Just left the game.... Got my life back... (Score 1)

The timing of this thread couldn't be better. I have been WoW free since Monday and I feel great.

WoW is a great game, better than EQ, but just as 'addictive'. Don't beat me up over the word 'addictive' take it in the spirit its offered: Something, when you leave it, constantly calls you back, consumes your non-playing thoughts, invades your dreams, and makes you forget all the other things going on in your life.

I have been playing every day 4 times a day and for an average of 10-12 hours a day 7 days a week. I've been playing since the game was released (first official release date) and have enjoyed it immensely. I played Halo before that (FPS) and EQ and Age of Empires previous to that. I have the luxury of not having to work, have 2 kids and a wife and thought that I could have my cake and eat it as well...

One thing I haven't noticed in any of these posts. Most hardcore WoW players, truly hardcore won't be weighing in with their opinion, because it would take time away from playing the game! This is the first time I've read Slashdot in many months, let alone posting. One computer is always playing WoW and the other is reading and responding to e-mails and web surfing, but very, very little of either.

My 8 year old son isn't allowed to play during the week (ok a little sometimes during the week), but plays non-stop from Friday afternoon till Sunday. We have fun talking about it, getting into the tradeskill differences and talking about it. I've noticed it's all he talks about anymore - just as that's all I've been thinking about.

When you play a game like EQ or WoW, you don't have time for anything else. You don't go outside, don't play catch, don't hang out with your family, resent having to do anything outside of the game, and you lie to yourself about 'I am balancing the game with the rest of my life'. You don't - you can't. You can't serve two masters. It just doesn't work. Its hard enough to balance work, family, and your own personal time without something which takes up enough time for a full time job.

There are some nice social parts of WoW, I enjoy just hanging out with my guild members, but I've noticed some of the following things:

- I no longer call my friends.

- I am incredibly distracted when anyone calls.

- I am bored whenever I am not playing the game.

- I 'run away' at any possible moment to go play the game.

- I've been working on starting a new company - (last year) and instead of moving forward with it, have stopped completely.

- I spend time with my wife until she starts falling asleep and then run into the office to play for another few hours.

- I feel that I am missing out on life.

- I'm tired of telling people that I play a game all day - and that there is nothing wrong with it.

Believe it or not, I don't feel I have an 'addictive' personality. I have never had a problem giving up anything which was causing me harm, drugs, gambling, etc. I quit smoking 15 years ago (cold turkey) and haven't had more than a pack or 2 a year since. I have a great family, little or no stress in my life, and other than not excersizing much, am healthy.

Another observation: Most of the people that I play with, play all the time. Most of them don't have much of a life outside of the game. All of them complain about the constraints they are under which stop them from playing (school, work, parents). Many of them have lousy low-paying jobs and play the game for 8 hours a day after work. The world of WoW gives a great deal of satisfaction and control over your environment. You have the support of friends, you group with others, you have a wide variety of tactics and most importantly you get constant random ever-increasing rewards.

Anyway - I had a very bad couple of days till Wednesday... Yesterday rocked, and today was better. I've stopped thinking about the game (mostly) and feel free and untrapped. I've started getting done things which have been waiting for months. I've watched a movie without wanting to run away to the game. I had a catch with my son and daughter. I read a book, talked to friends, did LOTS of computer stuff and organized my office and garage. I ran on the treadmill (twice), and feel that the monkey is off my back. All in the space of three days.

I'm lucky - I have a great life and can easily drop playing the game. I see the upside to doing almost anything else and I'm loving it.

Final observation - There is nothing wrong with enjoying yourself. Nothing wrong with having a hobby. But when you realize that your life is dedicated to playing a game, you notice that most of the rest of your so called life goes wanting. We all could do with 'accomplishing stuff' in life, but when hooked on WoW or EQ you just don't have the time for anything else!