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WoW is addictive.
GreenChaos
Member Posts: 2,268
And I mean actually, like chemically addictive. I have binged played several games over the yeasr, like 1- 2 years of playing whenever I can for one game.
I played WoW for 2 years, thought it was boring while I played. Other games I find boring I just quit – no problem.
I haven't played in over a year, I have bashed it plenty and yet every now and then some WoW image will pop into my head, and it will feel like a fond memory. And I'll think for a second, hmm I'd like to play again. But I don't want to play again, I just don't like it.
When it comes to game addiction people say, "it's the player – not the game". But I think the WoW devs actually do some subliminal programming to make the game more addictive. There is no other game I've ever played where images of it keep popping up in my head, after over a year of not playing or caring.
And before you says," it's not possible", it is possible, it's been proven that subliminal messages can have a psychological effect. And it would explain a lot.
Comments
If you binged on the game for two years on your life, without enjoying it, because you were addicted to it, you need to seek professional advice. Seriously. I am not being insultive here, I am trying to help you. That kind of compulsive behaviour is dangerous and if you're seeing flashbacks to the game, you might have a problem, or this may be the side effect of another psychological problem.
Seek professional help imo.
Still waiting for your Holy Grail MMORPG? Interesting...
This is why I never stick around games for to long or spend to much time in them anymore. I spent a lot of time in EQ and in the end it really didn't mean anything other then some memories that fade away over time. It took me a long time to quit the game, but after that I promised I would never devote so much time to one game again. I quit WoW a while back as I was starting to feel that lack of enjoyment that you get after you have played the same game for a long period of time. My recommendation is to never get to attached to one game and to only play in small periods of time. Always take lots of breaks.
Listen to this guy.
I hate WOW, its not for me. Not saying that its a bad game. I just don't like it.
EQ1 however, I was addicted very addicted. All of that stopped because a GM pissed me off. I cussed him for 2 weeks, then quit.
Today I could kiss that GM, because I quit. I also sold the account and made a good paycheck
But like Flyte27 said don't get attached. And take breaks, month breaks.
LOLOLOL Flashbacks. He said images. When you say flashbacks I imagine some guy walking down the street. All of a sudden thinking he is in Deadmines and going crazy swinging his umbrella into people like a mad axeman.
I sometimes have fond memories of old MMOS but I then also remember why I dont play them. I wouldn't say you are crazy at all, especially if it is your first MMO. The next one you will play might seem less new.
If it is stopping you doing other things you want to do then yes it might be a problem but if you want to play games. ( you can't go out every night) playing an MMO is cool because even if the game gets boring you still have great fun on Teamspeak or whatever with you buddies.
I just think it depends on the type of person you are. When some people remember things, they remember positive things. When other people remember things, they remember negative things. If your memories are positive, of course you're going to be interested in going back.
I hated L2 but the shiny graphics stuck with me. So when I think back about L2, I get tempted to go back.
Yes well some people might think this post is some kind of whine by the title. But people should really ask themselves why these games have random rewards and why mice seem to go neurotic when you give them food rewards at random times.
You can say humans aren't mice, but then why do millions of people run through mazes (twisty turning cave-like instances) for cheese (purplz)?
One should be very wary of anything that works on these principles. MMOs, slot machines, what have you.
This is true though I believe this could also be applied to life in general. The earth is our maze and we can't get out. We are always striving to survive and get something for ourselves. I think the key is to do things in moderation and try and find things that make you and others happy.
It's a fact. MMOs, if designed well, are supposed to be addictive. That's how they keep you going. It's a thing with dopamine levels in the brain due to their risk and reward systems. WoW is especially addictive to some people precisely because there is zero risk. Some people prefer an old EQ style thing where you could lose it all if you mess up, and some people don't. I enjoy both styles, but I have been pretty into WoW for a while now. I guess I'm addicted, but for all its shortcomings, I think it's the best out there right now.
*crosses fingers for AoC*
"There are two great powers, and they've been fighting since time began. Every advance in human life, every scrap of knowledge and wisdom and decency we have has been torn by one side from the teeth of the other. Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit."
John Parry, to his son Will; "The Subtle Knife," by Phillip Pullman
the people wih the addiction can only blame themselves. to say that wow has subliminal images that make you addicted is rediculous.
human beings can be addicted to any manner of activities. old men are "addicted to watcing football, or playing golf. teens are "addicted" to video games. whatever it may be it just forms out of honestly enjoying something so much that you enjoy it all the time, untill it becomes a habitualized behavior ("addiction"). then you don't really want to do it anymore, but your mind is too feeble to overcome your habitualized behavior.
saying "i'm addicted to this" or, "they made me addicted." is just making up an enabling excuse for you to continue smoking crack, or playing videogames, or my personal vice, visiting the county morgue for corpse-sex.
your brain records all memories as images. if you did one activity almost everyday(i assume) for two years, your going to have plenty of stored up data popping in and out of your recolection. just ignore it and it will subside with time. lots of it.
i played wow for about a year, because all of my friends played it. i thouht it sucked the whole time and confined myself to the battlegrounds, which were the slightest bit interesting.
you want to talk "game addicitions?" EVERQUEST ORIGINAL now that was an addicitive title. i would log in for 10hr sessions to get off...
killing lowbie elf hordes in greater fey was the most rewarding event of my youth... pretty fuckin sad. all because i didn't have the will power to say you know what, i'd really rather go out and accomplish something irl.