Thread: Addiction to MMOs

MMO's are addicting. I played wow on an off for like 3-4 years. I played aion for two and a half months. They just get boring, a game shouldn't be able grinding for hours. Now I'm going back to my PS3. Just bought assassins creed 2 and uncharted (uncharted 2 will probably be next). I find them much more entertaining. DotA and CS are the games I play on the comp now.

I've played MMOs off and on over the years. Never got terribly addicted to one or the other. I'd end up cancelling subscriptions or leaving accounts dormant. I guess they just don't appeal to me.

I'm addicted to MMOs...but now I'm trying to get out of that nightmare playing MW2 like hell with my friends, but I know I'll fall back into the abyss of MMOs somedays.

I've been palying Ragnarok Online for 5 years now (maybe 6), I know that game is old and alot of you here probably think it's bullshit but hell I'm so addicted to that game.

Everyone knows that the good decision is to Learn C++, but we all know also playing EQ2 is extremly enjoyable...you waste your life playing EQ2 or you learn C++ and find your passion in life.

MMO addiction is the reason why I always prevented myself from playing or even trying MMOs. That's one road I, as a hardcore gamer, do not want to go down.

Originally Posted by Sora

I'm addicted to MMOs...but now I'm trying to get out of that nightmare playing MW2 like hell with my friends, but I know I'll fall back into the abyss of MMOs somedays.

I've been palying Ragnarok Online for 5 years now (maybe 6), I know that game is old and alot of you here probably think it's bullshit but hell I'm so addicted to that game.

Everyone knows that the good decision is to Learn C++, but we all know also playing EQ2 is extremly enjoyable...you waste your life playing EQ2 or you learn C++ and find your passion in life.

Ragnarok is amazing. The only reason I tried Aion was becasue it was Korean like Ragnarok lol.

dunno, I can play mmos without being addicted...but I have to play free ones, cause I know if I go p2p...Im gonna feel like i have to play all the time to get my money's worth so meh.

well, I hate programming, so my answer is EQ2

Originally Posted by tkdyo

dunno, I can play mmos without being addicted...but I have to play free ones, cause I know if I go p2p...Im gonna feel like i have to play all the time to get my money's worth so meh.

I think that's how the addiction starts. I know that's how I felt. 1 reason why I think I'm retired from MMO's for good.

MMOs are like drugs, you try to stop them, but they'll come again one day or another. There should be some rehabilitation centers for MMOs, srsly.

I played eq1 when it started wayy back in the day, when i was a little kid.
Think of it like this: 11 year old boy and a few friends exploring this HUGE fantasy world with other real people. I used to just go about exploring the world.....

MMOs are addicting because the games you love change, and you can never truly replicate that first experience, so people just kind of wander from mmo to mmo looking for that same feeling.

I gave up mmos when i realised that i never would....

Originally Posted by Liquidnine

MMOs are addicting because the games you love change, and you can never truly replicate that first experience, so people just kind of wander from mmo to mmo looking for that same feeling.

Hits the nail on the head

Originally Posted by Sora

MMOs are like drugs, you try to stop them, but they'll come again one day or another. There should be some rehabilitation centers for MMOs, srsly.

nah they get hardcore boring after a while.

Originally Posted by Sora

MMOs are like drugs, you try to stop them, but they'll come again one day or another. There should be some rehabilitation centers for MMOs, srsly.

Actually, they do have MMO rehab in some places.

Originally Posted by Liquidnine

MMOs are addicting because the games you love change, and you can never truly replicate that first experience, so people just kind of wander from mmo to mmo looking for that same feeling..

True dat. I remember the first time I went into warp drive on the EVE online trial. In many ways, MMOs are like crack. That first high is amazing, but you get desensitized to the game over time.

wait til Star Wars the Old Republic comes out it'll be insane

I was actually thinking about TOR. I hope it will live up to KOTOR 1 and 2. those were the best

Yeah kotor was amazing.

It was almost as good as the movies themselves.

Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

Actually, they do have MMO rehab in some places.

Lmao.

http://mashable.com/2009/08/23/resta...net-addiction/

Over the last few years, a new and disturbing phenomenon has been increasing in frequency. It’s called Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), and it has been the subject of new research and debate. It is not currently included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), but many argue that addictions to the web and to Internet-based video games like World of Warcraft does indeed exist.

The debate is now back in focus after the Heavensfield Retreat Center announced that it has opened what appears to be the first addiction recovery program for Internet Addiction Disorder in the U.S. Called reSTART, the 45-day program is designed to take serious sufferers of IAD and bring balance to their lives. It already has its first patient, a 19 year old who could not remove himself from World of Warcraft.



