Breakfast Topic: Playing WoW in public
by Amanda Rivera 
Jun 27th 2007 at 8:00AM
Anadjet of the Eonar realm posted a topic on the forums recently that got me thinking. The topic was on whether or not players found it weird to game in public. The story goes that down at the local pub she encountered several random strangers that had a love of WoW in common, and conversations ensued when she pulled out her laptop to log in to the game.
Yes, the game is popular, but it's not often that we run across players, and I wouldn't expect to do so in a bar. But it's an interesting question nonetheless. Would you ever just log in to WoW in public, irregardless of the weird looks others might give you? Or is the game more of a private world you prefer to dive in to at home? Is it just too plain geeky to do with others watching?
Filed under: WoW Social Conventions, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Phehon Jun 27th 2007 8:10AM
Playing WoW in public never really bothers me. Living in Holland I can log-on with my lappy on the train.
Some people who see the screen look a bit funny, but what the hey :)
Downside on this is that I can never do more that level some poisoning or do some AH checks/transactions... When the train leaves the station the connection is gone :(
Rhadagast Jun 27th 2007 8:26AM
While stuck in an airport on a 3 hour delay, hellloooooooooo herb farming. I stay to the side, out of the way though. Nevr know when a little rugrat might come up and be a pain, or when you may let loose a 'dirty $%#$$# NINJA'. That language in public is frowned on a bit. Power outlets on the wall are rather handy as well.
Kesava Jun 27th 2007 8:29AM
I have actually ran into many players in random public places, the mall, supermarket, theme parks, airports, restaurant etc etc. First question is Horde or Alliance 8-) Then server hehe
Laura Jun 27th 2007 8:50AM
I have a bad habbit of bringing up WOW at the bar but luckly almost half the bar I go to plays it (Yay geeky goth people) so there is alwasy someone to talk to about it. I have no problem talking about it in public but I'm not so sure about playing it. I do have a lap top but I don't really like to take it out in public much and most internet cafe's in my area don't have it instaled.
Steel Jun 27th 2007 8:42AM
Coming back from vacation, my boyfriend and I were stuck in the (packed) Ft. Lauderdale airport for seven hours. Yay free wireless and being nerdy enough to haul both of our laptops on vacation with us! We camped out on the floor near an outlet and *always* had people watching us questing/farming. No one else admitted to playing WoW, though we did have to explain the game to quite a few people.
Sarah Jun 27th 2007 8:42AM
I run into other players all the time. I travel extensively for my job and not all hotels they put me up in have reliable Wireless so I tend to head out to the local WiFi enabled coffee shops on days off. I've never seen it as a problem.
John Potter Jun 27th 2007 11:13AM
I really liked the 1st reply to that topic. "Please don't share your life with us."
While I have never played WoW out in public, I talk about it to my friends at the mall all the time and get looks of recognition.
native Jun 27th 2007 10:26AM
i don't play in public because there isn't really that option where i live. And also the need has never really arose.
But if I were required to travel for work or be away I'd have no problem playing in public.
Skrilla Jun 27th 2007 8:54AM
I used to go to Panera Bread at lunch and play WoW. Now I just hook up my BlackBerry to my laptop - just sold my MacBook and ordered a tricked out Dell XPS m1330, can't wait to play WoW at lunch on that thing xD
lunitic Jun 27th 2007 9:27AM
Got a Powerbook laptop with 3G mobile connection.
I use to logon to WOW on the subway to and from work.
Kills 45 min of dead time.
Dont do anything special just talking crap with guildes.
/Rambart EU Kul-Tiras
Erica Olson Jun 27th 2007 9:12AM
What's the difference if I log into and play WoW in public or the others playing their gameboy systems/psps/whatever and/or listening to their i-pods? As long as I keep the volume down and don't bother others why should they care.
Perhaps I'll get someone else interested in the game and put more money in Blizz's pockets.
folas Jun 27th 2007 9:15AM
I logged in at the Panera across the street from my office a couple of mornings for breakfast. At 6:30 am there was no one there, but I would not have felt awkward one way or another. If people didn't play WoW in their underwear maybe more would logon in public.
