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atomic83
Member Posts: 5
Hallo you lot! I'm doing some research for an article on MMORPGs, and I'm looking for some feedback -
Basically, I'm talking about how reality and unreality seem blurred in these games, how you can get so sucked into these games that it seems real. Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks!
Donald
Comments
reality and the game DON'T get blurred unless you have some kind of mental disorder.
this sounds like some kind of article thats going to be used to either put gamers down or try to say that games make people lose their sense of whats real and not and cause them to freak out and kill people.
If you honestly feel that reality and unreality get blurred then you seriously need to stop playing.
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas
I smell a TROLL
Games are not real, they are games get a grip son
I understand your attitude - there's plenty of rubbish written about all this. I am genuinely trying to write something different, but it's hard when you're not giving me anything to use as a defence.
It's only a game, I know - but why play it then? Why do you play?
It's a sense of achievement. Something you don't get watching TV or playing a shooter. The results of your playtime will still be visible in months/years time.
That said I don't play for hours a day. Perhaps an hour a day or so.
Here's my theory: games, just like any other form of entertainment, are an escape from reality. The only difference is that games are more involved than, say, watching movies or reading a book. In China, Korea, and Japan, MMORPGs are a big part of the teen and young adult culture, much more than it is here. Hence why you see games like Ragnarok Online and Lineage acquiring so many subscriptions when prior to World of Warcraft, the American market was struggling to break the half a million player mark (sans Everquest). Because games offer longevity of enjoyment and ease of access, it is the prime reason why people get so hooked on them and will play them to the detriment of their real life. The recent suicides covering game playing (mainly MMORPGs) in the media is a conscious effort to persuade public opinion against gamers. No doubt there have been numerous deaths in which people were addicted to other forms of entertainment, but these aren't publicized due to the negative backlash they will receive. But in a day and age where parents are concerned with the number of hours their children spent gaming, bringing up such issues will garner a sizable following with the only detractors being teenage or young adult gamers who really don't command much political power. Hence the media capitalizes on this fact. I believe that MMORPG games are specifically targetted due to the massive amounts of hours one must devote to the game and for their 'social life replacement' aspect.
Ok, I will go out on a limb and answer. (hoping what I write isn't twisted into something its not)
I grew up when video/PC games where just being developed. Late 70 early 80s. It was a fantastic time. They offered something that no media could at the time. Interaction rather then just watching. I have been a fan ever since. I lost touch for many years as a career took over, then a few years ago I rediscovered them in the form of MMORPGs. It was an amazing idea.
I play about 2 or 3 hours a day maybe 3 to 5 days a week. My wife plays her game (WoW, which I also played for awhile) And I play Lineage 2. On occasion I dabble in WoW to do a raid with some friends.
Most people stare mindlessly for hours on end like zombies watching the tube. In this media you interact with the environment and other players.
I play mostly as a fan of the genre. I am not "obsessed" or "taken over'. I have a career with the U.S. Government Overseas and live in Germany. I have 3 kids and work out every other day in the gym before work. I have tons of friends (non game related) and we travel Europe in my off time. I am also a veteran of the first Gulf war. So theres your "gamer" stereotype.
Whats happened is a few extreme instances have occurred and of course the alarmist media has taken the bait and run. By far, more peoples lives are destroyed on a daily basis by drugs and alcohol. I think PC/Video gaming is an easier mark for the media and a soft target for politicians who need to make a stand on something that will not cause any controversy or votes.
Thank you very much, everyone! Reading these have really changed the argument of this article, so I really am very grateful. It's difficult, almost impossible, to find the gamers' view on these things - especially when so much reactive rubbish has been written about them.
Thank you!
lol, did i call it or what? his original plan was to write the article to bash games and/or gamers. i bet he still does. in how many other forums have you asked this question?
wow, you ask why people play games? why do people watch TV or movies? why do people read? why do people play sports?
Yeah, that's right guys - attack me before you even know who I am, who I write for and what the article will be like. You expect the common journalistic reaction to video games; well, I hoped to get an uncommon gamer reaction to a genuine researcher, but have been sadly disappointed. I said 'thank you' because I have deadlines to meet, including on this article. You lot have been paranoid and defensive - but nevertheless, you have changed the tone of my original article, which is what I wanted (no reluctance). Learn to treat journalists better and you'll find some (I don't speak for all) will treat you lot better.
