Who here plays WoW? If so what do you think? If not, are you one of those people that say it's dangerous and so on?

I don’t hate it? I’ve never played it, but I’ve wanted to play it!!!

I don’t think it’s dangerous, I think it’s badass.

Are we talking about weapons of warfare here? I do not play WoW actually. I don’t hate it however I feel like a lot of people play so much they neglect other aspects of their life, which is of course unhealthy no matter what you are doing. I use to play Eve online a lot and one day someone on here asked what you would do without the internet. And I realized I would do cool stuff like be in shape and have hobbies that girls are interested in hearing about. So I did just that. I think people hate WoW when something like this happens. Me: “Hey dude you wanna go get some drinks out at the bar with me and some of the other guys.” Him: “No man I am raiding tonight I need to get my tier 9 gear.” Me: “uh you know that night elf chick wont have sex with you” Him: ”(just zombie stares at computer screen clicking away ignoring me” Me: “alright have fun with guild circle jerk tonight.” The End

Two of my friends worship the game. They’re always talking about it and it sounds like they’re speaking a different language.

I do not play it because I know I would get addicted and never do any school work.
Back before the three of us knew about WoW, we played this crap game called Runescape, and we were addicted. After we quit that, they moved on to WoW and for some reason I never started.

It looks sick, but I can’t afford all the time I would spend on it.

I play. I used to raid. I was hardcore. I hit 80 in 3 days with my druid main (resto, Sanari of Khaz Modan). But now I’m getting ready to get engaged and the game is less interesting to me now. I log in every now and again to do a few quests on my alts – trying to get all 7 of them from 72 to 80 so that I can sell my accounts.

@squirbel That’s ironic, I also seem to have lost interest in stuff like this since I became engaged. Wonder if that’s a coincidence.

I play it a little. I got into it last summer with a few friends, two of whom now play a lot. I’d never call a video game dangerous, but I’ve seen firsthand that people can take it far too seriously. I’d play more but for all of those players who go overboard and make it a chore. Doesn’t help we got signed up on a PvP server.

I played for 3 years and was very addicted. Since I finally broke the habit (one year ago this month) I’ve tried not to look back. I went on vacation for about a month last X-mas and when I came back I noticed that good old “OMG I’VE GOTTA PLAY WOW!!!” feeling wasn’t there. After barely playing for 2 weeks I finally canceled my account. I loved the game when I played it but the late night raids, raid prep work, helping guildies, and daily grinding all got to be too much.

I’m much happier now without WoW and, when thinking back on the 3 years of things I missed, I wish I would’ve never found the game in the 1st place.

Never played WoW (just Warcraft III). Don’t hate it. Don’t think it’s dangerous except, perhaps, to those with personality predisposed to addiction. (And if not WoW, it’d be lottery tickets, or booze, or gambling, or something).

I got a bud who’s a guildmaster (I think that’s what it’s called – basically he bears some responsibility to ensure campaigns run smoothly, handle character disputes, whatever). He appears highly successful, motivated, and well-rounded in “outside” (non WoW) life.

So hey, if it works for ya, have fun!

Never played it, don’t know anyone who does.

Just don’t let this happen to you.

I actually just started playing in November because squirbel asked a question about who played and brought it to mind. I had a friend who used to obsess over it and it took me years to decide to try out the trial version. Now my buddy who lives 6 hours away is playing so we are able to hang out on a regular basis which is kind of cool.

Right now, I’m having a blast with it because it is something new to learn and it’s cold outside so my natural tendency to explore is being satisfied while wearing slippers. Definitely has the potential to suck away a lot of time, but then so does Fluther.

I guess I’m just coming out of my serious need to play the game because after a month and a half I am starting to spend more time doing something else.

That said, I’ve got a couple of quests to complete, so if you’ll excuse me…

@robmandu – lol, at least i get out of bed, so I’m doing better than that guy!

WoW sucks! FFXI 4 lyfe!

But seriously, how much you play is totally up to you.

@robmandu Ugh, those sheets are terrible.

I don’t play. I’ve played other MMORPGs including other fantasy-styled ones like Guild Wars and Warhammer Online. None of my immediate friends are serious WoW players, but I’ve met lots of other friends who play both casually and seriously.

One problem I have seen in a few of my WoW-playing friends is that they don’t seem to acknowledge the impact the game has on their life. For instance, a close friend was having problems at school (university, not high school or college), couldn’t get the assignments done in time, not coming to class. They were also a heavy WoW player, playing all night long. They could not seem to draw the link between staying up all night in raids, and not having time to do their homework, or being so tired as to not go to class.

