How much WoW is too much WoW?
by Paul Sherrard 
Jun 4th 2007 at 8:30PM
Today has a new podcast from the folks over at Taverncast, and it has my guild a-buzz with talk of WoW Addiction. We're a casual raiding guild, 3 nights a week, 4 hours a night. Sure, that's 12 hours of commitment a week, but still a low number compared to other raiding guilds. That would be well and fine, but a large number of our members play a lot outside of raiding hours - farming mats, doing daily quests, getting reputation, etc.
So when the Taverncast After Hours #3 came up today, with the gang discussing gaming addiction, and one member going so far as to undertake a little experiment a la Morgan Spurlock, it really got us thinking - are we playing too much WoW?
Some of the things on their list (about an hour in) of questions to ask yourself, I have had to say yes to at one time or another. How about you?
So, go take some time out to listen (while you're playing WoW, of course) and then come back and let us know how much WoW you play each week, and what you think is a reasonable amount of time to commit to the game. Is 15 hours in a row of ANY activity too much? (listen to the whole podcast to get that one)
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Podcasting, Virtual selves
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
KP Jun 2nd 2010 5:33PM
I started playing WoW as a way to kind of "hang out" with a friend who moved. I spent a lot of time with him playing, which I totally enjoyed. Learning and experiencing new things in a game that I had previously shunned ignorantly. My wife noticed me playing it and she got started too. We casually play with our guilds and never take the game seriously. That first look of excitement on her face when she got her first epic item was like a child being born.
The question is: "What is too much?"
The answer is a question: "Why are you asking this question?"
Then it breaks down into personal opinions, lifestyles and views.
I enjoy the comments from Nitt, Paul, Medros and Shanna. Reading these posts put some of my concerns in the back of my head to rest. Thanks for taking the time to post!
Cordially,
KP-Aborforth of Stormrage
freehugz Jun 4th 2007 8:51PM
What's with all these downer topics about playing too much
khaosworks Jun 4th 2007 9:13PM
I only get a chance to play on average 2 or 3 hours a night, maximum, if at all, sometimes stretching on to 4 on a weekend. This is a drop from when I first started the game, really, when I used to go 4 hours on average a night and maybe 6 on a weekend, especially when raiding. Still, nowhere approaching 10-15 hours like that mentioned in the podcast.
On another note, I keep thinking Sporgan Murloc would be a great name for a rare mob. Drops Super-Sized food items, naturally.
john Jun 4th 2007 9:55PM
"Is 15 hours in a row of ANY activity too much?"
Yes, unless of course it is SEX...awwww yeah
hehe
John
Paul Jun 4th 2007 10:17PM
In the podcast the taverncasters talk about not being able to win the game, so "winning" comes in the form of advancing quickly, of always trying to get to that next level.
I admit, i get caught up in this, and at that point, I play more Wow than I should- I begin to play simply because i want to get to the next level, or be able to acquire some item. But playing simply for those purposes is never truly satisfying, because there is always another level or a better piece of gear.
So I try to remember why I like to play: because I like immersing myself in that world when I have the time to, or to enjoy adjusting to the ever changing strategies I have to employ depending on the makeup of my group on a given instance run.
When I get back to playing for the reasons I like playing instead of those addictive reasons that creep into my head, I enjoy the game, and the rest of my life, a lot more.
doobtray Jun 4th 2007 11:59PM
hey John, what if it's sex and WOW at the same time like I've done before? Is that ok?
MrAwesome Jun 5th 2007 12:01AM
@3 Most people don't have the supernatural ability to last for 15 hours during sex.
I'm startled when you say that 4 hours 3 or 4 times a week is very casual. I can't even imagine how much Nihilum players play. I play for 1 maybe 2 hours every other day or every 2 days. That's casual.
Video games are supossed to be entertainment, but when you have to schedule times to play or block other things out in order to play, it stops being entertainment and starts becoming something else.
Lethon Jun 5th 2007 12:08AM
You know you hate WoW when you secretly hope your account will be wtfhacked right out from under you. I had this feeling from lvl 1 all the way through Kara but I still played. Just wait for a night when something happens and you spontaneously delete your account, it's like a burden has been lifted zomg!
Beaverius Jun 5th 2007 1:09AM
I love taverncast! I just listened to this last night.
Kinda of crazy to think about cause i felt teh exact same in times of obssessive playing. but..
MUST GRADUATE
HotSauce Jun 5th 2007 12:49AM
I couldn't, and I still can't, see myself sitting for 4 hours, listening to a lameass on a VoIP chat program. It ruins my playing mood, I can't really say that I know how important "advancing" in this game( or any MMO) is, but I guess to some people it's an accomplishment to have something new that no one else have.
