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DArtagnan
Guest
Just for Alrik and Jemy - I've started this thread.
It's a place to debate the genre itself, and especially how it may or may not affect people in an unhealthy way.
I'll start with a relatively simple statement:
MMOs are addictive by nature. Like anything else with such an effect, it will depend on the individual whether it's going to affect life negatively. Control being the key issue.
Like alcohol, an MMO can "take over" your life if you're not aware of the dangers - and you don't take the requisite steps to prevent it. But does that make alcohol universally bad? Personally, I don't think so.
As for what "good" an MMO is, that's very hard to say. It's a way to spend time - and though it does indeed tend to require a larger investment of time, it also tends to include a community or social aspect that might be more valuable than a singleplayer game.
Personally, I consider the genre something of a paradox. Why?
Because my "ideal" version of an MMO would represent a way to live my life - through playing - that's actually more appealing than real life overall. So, that would mean I'd either have to abandon real life to play - or I'd have to stop playing a game that was actually more appealing than my real life.
That's the paradox.
Obviously, this "ideal" version doesn't exist - and likely won't exist for many, many years. But I do see it as something that will eventually exist in the future. At least, I see it as very possible.
The question we need to answer - to prepare - is if virtual life can ever be as worthwhile as real life.
It's a place to debate the genre itself, and especially how it may or may not affect people in an unhealthy way.
I'll start with a relatively simple statement:
MMOs are addictive by nature. Like anything else with such an effect, it will depend on the individual whether it's going to affect life negatively. Control being the key issue.
Like alcohol, an MMO can "take over" your life if you're not aware of the dangers - and you don't take the requisite steps to prevent it. But does that make alcohol universally bad? Personally, I don't think so.
As for what "good" an MMO is, that's very hard to say. It's a way to spend time - and though it does indeed tend to require a larger investment of time, it also tends to include a community or social aspect that might be more valuable than a singleplayer game.
Personally, I consider the genre something of a paradox. Why?
Because my "ideal" version of an MMO would represent a way to live my life - through playing - that's actually more appealing than real life overall. So, that would mean I'd either have to abandon real life to play - or I'd have to stop playing a game that was actually more appealing than my real life.
That's the paradox.
Obviously, this "ideal" version doesn't exist - and likely won't exist for many, many years. But I do see it as something that will eventually exist in the future. At least, I see it as very possible.
The question we need to answer - to prepare - is if virtual life can ever be as worthwhile as real life.