Full Version: MMORPG's: Do you play them?
Yes it's a philosophical question.
massive multiplayer online role playing games? No, but they look pretty cool, the sort of gaming thing I could get sucked into, if my past experiences with nintendo and playstation are any guide. 
Yes, I believe 'sucked in' in is one of the best ways to describe the gaming experience. Some might find immersive to be a more palatable description.
What intrigues me the most perhaps is the fact that we play for the immersive qualities while knowing that such immersion is disruptive and psychologically unhealthy (according to a recent study). It may be difficult for a non-gamer to understand or even a casual gamer, but the experience is very much like a drug and we crave it. What is it about these games that draw us, that compels our devotion, that inspires fanatical obsession and that even destroys us.
I am interested to know if there is anyone on these forums that can relate to me or that can offer a theory about this fascinating subculture that is growing roots so profoundly deep that they cannot long be ignored.
I am on the brink of concluding that MMORPG's and virtual societies in general are to postmodernity what alcohol and opium were to modernity.
So......umm.....who can comment? ...
What intrigues me the most perhaps is the fact that we play for the immersive qualities while knowing that such immersion is disruptive and psychologically unhealthy (according to a recent study). It may be difficult for a non-gamer to understand or even a casual gamer, but the experience is very much like a drug and we crave it. What is it about these games that draw us, that compels our devotion, that inspires fanatical obsession and that even destroys us.
I am interested to know if there is anyone on these forums that can relate to me or that can offer a theory about this fascinating subculture that is growing roots so profoundly deep that they cannot long be ignored.
I am on the brink of concluding that MMORPG's and virtual societies in general are to postmodernity what alcohol and opium were to modernity.
So......umm.....who can comment? ...
Final Fantasy 11 is going to be a good one.
My view on this subject is simply that close to all Americans and, other nationallities as well, escape daily. With telivison, videogames, alcohol, sports ect. It seems that, however, videogames are much funner to me, and at least videogames is an art, I think, not all of them of corse. All of the final fantasy games are good examples of this, the way they get me emersed into the game is really cool. And as far as it being opium for the people, (that sounds kinda like karl marx, whos work I respect alot) I think that you could easily say alot of things are opium for the people, religion, polotics, TV or, anything that has to do with taking your mind off of the every day problems of life. But if you don't let those things cause you to forget and, ignore your problems, then I think you should be ok, depending on your problems, of corse. But then again you could say that all of these things are not constructive, and that you could easily be reading up on the "more important" things in life. But as for me, I like to get my share of videogames in there, maybe that is slowing my progression down, that's very possible. But I think as long as I keep reading books like, Tao Te Ching, Bagavad Gita, Dammapada and Hua Hu Ching, constantly reflecting on my life about what i've read, more that I do play videogames, then I should be ok. But MMORPG's could cause a problem in the future, but I also think that they can be fun as hell, and should be looked at as a piece or art. Just don't abuse the privelage, and don't obsess, unless you want to, of corse, but I wouldn't recommend it, because then, that is when it can be cousins with opium.
My view on this subject is simply that close to all Americans and, other nationallities as well, escape daily. With telivison, videogames, alcohol, sports ect. It seems that, however, videogames are much funner to me, and at least videogames is an art, I think, not all of them of corse. All of the final fantasy games are good examples of this, the way they get me emersed into the game is really cool. And as far as it being opium for the people, (that sounds kinda like karl marx, whos work I respect alot) I think that you could easily say alot of things are opium for the people, religion, polotics, TV or, anything that has to do with taking your mind off of the every day problems of life. But if you don't let those things cause you to forget and, ignore your problems, then I think you should be ok, depending on your problems, of corse. But then again you could say that all of these things are not constructive, and that you could easily be reading up on the "more important" things in life. But as for me, I like to get my share of videogames in there, maybe that is slowing my progression down, that's very possible. But I think as long as I keep reading books like, Tao Te Ching, Bagavad Gita, Dammapada and Hua Hu Ching, constantly reflecting on my life about what i've read, more that I do play videogames, then I should be ok. But MMORPG's could cause a problem in the future, but I also think that they can be fun as hell, and should be looked at as a piece or art. Just don't abuse the privelage, and don't obsess, unless you want to, of corse, but I wouldn't recommend it, because then, that is when it can be cousins with opium.
Escapism is such a pleasant disease.
/em Bezerks into a raging hamster and smashes an elf
/em Bezerks into a raging hamster and smashes an elf
Right on the button!
what are we escaping from, and what to?? i wanna be superman, but a computer game don't make me fly,, the real world sucks, you can't be who you wanna be because you have to be a productive member of this shit society, why do we waste our time.
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