Hi I'm an undergraduate psychology student and I'm interested in conducting a study centred on some of the psychological ramifications playing mmorpgs such as everquest.
As an avid gamer myself, I have a particular interest in this topic. I understand some of the issues surrounding gaming. I have never engaged in any serious online gaming, my closest experience to that was trying the online version of Diablo 2 with my single player character. (An incoherent, jumbled affair where almost everyone wanted to kill me for some reason!) Most of my gaming tends to be single player games split pretty equally between consoles and pc gaming.
What I'm looking for firstly is help with understanding what actually goes on in mmorpgs. Then I want to try and differentiate between different styles of gamer.
I've heard of Everquest being called Evercrack by some which indicates that mmorpgs may have an addictive or harmful side to them.
How I want to do this is either correspondance through e-mail or interview through internet relay chat such as msn messenger or one of the free downloadable ones from the net.
Hopefully I will be able to use the internet relay chat interview method as this has never been tried before and may lead to further research of this type.
Anyone interested is requested to either respond to this message or e-mail me at deesmon@eircom.net
Cheers in advance for your help :)
Des O' Mahony
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Request for participants in a psychological study.Follow
hey Des there are some scary animals on this site and could warp you study, if skeeter volunteers run for the hills 
On a serious note Evercrack is more reference to the amount of hours you put into the game than a true adiction, It takes time to advance in our wonderful game and part time players get left behind. i play 20 hours per week and i get left behind lol.
i am a 29 year old Military man with a wife and child, but my 3 closest eq friends are:
a 13 year old girl who even at lvl 58 refuses to run from a fight even if she is about to die 'because it's not in charicter'
a 19 year old male student who started a guild because 'it sounded like fun'
and a 37 year old housewife who plays because ' it' more fun than housework'
none are in the same country as the others and that is why people keep playing, it is the people not the game. Or to put it another way in EQ everyone is equal and for alot of people who suffer predudice because of age , sex , race or disability that is a very very desireable concept.
On a serious note Evercrack is more reference to the amount of hours you put into the game than a true adiction, It takes time to advance in our wonderful game and part time players get left behind. i play 20 hours per week and i get left behind lol.
i am a 29 year old Military man with a wife and child, but my 3 closest eq friends are:
a 13 year old girl who even at lvl 58 refuses to run from a fight even if she is about to die 'because it's not in charicter'
a 19 year old male student who started a guild because 'it sounded like fun'
and a 37 year old housewife who plays because ' it' more fun than housework'
none are in the same country as the others and that is why people keep playing, it is the people not the game. Or to put it another way in EQ everyone is equal and for alot of people who suffer predudice because of age , sex , race or disability that is a very very desireable concept.
Based on my own personal experience, I'll have to disagree with tarv's definition of Evercrack. I played for about 1.5 years after release, quit for about 1.5 years, and picked the game back up about 6 months ago. During my first period of play, I played so much that it effected my relationship with my girlfriend, the amount of sleep I got, and subsequently how well I performed at work. I would think about EQ about 75% of the time I wasn't playing, and would have a definite sense of euphoria when I was able to log back in.
I quit due to ISP problems which resulted in my not being able to play. The above symptoms disappeared, but occasionally (once or twice a month, to quantify it roughly) I would have brief periods of daydreaming of being in Norrath and I would recall all the great times I had. I guess these were "cravings" although they would pass soon after.
I had no intention to return to the game, but when going through some old CD's one day I found my original game CD's and put them in. I fell right back into the same pattern of gameplay. There is no girlfriend this time (and thus no relationship to effect) but my sleep has suffered, my work has suffered, and I can't wait to get back home to boot up my machine and get into Norrath. I'm also taking the time to post this (and read an EQ website) when I should be working.
For me at least, this game is incredibly addictive, and that comes with harmful side effects. I'm not a big time game player, either. I've played the X-wing series of simulations, the Icewind Dale RPG's, Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds, and Battlefield 1942, and that is it. I've enjoyed them all, and probably spent more time than I should have playing each, but none of those game has even come close to effecting me the way EQ has in regards to the addictive qualities.