Deus Mortus Jun 27th 2007 9:20AM
I got UMTS here in holland, so I constantly log my laptop out to do some browsing email etc. and when I have time, I always log into WoW for a quick check of my auctions. I never really play it, because the connection isn't that extremely reliable and it feels to odd, but auctions and perhaps some crafting is always doable.
potatowedge Jun 27th 2007 9:30AM
I love the idea of logging onto WoW at the local coffee shop, and would do it frequently myself if I had a decent laptop.
A few years ago, while hanging out with some friends at our favorite coffee house, we encountered a woman playing Warcraft III over at the next table. It definetly struck up a good conversation, as most of us played it as well.
Of course, that was about the only night we weren't running our Dungeons and Dragons campaign there. Now that's something that will get you funny looks in public!
Pan Jun 27th 2007 9:31AM
I have played in a public Cafe near my work and in many airports around the world. Usually I am so involved in the game that I don't really notice if people glance at my screen as they go by. Tip: buy one of those international power converters before flying anywhere, or pick one up at the airport.
LuceroVan Jun 27th 2007 9:37AM
I'm a professor for the SUNY Universities in NY and I always get giddy when I have a few hours to kill in a lecture theater with stereo speakers and a 100ft projection screen. Lots of people stick their noses in when they hear the deafening murloc cry or my two-handed broadsword crushing the skulls of my enemies. Some ... colleagues ... scoff at my time-wasting while others inevitably engage in some sort of philosophical conversation about avatar creation, ethics online, or digital media and education development. Either way, loud speakers + 100ft screens = happy prof. (although I never give out my name/server to students).
Paw Jun 27th 2007 9:58AM
Though I have not played in public, I have gotten strange looks while talking about it with friends over lunch. Since I work in Washington DC, where too many people are uptight and pretentious, it is not unusual to get strange looks even from recent college grads when you are talking about something as "childish" as computer gaming.
I and my gaming friends are all over 30...some way over... On one occassion, a non-gaming, pretentious-type was in our group at lunch when several of us started talking about the Southshore/Tarren Mill mini-raids we were involved with the previous night. This was a "sports guy"...you know they type...the kind that eat live and breathe sports in the same manner we game. He let out an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes and asked when we were going to grow up. I asked if he had ever played...any game for that matter. Aside from Nintendo. He said "no", of course. "Then," I continued, "how can you have an opinion about the level of maturity need to engage in the hobby?" "Yeah," he retorted, "but that stuff is for kids. Kids play video games." My response was "Well, my kids play sports, ergo by your reasoning you also engage in adolescent activity by obsessing over sports." "But that's different." he replied. "No it isn't!" all the gamers replied in unison!
The point of that long winded story is that you will run into people who don't understand what you do, whatever it is you do, where ever you go. You shouldn't allow other people's perceptions to infringe upon your enjoyment.
howellgerald Jun 27th 2007 9:58AM
Let's see. I got set up and started at a local Cyber Cafe while looking for a place with an internet connection to MUD from. The owner and manager both play. Also, I have played from Starbucks and Panera Bread. I have no problem playing in public, it is nice when someone walk up to you and ask, "Is that WOW?? Dude I play too!!!"
Mad Cow Jun 27th 2007 10:13AM
I busted out my work laptop at a coffee shop once to check the AH ... worst mistake ... ever. I logged in, made sound was mute before launching, and as soon as my character loaded I was swarmed by 6 people, like they had WoWdar.
"What level are you?" "OMG he's 60" "Horde rules" "I have an undead priest" "What server?" "You in a guild?"
OMG WTF ... I said I was only checking AH and see if a friend was online. I had to leave 10 minutes later. 6 people turned into 20 and it just got uncomfortable. As I got to the door a woman was leaving too ... she says "WoW huh, next time sit in the corner where no one can see your screen noob."
Owned at 6am by a 40 year old wowan in a coffeshop >_
CVJ Jun 27th 2007 10:25AM
I was playing wow in a coffee shop once and I went to buy a coffee and the lady behind the counter asked me what server I was on, we chatted it up a bit, told the wife later and she got pissy but oh well.