Originally posted by mogi67
It's all the same old shit anymore, really. 

This. Same game in different wrappers.

Originally posted by Lienhart

I've clocked an absurdly high amount of hours into MMOs from WoW to Final Fantasy XI. After recently switching to a much more expensive hobby (supersport track days), I'm feeling the need to slap my face for wasting so much time on a hobby that amounts to having nothing to show for in the real world.

Anyone else ever feel the same way?

I'm sorry you feel that you have nothing to show for it. I've got several new circles of friends and a couple great jobs, including the kickass one I'm at now, to show for it.

I think you probably gained a lot more from it than you think, though. Think about the friends you've made, people you've met, events you've gone to over the years. Were those good experiences or bad? If good, then that's been a positive aspect of your life. It's something you've gained from. If they've all be bad, then stop playing, stop posting, and go find another hobby. The only thing more sad than realizing you've wasted years doing something is spending further time dwelling on it with that same crowd that you feel has contributed toward wasting your time.

I would say this is a thread questioning the benefits of mmo's.  I back this gaming habit whole heartedly.  Note what we were doing for fun before their invention.  We played chess and checkers and poker.  We gambled a lot.  No, I would say graphic cyber has been a wonderful invention for mankind.  

Originally posted by Zorgo

Originally posted by Lienhart

I've clocked an absurdly high amount of hours into MMOs from WoW to Final Fantasy XI. After recently switching to a much more expensive hobby (supersport track days), I'm feeling the need to slap my face for wasting so much time on a hobby that amounts to having nothing to show for in the real world.

Anyone else ever feel the same way?

Absolutely and proud of it.

I think everyone needs escape time. I roughly play mmo's in the same way that others watch TV. I go to work, I come home, walk the dog, do the dishes, light the fire. Sit at the comp, look up the news, then play some video games for 2 to 3 hours; where someone else, would turn on the boob tube. 

I wouldn't be surprised if mmo's were better for your brain too. Instead of passively reacting to a screen, you are actively involved in observation, analysis, decision and action. 

So in this sense, I don't think it is a waste of time at all. Like doing crosswords, keeping the mind actively engaged is important excercise as you get older.

But; that said. The way I played from 99 to 2004 was insanity. I would never return to the 12 hour raids, losing girlfriends and getting out of shape those years led to. That, was truly a waste. Sad that I remember the days fondly.

Part of the answer lies in what you pointed out too; other hobbies are 'expensive'. Golf, muscle cars, skiing, model planes, trains, etc.  MMO's have probably saved me a huge wad of cash, which I can instead invest in my family. And to me, that is having something to show for it in the real world.

My time was somewhere between 99-2005 as well actually. Gfs were lost and weight was gained as well. Recently I haven't felt the need to login after a long days of work. I end up working on my bike or just herp derping on investment research. I wonder if this is because MMOs are becoming carbon clones of one another or I've just grown out of it.

Originally posted by MightyChasm
All hobbies are waste of time then?  I think mmo's are time better spent than watching some brain rotting soap on TV.  And strangely it is normally those people that sit watching one soap after another, actively killing brain cells, who moan most about computer games being a waste of time.  

My other hobbies are fitness training, investing, and supersport racing. Only one of them is remotely close to a waste of time but seeing as how I use my motorcycle as a main form of transportation, the knowledge I've gained from low/high side repairs, modifications and proper turning techniques are used on a daily basis. So no, I'd say my other hobbies synergize very well with my life. The only one that I'm having a hard time justifying is gaming.

As a entertainment, MMOs are or aren't a waste of time like any other.

However, hardcore mmo players obviously will fuck far less chicks, become more weird, anti-social, ugly and unpopular. So, if you measure the "usefulness" of a activity based on the amount of contribution to achieve status (in real-life), money and chicks, you should agree with the OP.

Originally posted by Lienhart

Anyone else feel that MMOs are a HUGE waste of time?

Pretty sure escapism was the whole point.

Playing a new MMORPG is like joining a church.

Only thing different is with a church is you stay with the church (possibly your whole life time)

Imagine joining a church (or for some of you a cult) and leaving it to join a new one every 3-6 months. 

Thats why mmorpgs are a PARTIAL  waste of time...yeah u have fun for the amount of time you are there...but for most we not looking for the temporary fun. more of a longtime commitment and a social community.

Originally posted by Lienhart

I've clocked an absurdly high amount of hours into MMOs from WoW to Final Fantasy XI. After recently switching to a much more expensive hobby (supersport track days), I'm feeling the need to slap my face for wasting so much time on a hobby that amounts to having nothing to show for in the real world.

Anyone else ever feel the same way?

I doubt you'll see fame and lasting glory in your new hobby. Whether you're spending your time gaming or...whatever it is you're doing now, you'd have no more to show for one or the other. The difference is you're now having more fun with one hobby than the other, and so you think the time you spent in the past was a waste. If you weren't having fun, it was a waste. If you were, then it served it's purpose, just like your current hobby is doing for you now.