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First U.S. Rehab Center for Internet Addiction Opens Its Doors

August 23rd, 2009 | by Ben Parr47 Comments and 3262 Reactions
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reSTART Internet Addiction LogoOver the last few years, a new and disturbing phenomenon has been increasing in frequency. It’s called Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), and it has been the subject of new research and debate. It is not currently included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), but many argue that addictions to the web and to Internet-based video games like World of Warcraft does indeed exist.

The debate is now back in focus after the Heavensfield Retreat Center announced that it has opened what appears to be the first addiction recovery program for Internet Addiction Disorder in the U.S. Called reSTART, the 45-day program is designed to take serious sufferers of IAD and bring balance to their lives. It already has its first patient, a 19 year old who could not remove himself from World of Warcraft.
The Program


reSTART is a 45-day treatment program out of Fall City, Washington (near Seattle) that takes 2-6 people at a time and essentially cuts them off from the web and works with them to “reprogram” their social skills. It includes work with a recreation coach, a therapist, exercise and yoga instructors, and more. Their website actually provides a detailed sample schedule, which includes exercise, nature hikes, “discovery quests,” career development, therapy, and more.

To qualify for admittance to reSTART, you have to display symptoms of its nine guidelines for IAD. They are as follows:

1. Have a strong desire or impulse to use the internet.

2. Decreasing or stopping of the internet leads to withdrawal symptoms (e.g., general malaise, restlessness, irritability, lack of concentration, dyssomnia); and the above mentioned symptoms may be relieved by similar electronic media (e.g., TV, handheld games, gaming devices).

3. Continually increasing the amount of internet use and the extent of internet involvement to reach sense of satisfaction.

4. Use of internet in spite of its harmful effects; despite knowledge of harmful effects, internet use is hard to stop.

5. Difficulties controlling beginning, and finishing, and the duration of time of internet use; efforts to modify internet use may be attempted multiple times without success.

6. As a result of internet use, interests, recreation or social activities are decreased or abandoned.

7. Internet use is seen as a way to escape problems or to gain relief from negative feelings.

8. The extent of internet use is denied or minimized to teachers, schoolmates, friends or professionals (including actual time and expenditure of internet contact).

9. Everyday life and social function is impaired (e.g., in social, academic and workability.)

For more on Internet Addition Disorder and the debate surrounding it, be sure to read the Wikipedia article on the subject.

Of course, this program is not free. For 45 days, the price is a hefty $14,500. Rehabilitation programs have never been cheap, though, so this price does not particularly shock us.

....rofl

calling it restart makes it sound so fake ><

i used to play a lot of games, particularly halo. after a while, i realized that what i was doing is a complete waste of time - to help the matter, halo can be extremely frustrating.
so i don't really play anymore, and it feels much better. i've been recommended to play WoW several times but i've steered clear of it, since i know that i'd be sucked into wasting many many hours of my life.

my advice to the OP is to, at the very least, create some sort of schedule which allows you to get a certain amount of playing in and also a certain amount of 'productivity' (perhaps learning C++). if your intention is to wean yourself off the game, that can be accomplished with this method (by shortening the time you play).

ultimately, if you want to reduce the time you play, you should find something 'productive' that doesn't involve a screen that is more or less permanent or necessary. a perfect example of this kind of activity is going to the gym, running, and/or lifting weights.

although i still play games, i strongly urge everyone in this thread to think about how much time they spend playing on the computer/console. i'm not criticizing your lifestyles -- i just hope this post helps someone who is inclined to reduce their time playing.

good luck

Actually, I am completely stopped playing WOW. Now I just play MW2, but it is a lot easier to stop or not play. I have been learning Russian in my spare time and making you tube videos and stuff.

ah that's good.
just putting my advice out there in case anyone reading needs help

Im hoping to get LOTRO for christmas...more than anything it is to aid in my visulaization of middle earth for when I dream. I really want to go there, but my visualization of it is lacking a lot of structure. I am a huge tolkein fan, so hopfully this wont feel like a waste of time for me ^^. you can make game productive for other goals as you play them~~but yes, its important to keep a grip on reality, just like with lucid dreaming

that is definitely true actually, games can be productive. i've even found some usefulness in some games

Originally Posted by Sora

I'm addicted to MMOs...but now I'm trying to get out of that nightmare playing MW2 like hell with my friends, but I know I'll fall back into the abyss of MMOs somedays.

I've been palying Ragnarok Online for 5 years now (maybe 6), I know that game is old and alot of you here probably think it's bullshit but hell I'm so addicted to that game.

Everyone knows that the good decision is to Learn C++, but we all know also playing EQ2 is extremly enjoyable...you waste your life playing EQ2 or you learn C++ and find your passion in life.

RO... wow, I used to be SO addicted to that goddamned game. So much grinding....