In order to really get the most out of the game, to see everything and do everything that the game has to offer, you have to invest a lot of time into the game every single day. It starts to take over your life. You become a slave to the game. It stops being fun, and starts to feel like a job.

So you are an end-game WoW player, here is your life:

You spend about one hour a day doing daily quests for cash, to cover expenses like repairs, reagents, etc, and stay on top of anything new in the game. You have to farm 3-5 hours a week on you herb/alch alt to have enough consumables for next week’s raids (and if you don’t have a herb/alch alt, then lolnewb)

You have raid times that you have to make. You probably raid 3 or 4 days a week, for 2-6 hours at a time, that’s how long the raids usually last. You set these times up in advance, so they don’t conflict with real-life commitments. A typical raid schedule is 6pm to 10pm pst; Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.

This is all difficult. But if you want into a high-end raid guild then you gotta deliver on some expectations.

You get to know the people you raid with. You know their voices on Vent and you understand how the group dynamics are working. You’re a veteran of the scene and no one questions you.

Cheers!

@WoW I don’t miss you one bit. This is because I never started playing you. I fell for your prettier cousin; Final Fantasy XI. The torrid affair lasted for about a year and a half. I enjoyed much of that time. When I discount in-game social interactions with people all over country and globe, I find I’m left with with a hollow sort of joy that came from a sense of accomplishment derived from merely watching numbers increase on a screen. If only this screen were my bank statement. I would never leave the bank!
In all seriousness, I would play another mmorpg, happily. I feel a good deal wiser now. A price I paid was having what could only be described as a bed sore formed on my ass becoming infected. From my current perspective I can’t comprehend the obsession I was emersed in. Every bit a stereo-type, I emerged from the proverbial cave and met a girl, a very gorgeous-type girl. Not right away, of course. I obtained “enhanced apartment” imbued with “dark magic job funds”. I took an interest in “bard job class”, an interest I still pursue. I did it all for fun.That had nothing to do with “meeting chicks”. Don’t judge me. I know one thing for certain; I could never have met this girl I love if I’d been playing ffxi. She’s pretty darn nerdy and that fact leaves the slimmest chance of paths crossing, but I know I wouldn’t have been where I needed to be for her and us. So I suppose I mean to leave the message of “save some of yourself for the rest of us”. Maybe that’ll be the tag line of my next macro. As soon as I can afford to pay monthly fees again. I don’t miss having my parents pay for everything because I’m having all kinds of sex now. I salute this video message. It’s a friendly goodbye and not a kiss-off, fuck all y’all message. That’s my eighteen cents. Suck it all, y’all!

Or did they replace “addictive” with this new fangled term and no one told me?

I believe its much easier to quit a game if your not committed to a raiding/arena guild. It is astounding how deep you can find yourself stuck by online commitments. To the point where they feel almost like a second job.

Anyway the details of my story are not important only how it felt to leave WOW. The hardest part is the friends you have to leave behind. For only online voices and pixels they can become pretty important to you. I had friends that it was not a question of wanting to do something, but rather the certainty of them waiting for you to show up. It reminded me of the simplicity of childhood really.

So you leaving the MMO can seem traitorous to these people. Though I found it tells you who was really your friend and who just wanted some use of your time. But sure enough nearly a year after my quitting I’m still in touch with these friends from WOW.

Was it a waste of my life? Probably if your looking at your life with mathematical eyes. But I look back and see the good times and the friends I have gained. Hell, I might even go back for round 2 with the new SW game if my friends are there. Though it will be with the knowledge of how to enjoy my MMO with moderation.

But I will say this quitting allows you to find time for the old “RL”. I’ve learned a good deal of spanish, learned how to really play my guitar, and lost a great deal of weight (nearly what I put on playing the damn game).

So I’ll not be telling anyone that they need to quit to save their souls or any some such bullshit. That’s each person’s choice, and I know that I made the right one for me. I have no regrets about quitting or playing. Just remember that your only young once folks. Spend it the way you want to. Thanks for reading.