The question here, is whether it’s the game causing the behaviour, or the behavior being supported by the game. I don’t believe that video games cause people to become anything, whether it’s a murderous person or a friend-avoiding slob. I believe it’s the person’s underlying behaviour/personality/attitude that cause them to latch onto a game, similar to how a person may become dependent on drugs.

Of course, I’m not saying that one can’t be a student and not play WoW successfully, and perhaps this person would have continued to be a bad student even after abandoning the game. Perhaps the person just didn’t want to be a student but was stuck there, and was using the game to cope with their internal conflict struggle. I do think that WoW is the worst MMORPG to get addicted to though, because the social aspects of the game dwarfs many other MMOs such as City of Heroes – it can be harder to stop playing a game when you don’t see it as playing a game, but as meeting up with your friends and hanging out.

I tried WoW by downloading the CD image and playing on a private server. I don’t play WoW because I have no interest in playing a game that becomes a commitment in life.

I’ve played WoW for a while. I loved it, but I never got addicted or anything like that. I was very able to play for an hour or so whenever I felt like it and then leave it at that.

I think it’s a really really great game. It’s very engaging and fun, and everyone I’ve played with online has been on the whole nice and helpful. I’ve played many MMORPGs, and while I think there are some other good ones out there, I really think WOW is the best.

Never played WoW. I tend to have an addictive nature and therefore try to stay away from games that I know will likely take over my life. Actually this is the reason I try and stay away from video games all together (nice picture robmandu, and that is the reason I don’t play video games). I don’t think the game in particular is dangerous, but I suppose it could be bad for the mental and physical health of those who play non-stop? That’s not a characteristic of the game directly though but I suppose an inherent characteristic of the person playing. Yeah pretty much what robmandu said, GA.

Fluther.com is a addictive as I let my internet experience get these days.

My friends all of a sudden started playing so they got me to play too. I bought the game and have played for a very short time. I am definitely not addicted, but it is pretty fun…

I just started playing a few weeks ago, and I’m semi-addicted. But then, I don’t have that much free time that I don’t spend sleeping, so it’s not a big deal. I play whenever I’m sitting around doing nothing, I play in between loads of laundry or cleaning… the worst that’s happened so far is I’m behind on the shows I record on my DVR :P

The same thing happened to me. All of a sudden, i couldn’t remember the last time i turned on the tv.

I played WoW for a year, stopped, picked it up again a year later, and after two months remembered why I quit; I was paying 15$ a month to be bored.

WoW isn’t a bad game, per se, but I’ve played other MMOs that I’ve enjoyed much more. City of Heroes/Villains is the big one that comes to mind. I’m also currently enjoying WAR, which is similar to WoW in many ways, but with a vastly improved PvP system and better fluff.

I totally waste my life on that game all the fucking time.
Cage, you play?

I’m on Velen. Anybody else on Velen?

Draka. I know I know. Don’t judge.

damn.

Skywall

That’s the thing I always appreciated about WoW – the fact that people who watch TV aren’t actively doing anything or using their brains. WoW is like brain-exercise for the passive person, compared to television.

imo, it’s one step up from television.

I’m assuming most of you have see South Park’s WoW episode then, right?

I believe at this point it’s become a requirement to watch it when you get the game. Kinda like the intro videos.

If anyone who plays WoW hasn’t seen that and lol4rled at it, I’d be shocked. They should just include it on DVD in the game box.

/signed

@asmonet yeah I play occasionally.
I used to be like addicted to video games actually, but I grew out of it. I taught myself not to be doing it constantly and staying up all night just to get to that next level.
After that I knew I would never HAVE to play a game again, just have big urges.
I can still do a all nighter on games though. GRID, Halo, WoW.

I don’t play it, don’t think it is dangerous, and don’t hate it or anything. I’ve played similar things, just not WoW. It’s so addictive, I’d rather not get sucked in.

@cage: You just got like a hundred times more awesome. :) I’m the same way, I went through a phase as a teenager and now I’m much better about just putting the controller down, or not even picking it up. It will still be there tomorrow and all. :P

I bought the game during release, bought the first expansion, and played through 2007. Since 2008 started, I haven’t touched the game because I can feel myself deteriorate while I play.

I play && love WOW<3