How to quit WoW

[will14]

I think this is a valid question.
For all those of you who have 100+ days played especially those who stopped after it.

Personally I started playing WoW because my old desktop died(parts of it) and I was going to be travelling in Europe so I got a laptop.
My guild died mostly so it's lost it's appeal

Oblivion would have gotten me to stop playing WoW but I simply don't like the performance I get on a laptop/my laptop.
So plan on buying new computer as soon as conroe+nforce mobo is reasonable price(month-2?)

Mostly I think it would be funny to hear some stories of WoW addiction.
Yes this means you who has hit High Warlord/Grand Marshall and have a slew of 60's. You might still be playing but admit it your hooked =P

Oh btw I'll sell my account for $350
I really should stop playing...

 

[Human1]

I played a couple days of their trial, then quit. I just couldn't stop thinking of a girl I know who missed a final exam because she was playing WoW, doing some dungeon run, and couldn't leave her guild. She failed many classes that semester. Every once in a while I see her up on campus, going back to those classes she tanked. I've never asked if she still plays WoW though.

 

[DirtMcgirt]

I quit a month ago, didn't have a "slew" of 60's or pvp often. I raided too much and took a break. Then through a rush of blood to the head I gave my account to an incredibly addicted friend . I also did poorly in school because of WoW. Not so much the game but my lack of control, just like everyone else :>

 

[Hoppy6698]

As with most gamers, its not the "addiction" its the lack of control of the gamer.

 

[BomberBill]

I think this is a valid question.
For all those of you who have 100+ days played especially those who stopped after it.

Personally I started playing WoW because my old desktop died(parts of it) and I was going to be travelling in Europe so I got a laptop.
My guild died mostly so it's lost it's appeal

Oblivion would have gotten me to stop playing WoW but I simply don't like the performance I get on a laptop/my laptop.
So plan on buying new computer as soon as conroe+nforce mobo is reasonable price(month-2?)

Mostly I think it would be funny to hear some stories of WoW addiction.
Yes this means you who has hit High Warlord/Grand Marshall and have a slew of 60's. You might still be playing but admit it your hooked =P

Oh btw I'll sell my account for $350
I really should stop playing...

Its all about priorities and not addictions.

Mate, here's what I do:

I put all essentials before I play any game (remember, it is your hobby, after all--its NOT a lifestyle, and never should be).

I work full-time (10 hour days) so by the time I go home, exercise for a hour-and-a-half, cook dinner and chill for an hour or two, well, its time for bed. And thats important to note: keep regular healthy meals, exercise and sleep!

That means I often cant get to a game until the weekend and again, you need to do all the proper essentials of a healthy existence before you enjoy your hobbies.

Look at the stories that you've seen thus far; people neglecting important studies etc., and I've had to learn the hard way through university too: gaming doesn't pay!

We'd all love to sit on our arses and game all day but that is a fantasy unless you're a tester. Re-prioritise, re-charge and time your game time; put it to the bottom of the list for things to do.

 

[BomberBill]

PS, I'm pretty passionate about making sure I have some game time up my sleeve. To be frank, I found it hard to lessen my game time when I was in my late teens, early 20s, but its very important that you do.

I'm 28--not some old geezer giving advice--but I speak the truth when I say I used to burn days (not hours) on games: Age of Empires 2, Diablo 2, Baldurs Gate 1 & 2, Civ 3, original Unreal Tournament etc...*oh the fond memories*...

I still get itchy feet today--wishing to neglect my life to game--but re-prioritise mentally man, and boy it makes a difference. Not to mention that I thoroughly enjoy the actual game time I get these days; like a child who gets an allowance only sparingly. :lol:

 

[illuminatirex]

to be honest i c nothing special about wow nor oblivion, gues im not a fan of thse game types

 

[robwright]

Does anyone on this forum think they were or currently are addicted in the clinical sense to WoW? I mean, addicted like one would be addicted to drugs or alcohol, completely unable to cut down or cut off the game? Or is this more an issue about will power and self-control?

