Originally Posted by huwejones
Are you 'addicted' to MMORPG's?
I suppose I am a 'reformed' if not reforming MMORPG addict; I'm currently at University and don't have as long as I used to to play games of any type, let alone MMORPGs. That isn't to say I'd be addicted if time permitted, of course; I think I've successfully broken away now. I still play Guild Wars from time to time, but it's more in short bursts of an hour or so a day than the five our stretches I used to play. I definitely used to have a problem, so I hope my answers are of use.
Originally Posted by huwejones
Have you lost control of your own life as a result?
I played Evercrack for three years, my main character (of eight) having clocked up a playtime of around two months -- over 1300 hours. It's nothing in comparison to the times clocked up by so-called hardcore addicts, granted, but I personally felt that I'd lost control when it got to the point where I'd wake up at 6am just to get 30 minutes of playtime in before school, or would eat at the computer so I wouldn't have to leave my group.
Originally Posted by huwejones
Have you made unsuccessful attempts to control your game play and do you feel restless, moody or depressed when trying to do so?
Definitely, as far as the unsuccessful attempts are concerned. It did get to the point where I was finding it hard to fit things around it. If I'd been playing for a while and logged off to do some homework, chances are that I'd either rush my way through it in order to get back to the game or would just lose interest in it half way through and give up, promising to do it later. I wouldn't say I've ever felt restless, moody or depressed, though.
Originally Posted by huwejones
Does your game play affect relationships with loved ones, family and friends?
It used to. My friends used to joke that if I was playing an MMORPG then I'd go into a sort of trance and be completely oblivious to anything that was going on around me. Anybody that spoke to me might receive an answer a couple of minutes later, but only if I wasn't busy in the game.
Originally Posted by huwejones
Do you spend more time in a 'virtual' world than the 'real' world?
I don't think it ever got that bad, but then that might be because I'm a student; I had to leave the house every day in order to go to school and luckily was wise enough to set aside a certain number of hours at weekends to actually get on with some work. Had I had a lot more free time, perhaps unemployed or working a night-shift as many MMORPG players seem to be, then I could have seen them eating a lot more of my time.
Originally Posted by huwejones
Do the lines between the virtual and the real world become blurred and distorted?
No, and I've never been able to understand those who can't tell the difference. Unlike the addictive nature of the games, which can easily be attributed to their size and the number of things to do, I think you have to already be a maladjusted individual to believe the games are real; it's not something unique to MMORPGs and certainly not something caused by them.