Well I apologize if you are in fact looking at gaming from a non bias perspective. you must understand the gaming community in general is defensive. The media portrays people who play PC/Video games as social outcast and wierdos. Its the media who made this stereotype not the gaming community.
I wish you luck in your article.
You might be right about treating journalist better but thats a double edged sword. Journalist should not sensationalize and play to stereotypes. They should also report things more objectively. The gaming community did not create the stereotype the media did.
i think theys a lot off resasons why mmorpgs is addicting!
mostly my guess will be that he/her has some problems in real life; so that a mmorpg seems nice, cause you get further and further in it.
You lvl up get new gear and make friends on either sides if your one off the good/bad players
Most will off course say no; that the game is addicting cause they are addictet to it... could be they are stuck in real life, with no bright furture in sigth, and only getting further inside a fantasy world!
Others just tend to drink go on drugs/pills; so they can keep ignoring how they lifes really is, or they need to pass something...
the first poster whiteboinoob writes some points; you can use??
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion.cfm/load/forums/loadforum/51/loadthread/58149/setstart/1/loadclass/35
Games are games .. reality is reality
let me explain
In a game most pvp systems are boring and limiting..
I "reality" its open pvp and full loot! the perma death system is kinda freaky tho
but thats ok !
Reality is the best game evar!
Though in reality PKing someone will result in having your account held in stasis for a long time.
Hmm, I probably don't know why I play MMO's so much, possibly due to the fact I really can't think of anything else to do with my time. Anyway, it's want I want to do with my time, it's completely legal (minus private servers) and I get a kick out of it.
Anyway, hope your article does well.
---------------------------------------
No Userbar here, sorry to disappoint.
I play mmorpgs for 2 reasons (real ones th
I play so I can work around in my PhaT lEWton a free runescape server and laugh at all the tells I get
Personally the line has never been even a little hazzy for me. I play a few hours a day most days but not to the exlusion of real life. I have noticed I do eat less when I play but that doesnt mean I will sit there and waste away from starvation to play a game.
http://world5.monstersgame.co.uk/?ac=vid&vid=59148058
Well, I'm going to guess that the article is prolly written already, but here is my 2 cents:
This topic is by no means new. Anyone remember Dungeons & Dragons? When I started playing this in high-school in the early 80s it was the same discussion. Media ppl were all over stories coming out of the US about "kids that dressed up as knights and killed each-other in the basements of schools". I remember my mother freaking out at the sensational journalism and interrogating me day after day about if I was "addicted" and if I knew "reality vs fiction"...
. My parents were going through a divorce, I wasn't "captivated" by my studies and I certainly wasn't a jock either. D&D was an extremely entertaining escape for me. Did I mention I played a HELL of a lot ? Then more and more RPG games hit the market. Anyone remember "Killer"? This was an RPG you actually played in RL. You defined your role or profession and went around the campus completing missions, like uncovering and "assassinating" an undercover operative from an enemy group. Talk about mixing RL and game-time!
These stories generated front-line interest on all of the talk-shows and 6 o'clock newscasts. Witch-hunts seemed to ensue accross high-school campuses accross north america. Teachers were mobilized.
"D&D was bad and could enslave your kids" seemed to be the common message. And tbh, I played a HELL of a lot of it
So here I am at 37. I now work in venture capital which means my firm invests in and commercializes tech start-ups. I think I am reasonably successful at what I do. I also have a lovely wife that I'm putting through med-school and a beautiful 11 month old smiling daughter.
I played AO for 4 years and now I'm trying out Eve. I play 2-3 hours a night on weekdays while my wife studies and my baby sleeps.
Do RPGs or MMORPGs get you addicted?
IMHO it's people with "addictive personalities" that seek out games like this, or any other habit to suit their inclinations. My wife's Aunt, who is 75 years old, spends 5-8 hours a day playing online bridge. My own father-in-law, who is 80, is now an internet news junkie, reading online newspapers from around the world...but guess what, he watched BBC news 16 hours a day before we bought him a PC...
People with addictive personalities have obviously been around a hell of alot longer than MMORPGs.
I'm sure many people with addictive personalities played Shaturanga all day in 6th century India, Shatranj in Persia or Xiang Qi in China...
MMORPGs are just the "flavour of the century" in my opinion...
Good luck with the article Donald