Saying that, I don't really like the article.

But only because the game hurt my eyes.

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Fazum'Zen Fastfist enlisted the help of an infinite number of monkeys to write:
I quit 21 months ago.

But only because the game hurt my eyes.

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Ohhh, Show off quit. I got banned..

One used by people who don't know what they are talking about, or rather try to, but really don't.

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Addiction:
Compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance: a drug used in the treatment of heroin addiction.
An instance of this: a person with multiple chemical addictions.

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Last I checked, Everquest did not fit these criteria.

Yes, it may be psycologically "addicting", but there is no physical substance which keeps you from playing.
Whatsoever. Period.

Ciggarettes are addicting. Pennsylvania even started a great ad campaign against it, a free quitline, tons of billboards like: "I should quit for my kids" etc.

Everquest is not addicting. The social interaction, the feeling of accomplishment, yes, they are great (I played for a long time on social interaction alone). But don't try and pass Everquest off as something that should be regulated like a drug.

Edit: Saw his character info...this guy makes Maradon seem happy.

[ 01-08-2003: Message edited by: Azrael Heavenblade ]

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We were all impressed when Azrael Heavenblade wrote:
Some of the stuff this guy described are ridiculously exaggerated, like nerfs

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We know how rare those are

As for EQ, well, when you're on a roll as far as levelling is concerned, that's a positive feedback stimulus. You feel good about it, and you want that good feeling more often. If you're in a particularly boring situation, you're in a negative feedback situation, so you tend to get disgruntled. So stop playing to get your sense of humor back.

12.95 a month? I laugh. People act like for 13 bucks a month they should want to play the game 24/7. When I rent movies, it comes to around 13, 14 bucks, but I don't want to watch those movies 24/7 for a month.

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Just Nwist had this to say about (_|_):
We know how rare those are

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Not saying he exaggerated their frequency that much, but their effects, like totally downgrading a certain class/item/spell's effectiveness. And that this is what happens every time. That's what I was describing. Nerfs are frequently not needed, but they rarely if ever totally ruin an item/class/spell.

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Cetona had this to say about Knight Rider:
Having recently quit Being about to quit for the THIRD DAMN TIME, I can personally say I agree with everything in that article

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Why? Because if I find it boring, then I don't play. If it's frustrates me, I take some time off. Why the hell would you continue doing something that you're getting nothing from, and that is in fact taking away from you?

The article makes some good points. I will have to agree with that. But I disagree with the EQ Is Evil And Must Die attitude.

It's a worthwhile game to play, especially now with the advent of new things in PoP. But the person has to decide for him or herself what does and doesn't make for happiness, and plan their actions toward things like EQ accordingly.

I really enjoyed the social aspect of the game. But it really got to the point that that was not even enjoyable. You spend soooo much time on just getting to where you want to go, and waiting for the entire group to gel that you really have to take more than one day to do it. One day to prepare and get in place. Then the next day to actually do what ever it is your group set out to do in the first place.

And heaven forbid if someones real life interfered with game play. It really should not mean death to your entire party or the quest if you have to run your kid to the Dr for a broken arm.

Bah, I have a new addiction now. TSO. All the social you would care to have. And yet still personal goals and things to do. And if you have to leave in the middle of something? It does not take you even 15 min to pick up where you left off.

Just my opinion.

Honestly, now that i've gotten a piece of it i don't think i could give it up.

You know that civil war saying, "Days of tedium followed by moments of intense fear"? that's PoP.

the ONLY thing i have to complain about in EQ right now is that Warriors can't taunt worth shit. that's it.

there is simply so much content that if one part doesn't suit you, go somewhere else. right now i just can't get enough of EQ. not because of, "just one more level" but because it's just so much fun about 60% of the time.

there are only so many times i can beat Deus Ex/HL/Fallout 2 before it's not fun anymore despite how good the gameplay/story is.

i think this guy hasn't played EQ since right after the Velious release.

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Santa Gee had this to say about Captain Planet:
the ONLY thing i have to complain about in EQ right now is that Warriors can't taunt worth shit. that's it.

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Ain't that the truth?

[ 01-09-2003: Message edited by: Xyrra ]

but damn, when i'm Chaining DL's and Cheals until the chanter/shaman lands that slow having a Warrior tanking is suicide.

Hmm.
I like the game a lot, but I haven't had time to play since vacation. It's a fun past time, but you can't let it make it out to be more than what it really is.

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Savannah had this to say about Duck Tales:
He does sound bitter. Like, the maybe-he-was-kicked-out-of-his-guild-because-he-whined-so-much kinda bitter.

Hmm.
I like the game a lot, but I haven't had time to play since vacation. It's a fun past time, but you can't let it make it out to be more than what it really is.

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*is so confused! can you trust what Savannah says now that she's a deceiver!?*

grats on 65, Savannah

Another thing I tend to agree with him on though is Absor. Abashi used to answer many of our questions etc., but as he said Absor turned the forum into a press release area. That irritated me somewhat.

