Advertisement
I have standards for how I spend my time. There are so many good, fulfilling things you can do in this world, so many great games, movies, music, books, activities to do, it's rediculous.
WOW was created with one thing in mind: to keep you playing. Note, that "keeping you playing" and "being fun" are two different things. Fun is created by tension and an overall feeling of either moving towards an end point (Which wow has none) or gaining personal skill at something (the skills used for wow are just slightly above those used for Diablo II, basically it's mind numbing for the most part.). So, without these, the game isn't fun. The game is addicting. We're driven to play it becuase we want to get that next level, that next number. But that's not FUN, it's addiction. It's a weird neurosis that human beings have - you could call it greed - and Blizzard is exploiting this as much as they can. Bill Roper's now infamous Carrot and the Stick presentation about how basically we shouldn't penalize the player and instead constantly sprinkle them with very small bonuses illustrated Blizzard's mastery of the slot-machine tactic. WOW can be likened very closely to a slot machine, designed to keep you playing and create the illusion that you're doing something. But you're not doing anything, except wasting your time and money. I really think WOW is a terrible example of what videogames can be, and I'd say it's the closest to evil that any game has ever come. Games can teach us so much, they can cause us to exercise and expand our minds, but not WOW. That's why I hate it.
I'm glad to see there is a tribe for wow haters.
PS - I notice that there are many of you who hate wow simply because it took so many hours of your life away. While this is an entirely valid reason to be angry, I think it's also important to note that the nature of the game is what caused you to spend those hours and at the end feel empty. If you spent all those hours playing BASKETBALL or playing chess or I'd argue WarCraft III (an ENTIRELY different animal than World of Warcraft), you wouldn't feel empty, because you had gotten better at something.
Anyway thanks again for reading.
-Keith
-www.dinosaurlightning.com
-www.vgcb.net - my video game cover band
WOW was created with one thing in mind: to keep you playing. Note, that "keeping you playing" and "being fun" are two different things. Fun is created by tension and an overall feeling of either moving towards an end point (Which wow has none) or gaining personal skill at something (the skills used for wow are just slightly above those used for Diablo II, basically it's mind numbing for the most part.). So, without these, the game isn't fun. The game is addicting. We're driven to play it becuase we want to get that next level, that next number. But that's not FUN, it's addiction. It's a weird neurosis that human beings have - you could call it greed - and Blizzard is exploiting this as much as they can. Bill Roper's now infamous Carrot and the Stick presentation about how basically we shouldn't penalize the player and instead constantly sprinkle them with very small bonuses illustrated Blizzard's mastery of the slot-machine tactic. WOW can be likened very closely to a slot machine, designed to keep you playing and create the illusion that you're doing something. But you're not doing anything, except wasting your time and money. I really think WOW is a terrible example of what videogames can be, and I'd say it's the closest to evil that any game has ever come. Games can teach us so much, they can cause us to exercise and expand our minds, but not WOW. That's why I hate it.
I'm glad to see there is a tribe for wow haters.
PS - I notice that there are many of you who hate wow simply because it took so many hours of your life away. While this is an entirely valid reason to be angry, I think it's also important to note that the nature of the game is what caused you to spend those hours and at the end feel empty. If you spent all those hours playing BASKETBALL or playing chess or I'd argue WarCraft III (an ENTIRELY different animal than World of Warcraft), you wouldn't feel empty, because you had gotten better at something.
Anyway thanks again for reading.
-Keith
-www.dinosaurlightning.com
-www.vgcb.net - my video game cover band
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Re: Why I hate WOW
Fri, May 12, 2006 - 2:55 AMI think you have a valid point about how the game works. Wow is mainly about progression to 'be the best' and being the best in a non-existant world doesn't really say much about you as a person. So even if you got to be the best, you'd end up feeling empty because you haven't really gained anything at the end of the day (except a different string of 0's and 1's from when you started). As I kept asking someone, "What will you do after you get to level 60? What will you do after you get all your epic gear? What will you do after you get a high rank in every faction? So what? When did it all start becoming so important?" The game has also been made very mind numbing indeed where anyone could sit there and play provided they have the time and money. Some people may argue that Wow improves problem solving techniques and team work and reaction time and whatnot. But really, when you come away from your computer, are you really better off after sitting there for hours on end or would you have gotten a lot more out of a walk/spending time with your loved one?
