Breakfast Topic: What keeps you playing?
by Chris Clow 
Nov 30th 2011 at 8:00AM
I've known people who played this game for many reasons. Some were in it just to kill time, some wanted to get the best gear, and many wanted to beat the game in the manner of their choice. Ultimately, for those of us who have stuck around for more than a content cycle, there's something that keeps us here rather than moving on to the next flavor of the month game.
The reason I play this game isn't really for the raiding or the prestige, and it sure isn't for the gear. In the end, I'm playing this game because I've got a good group of friends who play with me. There are about 22 of us, and while there are only 15 or so playing at any given time, it's made raiding a ton of fun and recruiting this expansion a breeze. When someone needs some time away from the game, another friend is coming back and looking to raid. While it took me about a year to cultivate all these friendships, it's paid off well in Cataclysm. I don't think I'd still be playing if it weren't for them. Thank you, guys and gals.
So what keeps you logging on? What drives you in this game?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Al Nov 30th 2011 8:05AM
My guild, and a handful of friends.
Much love to all the past and present Conspirators, apart from that one Rogue. He knows who he is.
minduim Nov 30th 2011 8:29AM
Same here. Playing together with my friends is what keeps me.
Bart Nov 30th 2011 8:08AM
RP and guildies, without either of those I would have jumped ship a long time ago.
Revnah Nov 30th 2011 8:12AM
It isn't one single thing, it's the multitude of options that keeps me going. I get fired up when I and 24 guildies set out to down a new raid boss. I get excited all over again when I start a new alt and level her through those precious first steps and quests, and ding every five minutes. I get a kick out of every new achievement banner showing up on my screen. It gives me a thrill when I acquire new crafting recipes and making good-quality items; another thrill when the items actually sell on the AH. I love putting on a new piece of gear and looking at my character from all angles to see how it suits her, and gaze lovingly at those pretty new stats that came with it.
And so on... :-)
Carp Nov 30th 2011 8:14AM
"My guild, and a handful of friends."
^ What that guy said. Otherwise, i would have moved on to something else by now.
razion Nov 30th 2011 8:20AM
For a lot of people, the answer is probably going to be the amount of time that they've invested into the game itself, their characters, or even their friends. For me, I find that even without any of those things I'd still be playing. So what keeps bringing me in every month?
Azeroth itself. The world--the universe, the story. The quests and the heroes, the villains. It's like reading a never-ending story, and to that I find no problem with continuing to read. I've tried to recruit some people to WoW before, but they didn't like the idea of a game they "couldn't really beat", however I find it perfect, because I love having a hobby I can continually work at endlessly. It gives me something to do. As a sort of tie-in to those, I like the little small references they make, and the humor that they manage to pump into the game. It's great to follow characters and a story you can enjoy, because otherwise it just wouldn't be fun, right? I know some people don't care for the art style of WoW--I've heard it called 'cartoony' more than I care to count, but that's what I love about it. I hope they never make WoW 'look too realistic' like other games try to. I like how Warcraft can do something different and thrive on it, and I will continue to wish them the best.
Gendou Nov 30th 2011 8:23AM
Well, after finding out that I can't use my Blood Elf Paladin's L60 PVP set for Blood Knight mogging, and can tell you that it's not transmogrification.
... as others have said, it's the people that keep me playing.
Aurendar Nov 30th 2011 8:31AM
Hmmm... All my friends have long left the game yet I'm still here. I don't raid anymore and rarely will you ever find me in a dungeon. I have yet to enter a cataclysm dungeon as a matter of fact.
I come back for one simple reason. I just love being in Azeroth. Period.
Hanging out in Stormwind or taking a trip out to some out of the way place like Netherstorm. I just love being in game. ;-)
MattKrotzer Nov 30th 2011 8:32AM
My raid team. If I didn't genuinely like most of them, I don't know if I'd have logged in some weeks, but having all the new 4.3 stuff will keep me logging in for quite a while.
Also, did I miss somewhere when they said that you couldn't transmogrify the appearance of Level 60 PVP gear? I was pretty bummed to find out that I can't sport that epic look!
Gendou Nov 30th 2011 8:53AM
They 'announced it' on the forums last night: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/3657275742?page=9#178 - basically, if you want to use the L60 PVP gear, you better be Legionnaire/Knight-Captain or better under the old system (ie: Feat of Strength).
MattKrotzer Nov 30th 2011 8:56AM
That's absolutely pants-on-head retarded.
llcjay2003 Nov 30th 2011 9:04AM
A little on topic, you also can't xmog Shadow's Edge. Which is odd since you could on the PTR.
Greyhame Nov 30th 2011 8:35AM
My guild. I know that if it wasn't for them I would not be playing the game right now. It's fun doing things in game with them. The game itself at the moment is not enough to keep me without them.
thegreatoak Nov 30th 2011 8:39AM
Lighting folks on fire.
Whenever I feel a bit tired, "Slaughter Your World" keeps me coming back for more.
Marcblack Nov 30th 2011 8:52AM
Addiction?
Eric J Nov 30th 2011 8:53AM
mostly the people. also the annual pass
llcjay2003 Nov 30th 2011 9:02AM
To be honest, nothing is keeping me playing right now, which is why I'm on a break. Not being able to raid was the main determinant due to my schedule. However, I look forward to getting back in for 4.3.
"Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in..."
Sansarya Nov 30th 2011 9:23AM
I like the different environments of WoW. In the morning you can be questing in a desert, in the afternoon in a snowy mountain area, in the evening in a dungeon that looks like a rain forest. I really appreciate the care that's put into every region of WoW. Even when my shaman isn't progressing at all, I can be farming mats for crafting or rep in so many different regions and I'm always discovering new things in those regions, so it keeps me coming back.
shomechely Nov 30th 2011 9:26AM
My friends keep me coming back for sure. The community in general is wonderful on our server.
What really keeps me coming back though is the diversity of the game and the world itself. I can lose myself in any one of a dozen alts and spend an afternoon in an entirely different world. Today I'm a paladin valiantly defending the world from all sorts of Light forsaken dangers. Tomorrow I'm a lonely hunter wandering the wilds of Kalimdor stalking prey. The game, for me, changes with every race and class combination available and that keeps it fresh.
Arrowsmith Nov 30th 2011 9:32AM
My best friend and I keep each other playing. The game's not as much fun for either of us if we're not together, and that goes for any MMO out there!