Overall, I think the article exaggerates somewhat, but some of the points it has are valid.

It's always a little bit more. EQ is just about getting one more thing to make you a bit stronger. Is the addiction caused by a weakness of character? Yes. Does EQ exploit it? Yes. And that is where it is addictive.

paragraphs argh

[ 01-09-2003: Message edited by: Lenny ]

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Santa Gee had this to say about Punky Brewster:
Warriors do fine pre-PoP when mobs aren't doing as much damage.

but damn, when i'm Chaining DL's and Cheals until the chanter/shaman lands that slow having a Warrior tanking is suicide.

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With the ease of garnering KEI nowadays, SKs and Pallies are usually snatched up before a warrior.

Usually.

If a group takes a warrior in PoN over me, I don't wanna be in that group anyway. Yeah, he can take an asston of damage from that treant/hobgoblin, but can he keep it off your shaman/chanter? Or your cleric?

Stuns4life.

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Santa Gee impressed everyone with:
unless they're hunting Gaurds. in which case you'd be about as useful as a wet tissue.

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People still hunt guards? Since when?

PoN and Innovation are my hangouts as of late.

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This insanity brought to you by Lenny:
It is addicting for many. It is a weakness of character, but it is not FULLY the addicttee's fault. If there is room for EQ to take over someone's life, it will. That's the big problem. It's aggresively stealing your time. And there is a ton of peer pressure. I mean, EQ is an incredibly social game. It's a completely different social realm in itself, on a massive scale. There are people who have a healthy committment but are able to balance EQ and real life socially and physically (From the newbies to the ub3rs), but those who don't have a large connection to real life are very susceptable to EQ.

The more the victim falls into EQ, the more he loses his link to real life, and the further he is entrenched into EQ. An there IS a point of no return. You can't be like Eventually, EQ becomes a part of his life. Why would someone who has grown accustomed to a place where he is wanted, liked, or at least understood and not mocked? Because, sadly, games and real life have had a tendency to clash, especially with the media.

The concept of leveling adds a second snare to EQ. Not only do you have a social aspect, but you have a reward aspect. It's work, essentially, and the paycheck is in plat. If you walk away, you're just wasting it all. Some people would hate to abandon that. They are also snared to the addiction of progresing further.

It's always a little bit more. EQ is just about getting one more thing to make you a bit stronger. Is the addiction caused by a weakness of character? Yes. Does EQ exploit it? Yes. And that is where it is addictive.

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That's the funniest thing I've read since Azizza said he's picky about women. There is nothing what so ever "addictive" about EverQuest. Any problem someone has with playing it too much/not being able to quit/whatever is completely their fault.

That = Hobby.

You generally don't enjoy an addiction.

Everquest can be an addiction for many people. They will play hours on end, constantly complaining. Not just about VI, but anything gameplay-wise that they depise. Of course, most the EQ-lovers are hesitant to admit, or will venomously deny it.

Face it, if you play more than 5 hours a day, you are "addicted". And no, you don't need to pull dictionary references out of your ass to prove addiction. Sitting in front of the computer, on one game for massive amount of time is an addiction. Why do you come back every day? Why don't you just stop playing? Right now. Have you more than 30 entire days of life /played or more? I know people with more than 200. Try telling them it's not an addiction. Or, maybe you're one of these lucky people...

Everquest can be nothing like an addiction for many people. They will play for the fun of the game, and know that in the end, it really is just a game. Quite enlightened, or just very casual. The world of Everquest extends no farther than the program which they run. They draw the line, and stick firmly behind it, only occasionally nudging it. The game is a hobby, no more. These people can make it to the end game, or anywhere they might please. Just slower than the rest.

P.S. I think Velious was the golden age of EQ. Every expansion since has brought the game down more.

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Black Mage had this to say about Pirotess:
P.S. I think Velious was the golden age of EQ. Every expansion since has brought the game down more.

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But Luclin brought you ME! That alone would make SoL a value at ten times the price, right?

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Zaile Ronso spewed forth this undeniable truth:
But Luclin brought you ME! That alone would make SoL a value at ten times the price, right?

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Black Mage attempted to be funny by writing:

Absolutely.

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Ha ha.

But seriously, both SoL and PoP brought things into the game that needed to be there from the very beginning.

SoL brought the Bazaar (a bit late, mind you), mass transit to far off parts of the game world via the Nexus teleports, and a nature-attuned class for the dark races (giving them access to SoW at last).

PoP brought a central location that has most of the basic stuff that everybody needs, and truely good transportation between the lower level zones. No longer is it a problem when you want to play your newbie Paladin of Marr along side your friend's newbie human Ranger.

These (and the Soulbinders) are things that should have been in the game from the very beginning. Let's hope that they keep that in mind for EQ2.

ANYTHING can be an addiction. I read constantly as a child. Still do. I guess you would call that an addiction. But why aren't people up in arms about something like *that* sucking up nearly all of my time?

EQ is no different. It's moderation that's key, and if you don't think you can moderate yourself, or you realize you can't DON'T PLAY IT.