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MrLeahy

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#1 MrLeahy
Member since 2009 • 25 Posts
Excuse me, I meant to say this is NOT a fake avatar.
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MrLeahy

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#2 MrLeahy
Member since 2009 • 25 Posts

Well, it has been over a year of being clean from WoW. I can say that I'm back in Baseball/Basketball shape and playing on recreation teams. I also have a full-time job and a great wife (just got married). I know it's been quite a long time since I've posted, and its a fake avatar. I still have my account which is the only bad thing (every once in a while I'll be tempted to renew). If anyone is interested in multiple 80's and 70's let me know. The account is free, you just have to pay your 15$ a month and the characters on Nesingwary. I don't want to give it away and have someone else become addicted. I need to just get rid of it. I'm posting this today because the itch bit on my day off. I still love to game, but I just need something different to get my head off of it.

The worst thing is that when the Old Republic comes out I'm going to have a really hard time resisting (gotta love the Wars and the lore of the Xbox hits). As for all the contradictions on whether or not WoW is an addiction, I think its a personal matter for certain people. Some people play the trial and quit and that is very understandable. My history was Everquest, Final Fantasy XIl, and Star Wars Galaxies. I played EQ2 right before WoW came out. I read the previous posts and it's like CoD (whomever made that reference) you hear a noise and it's something that instills in your brain. It's like the achievement system they implemented in World of Warcraft. It was still fairly new from the time that I quit, but people went nuts over it trying to rack up points, mounts, and pets. There is always something to do. The only problem is that you are sitting in a chair the entire time. I plan on making a documentary out of this debate when I receive my Canon Vixia HF S10 in the mail soon. I think I'll have it done by the time Catacalysm launches.

As for Blizzard, I guess you can either boo them or commend them. They have made a highly addictive product that people pay to play. If I'm a software developer and I can make $15 a month on your average Joe, I'm going to find something to make that addictive as possible. So the anti-argument made for the game not being addictive can be conversed over. Its whether they succeed at it or not. For me Warcraft was my syringe. For that, they are rolling in billions (don't even get me started on the cash cow scheme known as Starcraft II).

I guess I'm just looking for a non linear game that is beatable if that makes sense. I've already done the Elder Scrolls and Fallout games. I think I just may go back to my Super Nintendo.

Thanks everyone!

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MrLeahy

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#3 MrLeahy
Member since 2009 • 25 Posts
Yeah, I do blame myself indeed for my failure to notice that it was me. I just believe that once you dip your toes into a game like that, it's a form of quicksand that sucks you in. I had over 3,500 hours logged in my 4 and a half years. It's just pathetic. As some of you would say. My friends would be downtown having a good time and I'd be raiding AQ or Karazhan or something of that nature. However, I have heard WoW related deaths so that isn't totally unbelievable. I'm positive if you google it you'll find more about it. I read a story about Lineage 2 and how clans met up in real life and one was actually killed. Over a video game. I know it's not that serious in North America, but look what it has done to us. The USA is obese. I was for a while I won't lie. I can't totally blame it on the game, but overall it definitely attributed to me not caring whether I die early or not. I was more interested in purple gear. I guess it's a bit calming to understand that a lot of people go through these issues. It's not something I'd wish upon anyone. But, honesty helps. I was in denial and immature because I didn't want to see the underlying factor. And you can tell yourself you will play it in moderation, but that only last so long. And sadly enough I had friends on the server that were on the game at least 15 hours a day. I was almost as bad at times myself. I love the Trailer Park Boys comments though lol. Good taste!
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MrLeahy

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#4 MrLeahy
Member since 2009 • 25 Posts
Yeah, there are all forms of addictions. And I appreciate that positive feedback. I know a lot of avid WoW gamers that would think otherwise. I just would rather make a living (like you said) now that I've gotten over it. The subscription fee is a crime itself, I agree. I have spent four and a half years on it plus the games and expansions and I would rather just not know what I payed over those years.
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#5 MrLeahy
Member since 2009 • 25 Posts
Four and a half years. That's how long it took me to get off this virtual drug known as World of Warcraft. I'm sure this has been documented many times before and might be a tired subject, but it needs to be reinforced. This game will suck you in like a vacuum. Let me tell you about a real life experience. I held a steady job for two and a half years and was making a decent living. I rented my own place, worked out every other day, paid my bills on time, and lived a happy social life with a charming girlfriend. And I had a Computer... I started playing World of Warcraft when I was working at my job. A friend had recommended it to me at the time of launch. I was hesitant at first because I didn't need another distraction from the only console I had ever owned (Super Nintendo). But sure enough I watched him a few times and picked it up. Immediately, the game had me spellbound. I had never played a game with nearly limitless boundaries. I met people, joined a guild, and started to binge. I worked 40 to 48 hours a week so I didn't have much time to play, however, I cherished every moment that was given to me. I alienated my girlfriend. She was okay with it at first, but it became a social burden. The company asked if anyone wanted to step down part time. I was content with money that was rolling in, but the real fact of the matter was that I wanted more time for World of Warcraft. I stepped down to 20 hours a week and alienated my girlfriend even more than I was before. I got into a raiding guild and we focused on progression. I spent every night of the week working on fictional purple gear. Eventually, my girlfriend dumped me. But, I was okay with it. And I look back and see how pathetic that was. Well, the money got short and I had to move in with a buddy (coincidentally the one who played WoW). We had an apartment and had a Lan every night when Burning Crusade came out. I started calling into work sick because I wanted to play. Eventually, it got to the point where I stopped working out or doing anything social besides World of Warcraft. I ended up putting my two weeks in my job because I started having underlying issues that I couldn't put a finger on. I lived on my last check for quite a bit, but didn't stop playing WoW. Anyway, I thought their were internal problems in me. I would Hyper Ventilate and see a doctor every once in a while until he proscribed me Xanax. If you don't know what that is, it's like an instant mood stabilizer that calms you down. I didn't quit playing WoW because I hadn't found out that was the problem. Issues got worse over time. I started Ebaying to make money and was basically playing the game while I was working. It was stupid how long I was sitting at my computer. It hit a breaking point when Wrath of the Lich King came out. I wasn't selling much product and the economic downfall in Michigan made it hard to find a job. I had to move back in with my parents (yeah laugh if you will). I looked for a job while I was playing WoW. I was miserable, out of shape, and what most would call a social retard (a long way from where I was before I played). It finally hit me one day that maybe the underlying problem was that I was sitting at my computer everyday for far too long. A few months ago I grabbed a gym membership and started getting back into shape. I felt amazingly better and dropped the meds. And then I finally did it. I quit WoW. I recently got hired at a well paying job, I'm back in shape, and I feel a lot better. Now laugh if you want. Because it indeed is a pathetic story, but maybe it will put a different perspective into others. Now, I'm no angel. I've done my share of drugs, but none of them can outweigh what World of Warcraft is doing to this world. Sure you make friends, but you never really interact in real life. You never really grow as a person and you forget about responsibilities. You break friendships and people that are close to you. It's very easy to "dare I say this" be in denial about an addiction to a game. But that's what it is. So I just thought I'd share my story. It's never too late. Incoming flames.