I will however argue that people do play Wow for fun (ok, maybe only sometimes). The game is stimulating and for some people, this is 'fun'. It sort of reminds me of those rat experiments where they hook up the rats so that whenever they press the lever, they release dopamine into their brain and feel happy. For some people, Wow is somewhat like that. They play, they feel happy so they keep playing even though they are not doing anything except pressing a lever (or a keyboard/mouse/headset in this case). This mundane task does not bother them in the slightest and anyone telling them that they're wasting their time is considered beneath them (I hate that Wow superiority complex some people have). The sad thing with rats is that they eventually die of starvation while pressing a lever and not eating or sleeping. Let's hope that people are a little smarter.
I think Wow is a good game IF you have the insight to realize when you are focusing too much on it and IF you have the self-control to pull out before you hurt the people around you. You need to be able to treat Wow like what it is: a GAME. It may be fun, it may not be fun but at the end of the day, it should only be something that people play in their spare time, on a rainy night or something. The whole paying thing mis-guides people because it's tempting to think 'well, I'm paying for it, so I might as well play as much as possible.' It's a game guys, if you can't afford it, then don't play.
Otherwise, I'm all for reading a book, playing sports or being with friends. These things you DO get something out of, for YOU (and not a company). -
-
Re: Why I hate WOW
Fri, May 12, 2006 - 6:16 PMSee, I am an avid lover of "games" and I argue that wow is LESS than a game. A true game, a good game, is something that I think, whatever you put into it, you will get back out of it as well. Like if you play football in real life, or if you play Chess, or Golf, or great competitive games like WarCraft III. Wow isn't a game, it's less than a game. -
-
Re: Why I hate WOW
Sat, May 13, 2006 - 10:13 PMHmmm I've lost you now lol.
I think it depends on the player himself/herself to decide whether they're getting what they've put into it. Personally, if I played football, I'd think it'd be less than a game if that's how you define it. But plenty of other people will think that football is a great game. If you think wow is less than a game from that, I'd like to know, what did you put into it and what did you get out of it?
Btw, I'm not saying you can't hate wow (duh...), just... clarify why you think wow is less than a game? It's still a perfectly valid reason for hating it though.
I personally still think wow is a game. Game being defined as: an activity providing entertainment or amusement; a pastime. Wow does provide entertainment (and amusement depending on which server you're on). If you don't find wow entertaining or amusing, it doesn't mean that it doesn't provide those services. I'm just concerned about people who aren't really looking at the last part: pastime - an activity that occupies one's spare time ie not your life time.
Nothing wrong with loving games, as long as you still treat it like one.
-
-
-
Re: Why I hate WOW
Mon, May 15, 2006 - 8:52 PMIf the game had a specific end point, they wouldn't be able to continue to charge you $15/month. I hate paying a monthly fee for an online game. I've been playing both Guild Wars games for a while now, and think they're pretty good. Free is also good. Graphics are much better than WoW too. -
-
Re: Why I hate WOW
Tue, May 16, 2006 - 12:12 AMoh on a side note that actually looks quite good........ XD -
-
Re: Why I hate WOW
Thu, May 18, 2006 - 9:11 AMThe reason I don't consider it a game is - look at every other game thats ever been made (outside of other MMOs) - they all have either a specific goal and an end point (like a final fantasy, well, 1 - 10 at least), or they challenge your mind and therefore force you, the player, to become better, quicker, more creative, etc. WOW does neither of these things. Even bill roper likened WOW to the slot machine, where the only purpose of it is to create an illusion of doing something to KEEP YOU PLAYING. That's not a game, it's a trick. -
-
Re: Why I hate WOW
Mon, June 5, 2006 - 2:52 PMa MMO isn't like other games, its structured completely different, it doesn't need a end with rolling credits. Goals are set by gamers, and for you to say that WoW doesn’t challenge your mind and force you to become better, quicker and more creative shows your complete ignorance of the game, I recommend you check out PVP movies found on www.warcraftmovies.com and you will quickly realize that skill, creativity and quickness are the driving forces behind PVP combat.
