I was an English major in college, naturally with an emphasis on Creative Writing, and throughout all of it there was one topic that I often would choose to write about and that just happened to be my addiction to gaming. Video games are something I've played since I can remember, but it wasn't until I started playing online games that I became truly addicted. In college I started a writing project, done in the form of a journal, talking about some of my experiences with gaming and how it had not only affected me, but affected others around me and this is something that I would like to share here.
August, 19. Wednesday.
5 p.m. Just woke up. Last day of freedom before summer break ends and classes start for the fall semester. Oh, joy. Not to mention the last day to actually catch up on my sleep and get back on a normal sleeping schedule. Have been struggling to do this for the past… well, two years. Mom declares that all those “damned video games” that I play contribute greatly to me not being on a “normal person’s sleep schedule.” I, however, disagree with her. Not to her face, of course.
6: 21p.m. Time for dinner and the predictable rant about how I need to make sure I’m prepared for school tomorrow. I feel like I’m twelve all over again. Time to get out the checklist… School books? Check. Backpack? Check. School books in backpack? Check. Enough money for lunch? Check. Yellow Pokemon Gameboy Color with fully charged batteries, Mortal Kombat, Donkey Kong Country, and Pokemon Gold video games? Check.
Over dinner Mom says my priorities aren’t in order. I really don’t know what caused her to think that. I mean, go to school, pay attention, take notes, and play Gameboy during the breaks… I’d have to be stupid to play during class. Doesn’t seem that hard to me. Had I not done so horribly freshman year, perhaps this would be different. I was 18 years old then and responsibility meant nothing to me. Now I’m 22 and work at Wal-Mart on the weekends. Punishment, perhaps. Seriously, Wal-Mart serves as excellent motivation to do well in school (like I want to stay in Wal-Mart the rest of my life… /shudder).
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8 p.m. Have decided a couple hours of video games couldn’t hurt. I will wrap things up by 10, maybe 10:30 and will get ready for bed. Game of choice: World of Warcraft. Have a lot to do tonight. Have been forming a guild and leveling my death knight (max level is 80… I am 77). Almost there. A few more levels, and then I can do heroics with friends.
12:37 a.m. Still up. Still playing video games. I’ve almost reached level 78, though. Once I do, I will log off.
1:12 a.m. Finally hit level 78. It’s about time. Now I just need to buy all of my new skills, sign off, and then check the official site for any recent updates on the game.
2:01 a.m. I knew it. Those bastards! I knew they were going to nerf Death Knights again. Now what am I going to do? I’m sure it won’t make that much of a difference, but I really am getting tired of them nerfing the wrong class. What about Paladins? They’re the over-powered class. Argh! Time to post a thread on the WoW boards rebutting this notion.
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3:57 a.m. Getting sleepy finally. Don’t think humans were meant to sleep such odd hours of the night, only staying up to argue a point over a video game. Venting frustration seems necessary, however. Especially if you’re a Death Knight…
4:32 a.m. Too tired to care anymore. Won’t play Death Knight again. Switching to Hello Kitty Online in morning.
