During a 10 man run last week, a very interesting topic came up. One of our tanks mentioned how they know a guy who has max gold on 5 characters and is working on a 6th (whether this is true or not, I really have no idea but that was his claim). A member of the group, who I will call Joe, pipes up and says “That is just stupid. They do realize that someday all of WoW will be gone and they are just wasting time right? It’s just a game.”
Now before I go into reactions I would like to tell you a little bit about Joe. Joe (claims to) know “everything” there is to know about WoW. Knows the history, the benefits/weaknesses of all the classes and has 9 alts. They spend a crazy amount of time on the game, putting it above their regular lives most of the time. Everyone knows this, and it is pretty common knowledge.
I have no problem with people devoting their time and effort into the game. I have played for 4 years so I know what that is like. The game is a hobby and people like to participate in hobbies. But I found what Joe said kinda odd. Why would you say that someone is wasting time in a game that you spend a great deal of time in. It seemed very contradicting to me. Most people feel that WoW is just a game. Most understand there are lives outside of the game, and that is all well and good. And we all know that WoW will not last till the end of time. But if Joe felt this way, why did he put so much time and effort into WoW in the first place? Why was he even still playing now?
Someone in the group was thinking the same thing and asked, “Then why are we even all here and still playing the game? Why are we wasting our time?” Joe never responded, and instead we went on to get some tries on Hard Mode Sindi.
But this left me pondering…if WoW is a “big waste of time” and will just be gone eventually, why do you play? I am sure we have all been asked this question before, and probably mostly by non gamers, but I think it is a good one to put out there.
I play for many reasons all of which I know are different from reasons others play. I play because I like the game, my first and most plain and simple answer. I have not always loved bosses and people and I really hate leveling, but in general I like playing the game.
I also love my main character. Ever since I first played a Resto Druid, I knew it was for me. Just the feel of the game, the excitement of healing, it was all right up my alley.
I play for friends. Some of the people in my guild or that I have met over time, I would call my best friends. We do not just talk on the game or about the game but they know me, even without meeting me. When we have taking breaks from WoW, we would still talk. I would miss my friends and know WoW is a great place to meet people. Heck I even met my husband in Shadow Labs! So WoW will always hold a special place in my heart.
I play because I love raiding. I may hate to level with a passion, but raiding is the most fun I ever have had in a game. The teamwork, the accomplishment, everything about a raid drags me in and I just want more!
So what about you? Why do you play? Has there ever been a point where you really questioned yourself in your WoW hobby?
4 responses to ““It’s Just a Game!””
gameoverdoze
September 23rd, 2010 at 22:23
This is an excelent post. I am very much like you. I began with a Warlock a month or so before WotLK was released. Got him to 65 and dropped him on release of wotLK for a DK. I knew within the first few hours that a DK was for me. I also hate leveling, but absolutely love the end game. I currently allowed my account to lapse to give my self a break before Cataclysm. I can’t just go cold turkey so I’ll run a dongeon on my wife’s 73 Pally once or twice a week. I play simply because I love gaming. The awsome social aspect is next to none. WoW is hands down the best game I have ever played. Sure I have seen better graphics and mechanics in other games. I , however, never experienced a true relationship with my charactor. I don’t mean that in a role playing kinda way, I don’t like RP my self. I spent a lot of time leveling and learning my DK’s mechanics. I played alternative roles, specializations, and adjusted to the multiple tweaks and nerfs any new class would have. I spent as much time researching and tweaking to become the DK I am today. Over time I think you gain an emotional attachment similar to that of a pet. Your avatar is a reflection of your efforts. Do you not feel a sence of accomplishment when you teach your pet to sit and roll over? This is what my Dk represents. So is it just a game? Short answer Yes. A game where real people, with real lives, join together to live out the epic journeys and adventure’s we would not otherwise ever experience. The Instance podcast once asked what would you do if today was the last day the WoW server would be up? I realized at that point that No this is not just a game. I was genuinly sad I would never get to play my DK again. Yes, partly because I’m a nerd. Mostly because I would miss my guild mates, the crazy vent reactions after finally beating the final raid boss for the first time, and a huge chapter of my real life would be ending. I stop every now and again to explore other games, live life outside of gaming, and give my family some more of me. At the end of the day no it’s not just a game, it is where a portion of my real life exist.
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sarindre
September 25th, 2010 at 14:30
Thank you for the great reply! I agree with you in all aspects. Yes it is a game, but is is such an integral part of life that I would miss it more if it ever went away.
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Llani
September 27th, 2010 at 17:19
Occasionally yes I do think about ‘why’ I am playing. For the most part, WoW is a timesink for me. It is because I cannot work outside with a hoe and shovel for 8 hours a day without passing out. My mother and I work for about 4 hours and then we come inside (it’s too hot right now in Texas). We live on a farm, I’m finishing up my last class for my degree and saving money, etc.
But, we do play a lot of WoW also. We keep everything clean and neat and tidy in the house so we don’t have to constantly clean up. WoW lets us relax since we got rid of the television (nobody watched it anyway). WoW is cheap fun. Plus we have some really nice friends on here.
In the end, I’d probably drop this game in a heartbeat if I had the spare money to go hang out with my city friends ($50 a trip). I don’t have that kind of money right now so WoW is a nice alternative.
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sarindre
September 28th, 2010 at 10:09
I know what you mean about Texas being too hot. I am feeling that pain here too. Luckily, it has been pretty cold here the past few days! Very exciting! WoW is a great hobby and for most it is pretty cheap to participate in. But there are other things that take up more of my time, which is fine! 🙂
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