And what’s more comical is that you bring up FF, a turn based RPG that doesn’t require ‘quick’ reflexes whatsoever because you take turns. -
-
Re: Why I hate WOW
Tue, June 6, 2006 - 9:23 AMPhilip you strike again?
Don't you realize that World of Warcraft takes 10% skill and 90% gear?
Don't you ever listen to Blizzard Entertainment?
Maybe you should check out articles of interviews of the Devs who work on the game before logging on for 10 hours each day like you do.
They have created the game more towards the Gear you have then Skills because they want EVERYONE to be able to play. Why? Because they want EVERYONES $15 a month.
So please philip don't EVER say World of Warcraft takes skill. It takes VERY little.
When you think of it anything you spend 10 hours a day on, you will obviously master over some time.
So do everyone a favor and never post on these forums again.. these forums are for help.. for people who have been crushed because there loved ones or nearest friends have been fucked over by an addiction. Not for doushe bags like you to come trolling. -
-
Re: Why I hate WOW
Wed, June 7, 2006 - 7:50 AM‘Jahstin’ first off I’ll ‘strike’ all I want, thanks.
Freedom of speech, isn’t it a b$#@ you don’t like it DON’T read it, but I’m ‘addicting’ aren’t I, that’s why you got a ‘addiction’ problem to begin with.
Second I don’t play WoW, not anymore, so don’t mistake me for some WoW fanatic.
Third, that would be 'douche' bag, learning to spell would do you better then starting a boxing match on a 'comphuter foram'
It's not ALL gear moron, ANY game takes skill to play, shows how inexperienced you really are, what did you do watch a world of warcraft video review on gamespot.com to get your 'wow knowledge?' or are you a PVE RP baby?
And yes I have read articles and interviews.
They want your $15 dollars because they are providing the player with a service, there is financial upkeep that goes into server maintenance, GMs need to get paid, updates, etc. <GASP> and Obviously Blizzard is making money, WELCOME TO BUSINESS.
Justin, you need to control your emotions a little better, control it like you do that frialator at MACHDOALNDS.
There’s always a flipside to every coin, WHO SAID you need to play to the point of addiction? Your problems go beyond WoW.
If it’s not WoW its alcohol or drugs or whatever else, for you it’s these forums apparently, these forums wont cure your problems. Idiot.
-
-
Re: Why I hate WOW
Wed, June 7, 2006 - 9:19 AMI agree with Philip.
My little brother plays WoW pvp, and I love to watch him, hes very good.
He is only allowed to play an hour a day but he spends all his time playing against others in battlegrounds and I can tell you Justin that WoW DOES take huge skill to be good at and that it's not all about your equipment, equipment helps sure but quick thinking and using the right abilities at the right time, positioning are critical, in fact some go 'naked' on purpose to challenge themselves further. -
-
Unsu...
Re: Why I hate WOW
Wed, June 7, 2006 - 11:25 AMAll I can say is WOW to this tribe and its posts!
Yeh, let’s knock how pathetic all those wow players are and how they have no lives. Lets show them all how to make a better use of time and live in the moment by taking the time to set up a tribe and write long posts on how lame people that waste their time on this game.
You guys are even lamer then wow players cause they might be wasting their time enjoying a fun online game, but you guys are not going to participate and have a bitch session and waste YOUR time writing about people who waste time.... interesting. You guys really must be no life to have the time to write about this kind of crap.
I’m on the wow players side, at least they are having fun with real time interaction.
