A recent article on NEWS.com.au surmised that 'Video game addicts are not just shy nerds'.
While this article does raise some interesting points, I think the author completely misses the point of online gaming, and possibly the internet as a whole.
There are over 10 million subscribers to World of Warcraft, and the average player will game for 2 - 6 hours at a time. During this time, they are interacting with literally hundreds of other players in some form or another - whether it be walking past them outside Aldor bank, passing them on the way to Karazhan, buying their wares in the Auction House, or grouping up with 24 others for a raid.
The rising cost of living is making it pretty hard for the average person to engage in a normal social life. From increased living costs like home loan interest rate increases, and a sharp rise in fuel prices, to increased taxes on alcoholic beverages, it is now harder than ever before to enjoy time with friends in The Real World.
Why then wouldn't people find other avenues to extend their social networks?
The Internet is widely available - and affordable. Subscriptions to online gaming networks cost less than a meal at a restraunt. Plus, you get to network with people from all over the globe.
So it's time to deal with it. The Internet is here to stay.
This Century!
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This is my 100th published post!
I was just rifling through my draft posts, looking for something to say
today, and noticed that there were 99 posts publis...
11 years ago
1 comment:
Having done the traditional thing and not read the linked article at all, I thought I would comment on some of what was said.
"...and the average player will game for 2 - 6 hours at a time..."
Seriously?? I live with a WoW head, and after talking to many others that play WoW, I can tell you that the Average gaming time is well above that. Try at least 6-24 hrs.
"During this time, they are interacting with literally hundreds of other players in some form or another...walking past them ... buying their wares ... grouping up with 24 others for a raid."
All while sitting on their bums!
"...rising cost of living...hard for the average person to engage in a normal social life...increased living costs...home loan interest rate increases ... fuel prices ... increased taxes on alcoholic beverages, it is now harder than ever before to enjoy time with friends in The Real World."
So with all that financial hardship you should then spend more on a World of Warcraft account, ensuring you spend even less time socialising with your friends in the real word. Whats more once you are paying for it, like any normal human, you want to get your moneys worth. So, what do you do? You play it as much as you can! It starts to affect more than just your social life in "the real world"(TM) It affects jobs, destroys or prevents relationships... the list is long.
I guess what I am saying, is that I have seen WoW do more harm than good. There are many ways of having fun with your friends and extending your social groups that involve little or no cash. Parks, footballs, bicycles, swimming and even homebrew for alcohol. We managed before MMORPGs we will hopefully manage again once they are gone.
*Gets down of his soapbox
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