 

[Human1]

Isn't all addiction about willpower and self-control? Sure, no one is physically addicted to WoW, but you can be emotionally dependent on things too. People who miss important events (like college finals) because they were playing a video game definitely has problems they need to deal with. Calling it just an 'issue about will power and self-control' I think belittles what can be a very serious problem.
And no one here's going to fess up to an addiction like that. They're too busy playing to surf forums

 

[BomberBill]

Does anyone on this forum think they were or currently are addicted in the clinical sense to WoW? I mean, addicted like one would be addicted to drugs or alcohol, completely unable to cut down or cut off the game? Or is this more an issue about will power and self-control?

I think its a case of the latter, Rob. Drugs and alcohol invoke physically addictive behaviour from the abuser. Games are about one enjoying a hobby immensely and turning it into a lifestyle choice so its mentally addictive, for sure, but to compare it with drugs and booze is on the wrong track, I believe; its not comparing apples with apples, if you know what I mean.

 

[BomberBill]

Isn't all addiction about willpower and self-control?

No mate, its not. Drugs and booze do invoke physical addictions from the body that have nothing to do with willpower or self-control. Dont get me wrong, what you mentioned is a part of it, but its important to not misunderstand the nature of certain addictions; particularly when it comes to drugs and booze as opposed to gaming.

important events (like college finals) because they were playing a video game definitely has problems they need to deal with

Absolutely. They have light psychological issues to deal with (a need to recognise where their life's priorities lie, for example), and for some, those issues go deeper and require more prolonged professional help if their parents cant get them to sort it out.

Calling it just an 'issue about will power and self-control' I think belittles what can be a very serious problem.

Definitely.

 

[robwright]

Fair enough, Bill. I wasn't posing the question as a sarcastic, rhetorical one. In fact, I'm intrigued by this issue and have talked with some experts for a few articles I'm working on for Twitch, and they compare game addiction to gambling addiction. One addiction is recognized as a medical condition by the psychiatric community (the latter) and one is not (the former). But never having talked to someone who would claim he or she was actually addicted to a game and sought treatment, I'm not ready to make a judgment either way. I do believe it's possible for game addiction to be a real condition, however, since I fully recognize that games are powerful media that can get their hooks in people prett quickly.

 

[BomberBill]

Absolutely mate. I certainly didnt interpret your question that way and I apologise if my response read a little forthright; I can assure you I was simply trying to be objective because mate, in all candor, I've been a games addict.

I've been there and fixed the probs myself; although do find it hard--at times--to not fall into the old habits of missing meals, rarely exercising and rarely socialising (I was 21, in my 3rd year of uni, had time to burn, and age of empires 2, unreal tournament and baldurs gate were proving to be chronically addictive for me) . :lol:

Mate, I think hardcore gaming's biggest problem is the anti-social behaviour that it delivers.

Mate, I'm thrilled that you're having a look at it. I think its progressive of you to do so as an editor at this esteemed--and well loved--site. I'm a huge fan of what you guys do and have been since I started coming here years ago.

 

[Hoppy6698]

Drugs and booze do invoke physical addictions from the body

Actually, only drugs invoke a physical addiction. Alcohol has no proven physical addiction properties. It is an emotional and mentally addictive substance.

 

[BomberBill]

WRONG! Absolutely and utterly wrong:

There is a wealth of information on the physical dependence associated with alcoholism and alcohol consumption. Here's just a taste:

Wikipedia as a Start

Behavioral Medicine Associates

These are but two.

Alcohol is an addictive drug and physical dependence is a bi-product of the drug's use, particularly when consumed to excess.

 

[BigMac]

Personally I think the physical component of an addiction is not the hardest part to beat. The mental craving is at least as bad and probably worse than the craving of the body. Not that I'm much of an expert in the addiction field although I think almost anyone has some form of addiction going on, and not every addiction is that bad a thing either.

It is the net effect of an addiction that determines the problematic aspect of it, and the most difficult thing of all is to "objectively" evaluate the actual effect on yourself and others.

