2 ms·

In principle, sure, but the point is that WoW is indeed especially addictive in a way that a bowling league isn't.

by dreeves 16y ago

sown 16y ago
I think it may be regional but some people take their bowling very seriously.
bretpiatt 16y ago
And you say this because you know people "addicted to WoW" but you don't know people "addicted to bowling"? Two million people playing in competitive bowling leagues each week across America. WoW has nowhere near two million competitive players. I don't have statistics for the number of casual bowlers but I'll bet you a lunch that more people spend $15/month bowling than playing WoW. Do you think it is any different on the social obligation side for somebody to show up for a raid in WoW versus showing up for the league match? Is there a lower social obligation for the bowler to practice between matches than there is for a player in WoW to prep for that raid? Competitive social MMOs are the recreational sports leagues of this generation.
- dasil003 16y ago
  I'd be curious to see the percentage of each that have engaged in 16 hour sessions, pausing only to eat and go to the bathroom.
roel_v 16y ago
What, the same social pressures don't apply in other team sports? Try to play any sport at a high level and miss a few trainings because you'd rather read a book at home. You'll get bad looks the first time, yelled at the second time and kicked out the third time. (I'm not saying WoW is a sport, just to pre-empt a diversion in that direction). What is morally superior about exercising an hour a day over playing WoW an hour a day, provided the lack of exercise doesn't make one dangerously obese or similar? Yet all rants like this one are based on that premise - 'I used to be such a loser, now I work out, I'm so much better than those WoW losers'. Usually from former players, too; just like former smokers are the most obnoxious about how awesome they are for quitting, the former WoW players seem to know something about self-righteousness, too. Anyway, like anything, it's about moderation. If you play a couple of hours a week and don't let it take over your life, there's nothing wrong with it. I asked my girlfriend to set up the 'parental control' feature on my account, so I only got to play 4 hours a week. If anything, WoW at least lets you do that; I have yet to see the first skateboard or piano that has a lock like that, and there are many people who 'waste' (in the article's definition, not mine) much more than 4 hours a week on those.
- dreeves 16y ago
  I didn't realize that about using the "parental" control. Great example of a commitment device! And that's what I really mean about the difference between WoW and most other hobbies and social activities: WoW sucks you in in a way that makes you regret the amount of time you spend on it. I sometimes have the same problem with Hacker News, hence this: http://beeminder.com/d/hn http://beeminder.com/d/hn
  - dy 16y ago
    This is brilliant. I think people here can rail against addictions to WoW while lurking/posting on HN for hours a day. It's all part of the same addiction for points/prestige/social validation. "Posting all these years to get higher karma, reading the source articles, reading the comments, for what? To help another person who thinks they have an innovative startup idea? They're all just going to get bought by Google anyway. Life is meaningless!
- rue 16y ago
  I'd say that at the top levels, WoW (and many FPSs) are sports at least as much as shooting, golf, snooker, chess or darts are.
Fargren 16y ago
And people keep using that word. There is no proof videogames are addicting, and no serious study on the subject has been able to show that such a thing as "videogame addiction" exists.

In principle, sure, but the point is that WoW is indeed especially addictive in a way that a bowling league isn't.

by dreeves 16y ago

In principle, sure, but the point is that WoW is indeed especially addictive in a way that a bowling league isn't.

sown 16y ago

I think it may be regional but some people take their bowling very seriously.

bretpiatt 16y ago

And you say this because you know people "addicted to WoW" but you don't know people "addicted to bowling"? Two million people playing in competitive bowling leagues each week across America. WoW has nowhere near two million competitive players. I don't have statistics for the number of casual bowlers but I'll bet you a lunch that more people spend $15/month bowling than playing WoW. Do you think it is any different on the social obligation side for somebody to show up for a raid in WoW versus showing up for the league match? Is there a lower social obligation for the bowler to practice between matches than there is for a player in WoW to prep for that raid? Competitive social MMOs are the recreational sports leagues of this generation.

dasil003 16y ago
I'd be curious to see the percentage of each that have engaged in 16 hour sessions, pausing only to eat and go to the bathroom.

roel_v 16y ago

What, the same social pressures don't apply in other team sports? Try to play any sport at a high level and miss a few trainings because you'd rather read a book at home. You'll get bad looks the first time, yelled at the second time and kicked out the third time. (I'm not saying WoW is a sport, just to pre-empt a diversion in that direction). What is morally superior about exercising an hour a day over playing WoW an hour a day, provided the lack of exercise doesn't make one dangerously obese or similar? Yet all rants like this one are based on that premise - 'I used to be such a loser, now I work out, I'm so much better than those WoW losers'. Usually from former players, too; just like former smokers are the most obnoxious about how awesome they are for quitting, the former WoW players seem to know something about self-righteousness, too. Anyway, like anything, it's about moderation. If you play a couple of hours a week and don't let it take over your life, there's nothing wrong with it. I asked my girlfriend to set up the 'parental control' feature on my account, so I only got to play 4 hours a week. If anything, WoW at least lets you do that; I have yet to see the first skateboard or piano that has a lock like that, and there are many people who 'waste' (in the article's definition, not mine) much more than 4 hours a week on those.

dreeves 16y ago
I didn't realize that about using the "parental" control. Great example of a commitment device! And that's what I really mean about the difference between WoW and most other hobbies and social activities: WoW sucks you in in a way that makes you regret the amount of time you spend on it. I sometimes have the same problem with Hacker News, hence this: http://beeminder.com/d/hn http://beeminder.com/d/hn
- dy 16y ago
  This is brilliant. I think people here can rail against addictions to WoW while lurking/posting on HN for hours a day. It's all part of the same addiction for points/prestige/social validation. "Posting all these years to get higher karma, reading the source articles, reading the comments, for what? To help another person who thinks they have an innovative startup idea? They're all just going to get bought by Google anyway. Life is meaningless!
rue 16y ago
I'd say that at the top levels, WoW (and many FPSs) are sports at least as much as shooting, golf, snooker, chess or darts are.

Fargren 16y ago

And people keep using that word. There is no proof videogames are addicting, and no serious study on the subject has been able to show that such a thing as "videogame addiction" exists.