I used to play quite a bit, how much time are you loggin in?

I stopped when my warlock got to 60.

Sounds a bit like those old D&D "interventions" back in the 80's when people who didn't have a clue about the game were "certain that they knew it was bad for you". They wouldn't say jack shit if you watched TV for all that time. Hell they woulkdn't even bother you if you were watching porn all the time!

As an addendum this article is cross posted to the Galciv2 forums but oddly you can't seem to leave a comment from there...

I agree, it is your time and spending it playing WoW isn't any different than someone surfing channels for hours, and probably is a lot better.

I played Everquest for several years, and honestly I reached a point that I realized it was unhealthy. That is personal, and not something I can impose on others, but MMORPGs aren't just games, they are alternate places people live sometimes, and that is wrong on so many levels.

So, I guess if you play a MMORPG as if it were any other game and still accomplish what you want in life, it's far better than vegging in front of the TV. If it becomes a sanctuary from real life, then it isn't healthy. To me it became "place" instead of "activity", and I rated accomplishing things there the same as accomplishing things in real life.

...your own mileage my vary.

Exactly Baker.
I would say I play alot, but that isn't true, true. I work 7 days a week most weeks, have social time. THe funny thing is, some of the people that intervention also play WoW. I have a lv 60 priest, and working on a lv 47 Rogue. That is about it. I know people that are all about getting all classes to 60 and such. The time I spend is not as much as some people I know. I too played EQ for 5 years, and no one complained then....

I am so glad I read this.

I have a ten year old son who just received Wow for his b-day. Our rule has always been if you do your homework, and your chores and are respectful then you can have just about as much game time as you want.

Well everything was fine until WoW. Now he rushes through his homework, leaves it on the table scattered without putting it up in his backpack, "forgets" to do his chore and just plain isn't sociable.

So I grounded him from all electronics. You'd think I KILLED the kid. He was crying and slinging snot and fussing. You wouldn't believe it. He was grounded for two days and he actually PLAYED OUTSIDE, played with his brother, helped me round the house and was generally just a joy to be around.

So now he is not grounded, and he is watching his ps and qs but back in his room.

So I told him we are re-negotiating this whole computer/ps2/xbox/cube thing. I think I will limit him to only weekend play. He starts basketball in a week or so and will be too busy during the week anyway. He actually told me he didn't want to play bball because it would take time from his computer!

I may let him play one day during the week for one hour, just to make him feel like we really negotiated.

Thanks for writing this article. You are an adult....but I am thinking if you can get addicted to it I might should take it away from my son until he's older.

Nothing wrong with playing video games any more than watching TV or any other activity as long as it's not interfering with real life.  I gave up on WoW eventually, it just got slow after I hit level 40.  But I still got many months of enjoyment from it.

Again, exactly. When I said addicted, I was joking in a way. I play it because I enjoy it, it is my hobby. As a adult, I choose my entertainment, and that was the whole reason for the article. If WoW is interfering with school and things that are important, then by all means, take it away.

There are times when I don't play, I want to make that clear. It isn't a everyday thing, but for some people it is.

I am so glad I read this. I have a ten year old son who just received Wow for his b-day. Our rule has always been if you do your homework, and your chores and are respectful then you can have just about as much game time as you want. Well everything was fine until WoW. Now he rushes through his homework, leaves it on the table scattered without putting it up in his backpack, "forgets" to do his chore and just plain isn't sociable. So I grounded him from all electronics. You'd think I KILLED the kid. He was crying and slinging snot and fussing. You wouldn't believe it. He was grounded for two days and he actually PLAYED OUTSIDE, played with his brother, helped me round the house and was generally just a joy to be around. So now he is not grounded, and he is watching his ps and qs but back in his room. So I told him we are re-negotiating this whole computer/ps2/xbox/cube thing. I think I will limit him to only weekend play. He starts basketball in a week or so and will be too busy during the week anyway. He actually told me he didn't want to play bball because it would take time from his computer! I may let him play one day during the week for one hour, just to make him feel like we really negotiated. Thanks for writing this article. You are an adult....but I am thinking if you can get addicted to it I might should take it away from my son until he's older.

I am happy to see that you care, as most parents do who are on this forum. I was a very avid gamer through my childhood and never had a problem with it but I was also active in sports, as your son is about to be. So hopefully that will help him ease of it about.
On the other hand, no MMORPGs existed when I was young. How long has he been playing? It may just be the newness factor that keeps him going back so much.
If its been along time then the regulation of his time is probably your best bet.

Per Amitty:
My friend (has a wife and kid) certainly needs an intervention but few of his friends and basically none of his family realize or understand whats going on. He has two main characters, one with around ~90 days played and one with around ~50 days, both obviously level 60 and he combines to have about 300% of my playtime. Its sad to see him ignore his wife and child, and myself when I go over. If you were anything like that then the intervention was probably a good thing, possibly done the wrong way but at least it opened your eyes (hell I'd be hardpressed to name that many good friends right now).

I am so glad for your son that you grounded him. Take away his computer! Put it in the living room or something. That's the kind of thing that needs to be monitored. The newness factor might make it wear off, but it might not. I've definitely been addicted to online games, and it only gets worse. At least if you force him to have something else in his life, the loss of WoW (which he will eventually have to quit, or won't have as much time, etc.) won't be so bad. Also, once basketball season gets going, if he really likes playing, he'll have more interest in actual accomplishments on the court than in some online game. Can't brag to girls about online games, they generally don't care.

Amitty:
Glad people worry about you. But it is your stuff and you're entitled, as you are an adult and it is legal to play WoW. However, it's just as bad as an addiction as anything else. When it affects your life more than life does, then it's a problem. Might want to rethink the amount of time you put into online. But, I know from experience, you'll do what you want anyway. Which again, is your right. I wish I could afford WOW.

wait what?! your boyfriend brings a bunch of his friends and locks your comp up because he doesnt like you playing games?! then has the audacity to tell you you have to ask him to use YOUR computer?! sister, if my girlfriend did that to me id boot her ass out the door.

I am a recovering WoW addict. I played every day for at least 1-2hrs (usually 4-5 during school, dawn to dawn during summer)

It's been about 2 months since I've last logged in. I was using WoW to escape it sucked me in like nothing. I still want to play. I miss it now. But I've given, yes given away my account. I had a couple of 60's, 50 and 40 something.

The joy I got out of this game was awesome. And I still wasn't playing in optimum conditions, crappy wireless internet, 512MB of ram, living with my parents (but then again, that's probably what "saved" me).

I still want to gank people, destroy people in BG's, and plunder dugeons. I knew this game very well, but probably the part that bugged me the most was by the time I had gotten to the 60+ Endgame (MC, Onx, etc) Buring Crusade was out.

I want to start again, but I need to finish college, make some money then maybe.

I do miss WoW. A lot.

You did the right thing Tova7. Kids don't know what's best for them (and some adults too) and therefore someone need to control them.

Reminds me a bit of my own time as a kid....My mum never sent to me to any sports....she did complain sometimes that I played too much but she was the one that agreed to buy me my NES in the first hand.
If someone had talked to me and argumented good (mum can't do that) why sports are good then perhaps things would have been a bit different....I wouldn't have been overweight until I was 25 (today) and would have had more friends and women to fool around with

I did play WoW but only for a month. I don't want to pay every month. My economical side defeated my gameaddicting side Besides, it's not competitive like some RTS games I'm gonna start playing so that's another nail in the WoW coffin.

OMG!

Can't escape them!!

Now I'm seeing WoW PLing and WoW gold buying messages on GalCiv's forums...ARGHHHHH!