Like many people, I have a huge list of things that I want to do “if I had time.” Writing more here, exercising, going out more, things like that. But I don’t, because I am in the grip of a vicious mistress. It is the scourge known as MMORPG addiction.
As far as addictions go, I am aware that I am getting off quite lightly. There are a vast number of addictions that are much worse. This one doesn’t put me in danger, and my house is only at risk if a cosmetic sale happens on Mogstation. I am lucky that my only other vice is gambling, and I steer well clear of that.
Final Fantasy XIV is the biggest source of my MMORPG Addiction
To the matter at hand, the main culprit of this time theft has been Final Fantasy XIV for the longest time. While it is the pinnacle, I have certainly been around the block. World of Warcraft, Runes of Magic, RuneScape, Tera, I have tried them all and more. Special mention to Rappelz, I love that one, best pet system ever. I just can’t seem to get enough of them.
More recently, I have been in the loving grip of Star Wars: The Old Republic. I am a geek, so legally I must love Star Wars, and I do really enjoy the game, despite its flaws. This started in December with the Double XP event. I thought, “Great, I can level 6 characters to Level 66 so they can craft gear for my Jedi Knight and Sith Warrior”.
And I did just that, for about a month. Every spare minute I got, I was doing the same thing on different characters; it was so monotonous. But I did not get bored. It felt like I was achieving something, and that is one of the things about MMORPGs that gets me. They are huge, so you always have something to be working towards.
There is always a different way to spend your time
In Final Fantasy XIV, you can collect Triple Triad cards, or you can say, “I will prog this super hard boss”, or “I will play the storyohmygod Dawntrail is awful, why?” Then, when you reach the goal, you think, “Excellent, what’s next?” And there is always something that can be next.
Part of the reason behind my chronic game hopping is that I like to 100% things, but that gets very repetitive. Like any Ubisoft game and its collectibles, I lose interest after a while because when you complete it, you go back to the same gameplay you were already doing. With an MMORPG, you can do that task, then do something completely different in the same game.
The story never has to end
Another reason I prefer MMOs is a lot simpler; I don’t like when the story ends. You spend hours with these characters, and in this world, you conquer challenges, go on a huge adventure, and beat the big bad. Then it is just over. I have spent nearly 15 years with the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, and I much prefer that.
There is something to be said for completing a game, I will admit. When I finished Persona 4 Golden, I felt so hollow, but in that good way. That feeling of loss because you experienced something incredible. It is a majestic feeling, but I just prefer the story to keep going.
A great way to meet people if you are socially anxious
Finally, the thing MMOs have over all other genres is the social aspect. I get social anxiety, and crowds and people are terrifying. I wouldn’t know where to begin meeting people in person, and nor would I really want to. In an MMO, though, you team up with strangers, strive towards a common goal, and have a few laughs.
I have a small handful of very close friends, and one of them, whom I speak to daily, I met on Final Fantasy XIV. I wouldn’t have met them any other way, and I am incredibly thankful I did. Nor would I have bonded with most of the others as much without this general hobby. I wouldn’t be paid to write about games, and I wouldn’t have been invited to two TennoCons, some of the highlights of my life. Gaming is a fantastic thing for so many reasons.
For all the good, I do see the bad
Obviously, I do see the downsides. You always get those pangs of “I am just wasting my time, I could be being productive.” Even though there is nothing wrong with unwinding, you need to from time to time. But when you are doing it all day, every day, then there might be a problem. I do have that problem.
Even writing this, as much as I do generally love writing, I have an undeniable urge to open up Star Wars: The Old Republic. I have lost so many hours of sleep to MMOs, I have not eaten cause I keep thinking, “After this boss, after this task”. It is unhealthy to a degree. And something I really need to work on. The first step is admitting the problem, so they say.