 

[Human1]

I agree. Heroine abuse has touched many people I know and they don't keep going back for physical cravings, it's the mental addiction that lasts even after all the physical withdrawl has passed. Bad stuff.
I played the WoW 10day trial and I liked it. Alot. And that bothered me, so I didn't buy in. I really believe it's possible to become addicted to these games.
Another note, my wife was saying that video games cause your brain to release the same chemicals as sex does. Anyone know if that's true, or it just myth? It's probably a half truth, taken out of context to sound bad, but you never know.

 

[will14]

To some extent.
They are involved with the pleasure center of brain.
Should I know the medical name? yes.
Do I remember? no.
Gets same response as eating sex running and many other things.
Just on different levels.
Just as people can be addicted to sex/drugs/gaming/eating/exercising.
Just some addictions have more serious side effects.
Certain people have chemical imbalances or imporperly functioning glands here and that's what cause certain people to have an "addictive personality".
Oh and btw this thread wasn't intended to be a serious debate, if I used the term addiction I didn't mean it in that sense, although there are some people who can lose their lives to not eating or going to work/school. I just move every 3 months and am sick of meeting new people all over again, gets frustrating after awhile, so I don't bother and play games(Still incredibly social while at school, in fraternity do sports 6 times a week etc)
Just the 6 months a year I work I don't do jack but game sleep drink work.

 

[zenmaster]

I think it's BS.

I would categorize myself as a heavy heavy gamer.
I ran a "gaming" club in college.

I have spent the overwhelming part of my free time for the last 25 years gaming on the computer, on a board, cards, or paper and pencil.

The provide me with constant but fun challenges I need.
Did it hurt my grades some in college? Yes.
Could I be more sucessfull in my career? Yes.

(But I am so well known in my field when I meet others in my field I have been asked many times when I give my name if I am "That" John Doe. )

If I had to do it over would I have worked harder at College?
Spent 70hrs a week instead of 45hours a week working?
No.
I ENJOY what I do.

Gamers who lose themselves in games have mental issues.
It's not the game that causes those issues.

Losers who get fired or dont care for their families?
Last time I checked, they always existed and would still not have met responsibilities.

 

[robwright]

Speaking of WoW addiction...

BomberBill, this is the article I referenced in my first post:
http://www.twitchguru.com/2006/08/08/world_of_warcraft_players_addicted/

 

[will14]

Speaking of WoW addiction...

BomberBill, this is the article I referenced in my first post:
http://www.twitchguru.com/2006/08/08/world_of_warcraft_players_addicted/

I couldn't read much.
I got to the doctor stating that the kid would rather play WoW than deal with his messed up family.
So the family complains to the doctor to intervent.
While I agree there can be problems.
He didn't want to deal with his family anyway.
I for one enjoyed playing NWN over watching/listening to my parents yell at each other and call the cops =P

I'd use the example of someone who didn't eat/sleep died of dhydration or the parents who left their kid to die as true examples. Although the game might have just been the mechanism. Had it not been for wow they may have done the same thing under different circumstances. It's easy to blame games and not the people. I think that is a point to be made.

 

[smittyhotep]

slightly off point, but completly on topic, i would like to offer this; ive never played wow, i hate midievil timeline games. i was however head over heel into MXO before it died. :x

i would get home from work crack a beer and just play for hours on end, on weekends forgoing even sleep to keep playing and advancing, now it may not look to trouble some, what ive written here, but i have a wife, and youll notice i didnt mention her during the MXO addiction. things got frosty for a while and i re-prioritzed, things in the relationship got better and i actually started leaving the house for rec time.

i dont play mmorpg or what ever the hell theyre called anymore. i just dont have the will power to ration my self. well that and in my opinion there arent any good ones right now :twisted:

 

[BomberBill]

Let me just say, this is the most fascinating thread that I've read in ages and all of the posts have been interesting to me (a rarity on the boards, I must say).

We all love games; we all love how they're getting better and how they take us to different worlds. We all love how we get to manipulate the game enviornment and be who we want to be and act how we want. Its fun, its a hobby and we all dig the challenge associated with it.

I do feel myself releasing seratonin and dopamine when I get involved in a hot game; I can feel it! You all can too providing your conscious to it.