Interests change.

Same thing for me, all I could think about for the past 4 years (I'm 30) was my motorcycle. I still retained my interest in games, I follow them, even play as often as I can - which isn't nearly as much as in the good old days.

Originally posted by maccarthur2004

As a entertainment, MMOs are or aren't a waste of time like any other.

However, hardcore mmo players obviously will fuck far less chicks, become more weird, anti-social, ugly and unpopular. So, if you measure the "usefulness" of a activity based on the amount of contribution to achieve status (in real-life), money and chicks, you should agree with the OP.

 

 

....I like this, I think this hits it spot on.

Originally posted by Lienhart

I've clocked an absurdly high amount of hours into MMOs from WoW to Final Fantasy XI. After recently switching to a much more expensive hobby (supersport track days), I'm feeling the need to slap my face for wasting so much time on a hobby that amounts to having nothing to show for in the real world.

Anyone else ever feel the same way?

yeah, i played tennis all my life and now i slap myself because i never became millionaire in real life like Pete Sampras.

Dude, hobbies are for your enjoyment. Waste time on mmos and still have fun? i wouldnt call it a waste of time. You got what the game was supossed to give you..... Fun. And i doubt you didnt have fun because you said you played for a long time. Nobody plays ridiculous amounts of hours in a game that they dont enjoy.

cheers

Originally posted by Lienhart

Originally posted by vindir
I suppose the same slap in the face coudl be applied for anyone who spends countless hours of  T.V, movies, facebook, etc. At least with gaming (or mmo's in this case) I can gain problem sovling, learn and apply basic monetary lessons, hand-to-eye coordination, develop social skills, time managment, team work skills and probebly some other somewhat (if not useful) cerebral skills that can be applied to real world scenarios.

No....just no.....

Get out a little bit more and you'll understand what I mean. You have some valid points but to throw Facebook, development of social skills, time management and team work skills into there...just hell no (and I'd argue against hte monetary lessons but I can see how that would work).

For every comment like this, it seems there are proponents for video games in education, though.

http://www.gamespot.com/features/minecraft-in-education-how-video-games-are-teaching-kids-6400549/

In a classroom environment, video games can help to develop all of the things vindir mentioned, just like any tool.  Maybe you should expand your mind a bit.

Originally posted by Lienhart

I've clocked an absurdly high amount of hours into MMOs from WoW to Final Fantasy XI. After recently switching to a much more expensive hobby (supersport track days), I'm feeling the need to slap my face for wasting so much time on a hobby that amounts to having nothing to show for in the real world.

Anyone else ever feel the same way?

recently my girl told me about his english classmate hwo some gamming companys give him stuff just for playing ans testing games, hes 16 and can not recieve legally a mensuality or some monetary retribution...and told me he is a crack with games... so the point is, may be is a waste of time, but like everything, is matter of how good or famous you become in what you do, personally i enjoy gamming and i never going to quit, but also i work  (part time) ,im studing another thing i love, music... AND ,also practicing kenjutsu and iaijutsu( sensei musashi samurai style) and i dont care if thats a waste of time or not,im just doing what i like to do, in my case gamming is like a way to distraction when im stressed... my gf too LOL, but if your ONLY hobby is playing games its hardly recomended another passtime activity,

good luck finding the way my friend

Originally posted by Eir_S

Originally posted by Lienhart

Originally posted by vindir
I suppose the same slap in the face coudl be applied for anyone who spends countless hours of  T.V, movies, facebook, etc. At least with gaming (or mmo's in this case) I can gain problem sovling, learn and apply basic monetary lessons, hand-to-eye coordination, develop social skills, time managment, team work skills and probebly some other somewhat (if not useful) cerebral skills that can be applied to real world scenarios.

No....just no.....

Get out a little bit more and you'll understand what I mean. You have some valid points but to throw Facebook, development of social skills, time management and team work skills into there...just hell no (and I'd argue against hte monetary lessons but I can see how that would work).

For every comment like this, it seems there are proponents for video games in education, though.

http://www.gamespot.com/features/minecraft-in-education-how-video-games-are-teaching-kids-6400549/

In a classroom environment, video games can help to develop all of the things vindir mentioned, just like any tool.  Maybe you should expand your mind a bit.

You're using gamespot as a credible source? Dude -_-

Anything I do and enjoy is never considered a waste fo time.

As far as "showing something for my efforts"; I do things where there are tangible benefits but that is one part of my life.

Watching a movie, reading a book, listening to music, these are past times that have nothing to show for them other than the enjoyment of partaking in that particular activity.

Games are the same.

I also don't believe in beating myself up over things I've done or not done. Life is just one big experience and we are all marching toward the same fate.

You might as well enjoy yourself in a manner that you see fit while you are marching there.