And yes, I fully realize that this is my fault, and not the game's fault. As silly as it may sound, the way my involvement with this game has effected my behavior has caused me to do some serious soul-searching. I may have to go cold turkey again and burn my CD's to keep myself out of Norrath.
Let me know if you want me to contact you via e-mail. I would be happy to answer a more formal survey if that would be helpful.
I quit due to ISP problems which resulted in my not being able to play. The above symptoms disappeared, but occasionally (once or twice a month, to quantify it roughly) I would have brief periods of daydreaming of being in Norrath and I would recall all the great times I had. I guess these were "cravings" although they would pass soon after.
I had no intention to return to the game, but when going through some old CD's one day I found my original game CD's and put them in. I fell right back into the same pattern of gameplay. There is no girlfriend this time (and thus no relationship to effect) but my sleep has suffered, my work has suffered, and I can't wait to get back home to boot up my machine and get into Norrath. I'm also taking the time to post this (and read an EQ website) when I should be working.
For me at least, this game is incredibly addictive, and that comes with harmful side effects. I'm not a big time game player, either. I've played the X-wing series of simulations, the Icewind Dale RPG's, Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds, and Battlefield 1942, and that is it. I've enjoyed them all, and probably spent more time than I should have playing each, but none of those game has even come close to effecting me the way EQ has in regards to the addictive qualities.
And yes, I fully realize that this is my fault, and not the game's fault. As silly as it may sound, the way my involvement with this game has effected my behavior has caused me to do some serious soul-searching. I may have to go cold turkey again and burn my CD's to keep myself out of Norrath.
Let me know if you want me to contact you via e-mail. I would be happy to answer a more formal survey if that would be helpful.
Sorry to hear the VW, i do know people who it effects like that. Was it the game or the people? i try to keep my addictions wide and varied that way i can't tell what i am addicted to.
In addition to EQ i spend my time with me wife and son , football , neopets, Magic TG , crappy Sci fi programmes like firefly and any books i can find time to read.
In addition to EQ i spend my time with me wife and son , football , neopets, Magic TG , crappy Sci fi programmes like firefly and any books i can find time to read.
#5Anonymous,
Posted: Jan 15 2004 at 9:36 AM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) VW This is your supervisor. Get back to work!
Sounds like you've already made up your mind and just want a few quotes from this board that you can take out of context to write a paper about.
We get together with other players and kill stuff.
My morning cup of coffee is actually more addicting than EQ.
Quote:
What I'm looking for firstly is help with understanding what actually goes on in mmorpgs.
We get together with other players and kill stuff.
Quote:
I've heard of Everquest being called Evercrack by some which indicates that mmorpgs may have an addictive or harmful side to them.
My morning cup of coffee is actually more addicting than EQ.
Hey "undergraduate psychology student " don't fall in to the trap of first reaching a conclusion, and then finding research that supports the conclusion you reached in the first place.
If you do that, then you are only doing an opinion paper not a research paper.
If you do that, then you are only doing an opinion paper not a research paper.
Uhm, edit? =P
Edited, Thu Jan 15 17:48:49 2004 by rixtar
Edited, Thu Jan 15 17:48:49 2004 by rixtar
I like ****.
Edited, Thu Jan 15 13:51:09 2004 by AegisfangBattlehammer
Edited, Thu Jan 15 13:51:09 2004 by AegisfangBattlehammer
13 posts
Quote:
Sounds like you've already made up your mind and just want a few quotes from this board that you can take out of context to write a paper about.
Whether this is true or not is pretty much irrelevant. Needless to say, this game has had media attention in the past, and thus will continue to get outside attention as long as there is something interesting to write about it. As such, if everyone who is capable of balancing their game time with their Real Life ignores this post instead of showing that they are 'normal' people, then only the people who are truly addicted (like VW) and are willing to admit it will respond. Thus, the only perspective that Des will have to write about will be the negative perspective.