Wow haters have a bugs up their ass, what’s the matter, your boy friend not paying enough attention to you princes?? Aww you cant afford to buy a computer that will run the game so you come on here and hate. You trying to make your self feel better by pointing at others wasting their time.
Yeh, real impressed by this bunch. Keep on writing, I can’t wait to play wow tonight with my friends (opposed to posting comments you hope a stranger reads)!
Go watch your TV, smoke your pot and jack off to your porn, thats much better use of time zombie! -
-
This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Why I hate WOW
Wed, April 18, 2007 - 6:57 PMhmm... 10 minutes MAX to make a post about something that really bugs you and that you want help about.
and.... 16 hours that your friend, or girlfriend, or anyone you want to spend time with, plays and ignores their life... (usually this much every day)
so thats about... 100 times less time spent on this forum every day.
oh and I played wow. WITH my friends, and I felt farther away from them during that than any other time. I would much rather have them all and be doing something fun, hell, maybe even something to enjoy REAL life.
-
-
-
-
Re: Why I hate WOW
Wed, June 7, 2006 - 1:08 PMJustin you're a tart.
U sound like an ex-employe of blizzard who was fired for being a dumb ass and lack of skills.
And now you come back to show ur stupidity again. You don't have a real arguement here, u should play the game and see if u
can actually PVP someone. U'll get your ass tossed not by gear but by skills and knowledge of using combos and game items.
You see, every well balanced game requires you to utilize what it offers, which requires thinking. This is true with every good and well balanced game and WOW is one of them. Ciao Tarty
-
-
Re: Why I hate WOW
Thu, March 1, 2007 - 2:30 AMI Pvpd a lot before the expansion. Got to rank 10. And I can tell you, from a years of solid experience, that it does require skill. Hand eye coordination is key. But, in Justin's defense, gear does play a huge part. I never raided, only had the pvp items, and can tell you that some players I just could not beat. No matter how skillful I was I couldn't beat someone who vastly outgeared me. Obviously luck plays a part too.
Now onto a different argument. Everyone says WoW is to blame, but surely people are addicted to other games too?
Before WoW came out I was playing WC3 and Medal of Honor. I played MoH tons. Although that was making use of my hand eye coordination. I was really good at it. Before that was Diablo 2. I played that a lot too. Any game can be addictive.
But when you start to play games so much that you neglect loved ones or skip work/school it is a problem.
-
Re: Why I hate WOW
Sat, July 14, 2007 - 7:49 AMGuys, seriously, WoW PvP takes skill? Are you serious? Gear is EVERYTHING in WoW PvP. Well, there may be, yeah, 10% skill, but really, we all know it's all based on gear. I had two twinks - a 39 shadow priest and a 29 hunter, in addition to my level 70 holy pally, and I KNOW gear is everything in PvP. You couldn't even enter level 19 WSG on our server without getting your ass handed to you on a plate, what with all these twinked out kids and theyir engineering goggle wearing rogues and hunters. And not only is it gear dependant, it's also class dependant. A mage at level 70 is going to PWN a level 70 holy pally with one counterspell and one to two big pyros, nothing the pally can do. So IMO, there is very, very little skill involved in WoW pvp, it's all gear and class dependant. And yes, raids do take some skill, but it's actually more getting the strategy right and practicing it rather than skill per se, is how I feel. And levelling, god, kill, rinse, repeat, up to 30,000,000+times or however many kills it takes to get to level 70. Seriously, there is NO skill in levelling, even if there may be a very small amount required for PvP. Have a think about a greened out holy priest being ambushed by an epiced out stealthed rogue and tell me how much skill you think it will take for the rogue to win that, and as far as I'm concerned, that's my case in point.
My feelings are that WoW is just one big grind fest from the get go - the PvP grinding was made not so bad by getting rid of the old honour system, which really was a big time grind, with rewards being so much based on how much time you pvp'd compared to everyone else. But damn, no way is WoW a game of skill - MOHAA requires 10 time the reflexes of WoW, and an old fashioned game like chess requires much more hours of study, practice and thought to become a master.
-
-
-
-
-
-