I haven't been to the cinema in over a year and apart from fishing and playing and watching sports the only other things I'm really into is gaming and politics with the former taking precedence over the latter most of the time.

But there is a point--like with anything--where one can take it too far.

True story: I enjoy the highly addictive online multiplayer game, Kohan 2: Kings of War; I play it most nights and a dude with over 2500 games tells me about how he had his priorities as such:

1. Kohan 2
2. Family
3. Work
4. Personal health--food and sleep.


He was that hardcore that after gaming for 29 hours straight--after a full week's of work--he crashed into and passed out on his keyboard and woke up six hours later to continue from where he left off with a new game.

He almost lost his wife, his job and his health (he lost 45 pounds in a month and when you only weigh 175 and are 5'11 thats pretty hardcore on the body).

That's addiction; when you just cant stop the passion for doing something you physically and mentally adore.

We haven't even touched the surface on "addictive personalities" and those who have a genetic pre-disposition towards such behavior.

It is a fascinating subject, this one.

 

[DirtMcgirt]

Now you've got me thinking I have an addictive personality :/. Perhaps i do, before MMO's i was addicted to different games in short bursts of a couple months and moved on. Then i found Star Wars Galaxies, which broke the pattern as i was addicted for 6 months. After that I returned to semi-addiction and WoW came along. I've been addicted since release, and am about to return to it with friends. Not sure if i should return as i've been warcraft-sober for a month as my desktop died . I never forgot to eat but i never really excersize in the first place. I'm not nearly as old as some of you, 16. My grades suffered because of WoW but even I knew that wasn't the real reason. Anyone that blames games for influence can't face themselves. People that target the GTA series and MMOs for mistakes in society don't realize there has to be intent along with the influence. This post is all over but i can't stand it when killers say the game made them kill.

Oh and btw this is a short post of interesting ideas in comparison to one about the validity of religion and the bible. Guess where that was? WoW realm forums . It was over 25 pages long with citations of einstein and the like.

 

[Sling25]

... my wife was saying that video games cause your brain to release the same chemicals as sex does. Anyone know if that's true, or it just myth? It's probably a half truth, taken out of context to sound bad, but you never know.

Hi, I study psychology, I am going in my second year now, so be gentle, but I did learn this year about the pleasure centre in the brain. They have done experiments with rats in the past that got electrodes implanted inside the brain located at what they believed would be the pleasure centre. Next they made a lever the rats could push which would let a current flow as to stimulate their own brain 8O . I know sounds sick he! But guess what, the rats pressed the lever continuesly, even forgot to eat and drink. Similar experiments have been performed on humans, but they did place the electrodes some bit further from the pleasure centre for ethical reasons. The participants reported warm feelings and sometimes even better than sex!! Imagine that! What is simulated here is other brain cells telling the pleasure centre to release dopamine. Lots of brain cells are connected to the pleasure centre and they can signal to the pleasure centre in the form of low voltage currents. That's what the reseachers simulated.

Here some references from Wikipedia; the pleasure centre is known as the nucleus accumbens.

"This nucleus is thought to play an important role in reward, pleasure, and addiction."

"Dopaminergic input from the VTA is thought to modulate the activity of neurons within the nucleus accumbens. These terminals are also the site of action of highly-addictive drugs such as cocaine and amphetamine, which cause a several-fold increase in dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens. In addition to cocaine and amphetamine, almost every drug abused by humans has been shown to increase dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens."

"In the 1950s, Olds and Milner implanted electrodes into rat Nucleus accumbens and found that that the rat chose to press a level which stimulated it. It continued to prefer this even over stopping to eat or drink. This suggests that the area is the 'pleasure center' of the brain."

"Although the nucleus accumbens has traditionally been studied for its role in addiction, it plays an equal role in processing many rewards such as food, sex, and video games. A recent study found that it is involved in the regulation of emotions induced by music [1] , perhaps consequent to its role in mediating dopamine release."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleus_accumbens

I cut out the interesting stuff, for your convenience

So the answer to your question: yes, the brain does release the same chemicals in the pleasure centre with videogames as with sex.