I myself was not aware of all the past media hype about Everquest when I bought it and started playing at the beginning of last December (2003). I was simply looking for something that I could do to pass my time during the cold winter months in Canada. I picked EQ instead of the 100 other online games out there because I felt that since it was a MMORPG, there would be a more social aspect to the game than some type of first-person shooter online game.
I myself have an addictive personality. I am aware of this, but that doesn't stop me from drinking, gambling, smoking, or occassionally doing drugs. However, since I am aware of this, I can control it. I only do it in my 'spare' time and generally not to the extent where it could be considered harmful. Granted, this is because I have responsibilities now (children, career, etc). Prior to that, I took everything to extremes.
That being said, while I may surf EQ sites at work, it is only to relieve the boredom and tediousnous (sp?, real word??). I still do my job better than anyone else I work with. Furthermore, I don't even load up EQ until after my children are settled in for the night or if they are busy watching a movie. In the latter case, I simply play solo for an hour, then get off and deal with the kids. I will admit that I probably stay up too late playing, but I've been working and conquering it successfully :)
Anyhow, in my short time playing, I strongly feel that the 'addictiveness' of the game comes from the social aspects. When grouping with other people you chat, roleplay, and otherwise socially interact. I find the game to be significantly less appealing to me when I am soloing. So if you are the kind of person who isn't very sociable in real life (or housebound like myself - single parent with three children), then this type of socializing is excellent. Sure beats watching TV.
Coming back to the media attention, since I have started playing I have asked a few of my real life friends to get into it also. Their immediate reaction is consistent: "Everquest, I've heard of that. I'm not going near that because it is way too addictive." A shame really. It just takes some will power and enough intelligence to prioritize what is important in your life. I don't see a problem structuring your social events around the game, as long as you still do social events and the regular day-to-day stuff that is required of you.
Anyhow, that's my 2 pennies.
I'd be more than happy to participate in a survey.
Nunab.
sapper_76 at hotmail dot com
13 posts
Hey Anonymous, This is your Supervisor,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Your Fired!!!
Quote:
My morning cup of coffee is actually more addicting than EQ.
Decaf or regular?
Jophiel wrote:
I managed to be both retarded and entertaining.
Quote:
I like ****.
Goat ****......... scary
/em shudders.
Anonymous
OK, my two cents.
EQ is NOT addictive. I log on to play when I am bored. I also log on at night to meet my friends. I play with a group of 4, sometimes 5, people who I would otherwise never get to see. 3 line across the country from me, and another lives 2 states away.
Is this an addiction? I dont know. Is meeting your friends for lunch or a cup of coffee an addiction? How about playing a board game with them? Same thing, if you ask me. :)
EQ is NOT addictive. I log on to play when I am bored. I also log on at night to meet my friends. I play with a group of 4, sometimes 5, people who I would otherwise never get to see. 3 line across the country from me, and another lives 2 states away.
Is this an addiction? I dont know. Is meeting your friends for lunch or a cup of coffee an addiction? How about playing a board game with them? Same thing, if you ask me. :)
TwiztidSamurai wrote:
Quote:
My morning cup of coffee is actually more addicting than EQ.
Decaf or regular?
*ROFL* this one was SO good I just could have laughed my *** off *LOL*
/em tries to get some breath
I don't smoke
I don't drink
I watch TV about a meagre 7 hours per WEEK
I can do without sex for a period of time
BUT I play EQ from Friday evening to Sunday evening and have turned down invitations for that
Think I'm addicted....
...but then - I just play it for 7 week(ends) now - could settle down every time ;)
I don't drink
I watch TV about a meagre 7 hours per WEEK
I can do without sex for a period of time
BUT I play EQ from Friday evening to Sunday evening and have turned down invitations for that
Think I'm addicted....
...but then - I just play it for 7 week(ends) now - could settle down every time ;)
I could give it up any time - like right after this group folds, unless I'm close to dinging that is, and unless a guildie needs help. Mind you if the group holds together I might do another adventure, we really rockin'.
Denial? never heard of it!
Denial? never heard of it!
Wherever I go - there I am.
Denial is a river in Egypt.
