AGENDA, GUILD WARS, ECT.
Thse games dont require gridning 24/7 to achive something really, and that is why they wont be too time consuming to play, and take everyones real life as it did mine... I have played all the games listed on your Quote, and many many many more. MMO Wise That is.
Hi, I don't usually post on this website but I read around once in awhile and when I find a thread I want to chime in on, I will, which is what I'm doing now. This is a pretty contraversal and interesting topic to discuss...Here are my two cents:
(note that this may be a long post, hear me out though and try to read through it all!)
Ok, starting off, I am 21 years old. I have just matured into an adult. I've learned a lot about life in the last few years through many personal experiences I've had. I've had my ups and downs in life. I've made many mistakes that I wish I could turn back the clock and change. I almost got myself stuck in a marriage and I almost had a kid with this girl TWICE, both pregnancies resulted in miscarriage. I was sad, but now looking back. I am glad I didn't get stuck with this becuase I am definitely not ready to be a father, not yet, I'm too young. I solely believe god interveined and saved me from this. I've experimented with many things, drugs, sex, friends, getting into trouble, all that. I would like to think that for my age, I have a lot of experience...Even though I am still very young and I will always respect my elders as most of them have more knowledge then I do. My point here is, I've learned a lot from my mistakes, and this makes me a stronger person. I definitely do not condone getting a girl pregnant and learning from that one as most people probably won't be as lucky as I was...but you got to make mistakes so that you learn. Its all apart of growing.
I've been playing games my entire life. From the Atari when I was young and the Apple Quadra...I was using a computer at 2 years old. I've played many games, the list is too long. I've spent many hours and hours in the created worlds. Enough time that if I had dedicated it to working, I would have at least a hundred thousand dollars.
My standpoint on this topic is complex, I think the younger generation has a right to play games and have a good time, as I did. I am concerned though, with the new generation of youth. They are growing up in a new era of video gaming, and this era of MMOs concentrate on sucking the player in for the sole reason of money making. And when it comes to money, these companies will do everything they can to keep the income. It is not like buying a game in a box, playing it, and beating it, then moving on. These companies want to keep the player investing in the same game, so they get more money. THEY DESIGN THESE GAMES TO BE HIGHLY ADDICTIVE. The more time that has been invested, the more a person will continue investing, the more they will want to continue building what they have. It really is a false sense of accomplishment as in the real world, your game time invested is worth little. Yet, people who play MMOs get a serotonin high when they accomplish things in a video game.
I played Dark Age of Camelot since it was released. When I first started, and during the first few years, I really loved this game. I invested so much time into it, and people who played DAOC at its peak may know what I'm talking about. I built two RR11 Characters...all my toons in that game had a played time of aprox 200 days or so which is probably 1/38 of my life spent or something around there I don't know but I should do the math. I suffered in high school grade wise, and the school I went to was a top grade school and only wanted the academicly inclined, they asked me to leave and I had to enroll in an alternitive school which was one of the best experiences I've ever had.
Video gaming throughout my life has tought me many different kinds of skills, whether it be typing, to problem solving, stratagey, and even reflexes as their have been many close calls I've had while driving my car where I could of been killed becuase of a situation, but a certain survival instinct kicked in and mixed with my strong reflex and motor skills, I got myself out of a very dangerous situation. I remember these close calls very fluidly, and I still can not figure out if it really was my skills that saved me, or if it was god...or both.
Anyway, Video games are not what is causing the problems. However, MMOs that target people solely for their money can be. These companies are almost preditorial. They want your money and they don't care about the person's livelihood. People of my age can understand this, and smart people who see this won't let it get too much out of hand, and people who have played MMOs for a decent period of time KNOW how it works. but in the example given earler in this thread about the 8 year old, that is very, very, concerning. A child that young can not understand the world as it is, does not know. Everything he knows is the game. Personally, I think its really sad. I've played my fair share of games, I've been sucked in myself and i've had consaquences at times. However, I've still lived my life and done things in RL that were awesome, fun, great learning experiences. I never let it got too much out of hand to the point where it was literally BECOMING MY GROWTH completely.
Recently, I got cought for a DUI which was the worst mistake of my life. I lost my licence which I heavily relied on to get around and do things. I live in the hills and it is a hassle to get out to where life really happens. Since the DUI I have been playing DAOC way too much.
Through my experiences, I can realize that and agknowledge it. Kids that young that are sucked in to THAT EXTENT do not even know. It worries me a lot becuase I have a feeling that this kid is not the only one, and that their are a lot of kids like this one. Not only kids, but adults too.
I played my fair share of games, and I'm joining the military to make up for that time lost and to gain skills in that department. I am concerned about what kids like that 8 year old will end up becoming when they are adults if they just keep MMOing their childhood away. I douby they will become seiral killers, but they will have some very serious underlying issues personality wise. It is important to have balance...Its ok to play and have a good time, its ok to do a couple all nighters, its all in the fun. but when it becomes your entire life........
I am one of the results of the 90's gaming generation. But, this new gaming generation is completely different. I do not believe that kids as young as 8 years old, who are still developing their brains, should be playing MMOs for many hours on end every day. However, as you get older, it should be acceptable as long as a balance is maintained.
I still can't get over that damn kid...It really bothers me if he is infact spending all his time in a fake world. any kid that is like that.....it just really bothers me becuase it isnt too much their fault....their parents are really bad.
sad? the drugs, the sex, the parties? those are sad. i did that stuff when i was young, and i regret every minute of it. if i could take it back and replace it with mmo's, i would. think about it a little harder, if you must. they are staying away from drugs, staying away from sex (i already had a kid by the time i was 18), and staying out of jail. good? bad? who knows? maybe its the "lesser evil"? i know i would rather not have those memories, if all i could remember was having fun playing games with friends i think i would be better off right now.
Yeha, but do you think you would be who you are right now? Of couse not!
Its not about looking at your past and regretting things you've done, you've obviously learned from your mistakes. Most normal people are the same way.
But would you rather be a product of your learning experiences, or a product of spending all that time in a game, a fake world. Really think about it, if you spent your entire childhood playing MMOs and doing little else....what would be different about your current personality? You dont have to answer that, just think about it.
They'll be right. Worse things on the horizon than worrying about how productive your entertainment is.
It keeps the children off the street and them from going to jail or worse. In the past before videogames it was T.V. and toys which is what a majority of the older generation doesn't understand. I remember my mother used to always tell me to get off the game even if I just turned it on, but when I just watched T.V. all day she didn't care? People still live in the 40s,50s,60s, etc even though its 2009 now and things have changed.
Videogames aren't all that bad. Studies have proven that videogamers make better surgeons because they're better and more precise with their hands. Some videogames actually educate you even though you might not know it. Play a military game and you learn things about the military. Play a medieval style MMORPG and you learn about some of the things they used in the past.
Also, the people who play MMORPGs 24/7 nowadays usually were the ones staying home play D&D with their friends in the past. Except nowadays I'd say its more fun which is why people play longer.