I guess it's pretty cool to have a shiny and awesome looking object on your character while you're standing in your capital next to the mailbox having people ask you "where'd you get that item from?"
For me, it's like when I'm away from my PC doing other hobbies, mainly skateboarding, I want to be at home playing WoW just to get that next level on my Shadow Priest.
However, when i'm actually at home playing WoW, I have that "man this sucks, I rather be outside skateboarding," or doing something else that's more productive. Maybe it's because I've had WoW burnout in the past and replaying WoW over just isn't fun as it use to be.
kitterz Jun 5th 2007 1:18AM
The question of "too much WoW" is not a matter of how many hours they play. it's a matter of what someone is sacrificing. everything is broken down into costs of opportunity. three hours of play costs three hours which could be spent doing something else.
yes of course, if a person spends three hours a day playing wow at the cost of getting critical work done then yeah, it's too much.
However, if we compare playing WoW to other common leisure activities then WoW is not really as bad as people may think. The average american watches about 3+ hours of TV a day. so, 3 hours playing WoW as opposed to 3 hours watching TV is nothing. in fact, many working stiffs (not into WoW) that i know go home, watch some tv and relax with a beer for 4 hours a night (totalling on avererge about 28 hours a week).
IMHO WoW is much more rewarding than sitting in front of a tv flipping channels.
When i comes down to it, too much WoW is only a matter of "what else would you be doing?"
Medros Jun 5th 2007 2:54AM
I listened to the podcast while out doing yard work, and I had a few thoughts.
1. Those who will get addicted to games, in most cases, would become addicted to something else eventually.
2. Some people are not addicted, they simply either have nothing else to do, which can be caused by illness, immobility, or perhaps non social lifestyles among many possibilities, and, as Kromley said, the social nature of the game makes up for the RL stuff one misses.
3. Any guild or group who forces you to put in time in this game, without understanding, is probably a group you should avoid. This includes guilds like Nihilium, Death and Taxes, or in my realm's case, Black Phoenix. Seriously, there are better places to go, where people are realistic and care about more than their own next piece of loot.
Just my 2c on a great topic brought up by a fellow Podcaster.
-Medros of All Things Azeroth
Nitt Jun 5th 2007 6:13AM
I'm a bit amused by the reactions you get for spending a lot time of time on a certain activity. I'm an amateur musician. In my keener days I easily spent 3-4 hours a day, every day, on practicing. That caused nothing but admiration in those who heard about it, and compliments on my ambition and dedication. No one ever suggested that I might be addicted to the piano or that I had no life. Compare that to the reactions you'd get if you were to tell someone you played WoW the same amount of time.
shanna Jun 5th 2007 9:08AM
I have to believe that 15 to hours of any thing is to much (i like the sex one though) but to be honest i have 3 kids and i try to play with them and play the game. It is tricky but all and all i would rather my kid play for as long as he or she like instead of being out with some crap people. Most of the people that i play with are friend and family so at least i know that when my kids do get on they are playing with people that i can trust. So is 15 hours to much to play the game? Well that would be like saying is 15 hours to much time to spend with friend and family. I do believe that you should get outside and get some sun and that would be the determiner, if you can get off the game to hang out with real people then you know that you are not addicted, but if all you want to do is be in front of this game then you need help. But as for now have fun with the game, besides it is cheaper then the average night out. Dinner the movies drinks oh boy can that get expensive.
Chad Jun 5th 2007 9:27AM
By Taverncast's definition I would probably be addicted. But in my situation, World of Warcraft is an escape for me. It's an escape from a day of work in my crappy job, it's an escape from being a part time college student.
I have friends that jokingly tell me that I am addicted or have a problem playing WoW too much. My usual response is to ask how much time that they spend watching television or movies on a daily basis. Typically, its about as much time as I spend in game on a regular basis.
Coherent Jun 5th 2007 1:04PM
Four hours three times a week sounds pretty do-able, and a reasonable time commitment. Most endgame guilds on my server seem to demand 7-8 hour stretches at least once a week.
For example, a guild which I have specific experience of recently has a raiding schedule of four consecutive hours during the weekdays, but then eight consecutive hours on Saturdays! Three to eleven PM, with a short break in the middle.
That's like... Wow... too much WoW at once. Especially on Saturday. 3-4 hours is my limit for an instance run these days. I'm still traumatized from six hour MC/Onyxia/BWL runs back in the baaad old days. Private Hudson says: "Game over, man, Game over!"
Juliah Jun 7th 2007 11:57PM
Nitt makes a good point.