Addiction is continued behavior in the face of negative consequences. No negative consequences? No addiction.
Post your hypothesis and research questions here you will get some responses. Maybe even ones you can use.
There has already been a fairly in depth study on eq done by someone else.
Addiction is continued behavior in the face of negative consequences. No negative consequences? No addiction.
Post your hypothesis and research questions here you will get some responses. Maybe even ones you can use.
There has already been a fairly in depth study on eq done by someone else.
Quote:
Denial is a river in Egypt.
ROFLMAO!! Good stuff, keep it coming -=)
Jophiel wrote:
I managed to be both retarded and entertaining.
I would defintely say there are some addictive elements in EQ...but I think more than anything else it's the personality of the player that decides whether the game itself becomes addicting.
I know I have lost sleep due to staying up late just to ding...or to finish an adventure...or to make enough plat to buy that upgrade...or to help a guildie...or because the guild wiped in the pick-up raid and the corpse run is taking forever...or even just shooting the breeze with some of the people I've met in game. But is that any worse than staying up late reading a book that you just can't put down...or watching the end of that 3 hour movie...or hanging out at a club with friends? Nah.
I do feel sometimes that I get a definite "high" from playing. I know that my character interacts with people in a much different way than I do in real life...she's much bolder and more flirtatious than I could ever be. I have made friendships, in and out of the game, that I never would have made without the game.
I know I have lost sleep due to staying up late just to ding...or to finish an adventure...or to make enough plat to buy that upgrade...or to help a guildie...or because the guild wiped in the pick-up raid and the corpse run is taking forever...or even just shooting the breeze with some of the people I've met in game. But is that any worse than staying up late reading a book that you just can't put down...or watching the end of that 3 hour movie...or hanging out at a club with friends? Nah.
I do feel sometimes that I get a definite "high" from playing. I know that my character interacts with people in a much different way than I do in real life...she's much bolder and more flirtatious than I could ever be. I have made friendships, in and out of the game, that I never would have made without the game.
All of these psychological studies that are posted here just scream of *********
Heaven forbid you should research something useful.
Everyone that's posted here, say every 6 months or so, seems to have the exact wording ver batim.
Heaven forbid you should research something useful.
Everyone that's posted here, say every 6 months or so, seems to have the exact wording ver batim.
I like a researcher who takes the time to find out how free registry works, so as to not post Annie Mously.
I think I zoned into the Plane of Knowledge, before I realized I left my mind back in.....
Of all the thing I lost, I miss my mind the most....
Addicted? I think to work maybe, cause I show up almost every day, EVEN when I don't feel like it, OR I have something better to do, and do all sorts of things, like stuffing round files, and being nice to idiots on the phone (usually). And I keeping coming back for more, day after day.....
I think I zoned into the Plane of Knowledge, before I realized I left my mind back in.....
Of all the thing I lost, I miss my mind the most....
Addicted? I think to work maybe, cause I show up almost every day, EVEN when I don't feel like it, OR I have something better to do, and do all sorts of things, like stuffing round files, and being nice to idiots on the phone (usually). And I keeping coming back for more, day after day.....
Well,for me EQ is more of a chat line with pretty pictures than anything else,i spend my EQ time talking to friends because i'm only 13 and i cant go visit them 50 mins away because i cant drive
2 posts
I played since beta and then quit for the last 2 years or so (played a little Shadowbane, took a little break) until about two weeks ago. I find it much less addictive now than I ever did before, and I think there are a lot of factors to this, such as server politics (I play PvP, this is a *big* factor), guild politics, friends playing the game, and purpose in playing the game.
I originally played to win. I then realized it wasn't possible, so I moved on to Shadowbane, helped take over a server (essentially winning the game), and then came back into a psuedo MMORPG retirement. Now that I no longer play competitively, and don't care how much higher any of my friends are from me, I play to kill time and I'm much better off as is.
Shoot me an email at cellist@cableone.net if you like.
I originally played to win. I then realized it wasn't possible, so I moved on to Shadowbane, helped take over a server (essentially winning the game), and then came back into a psuedo MMORPG retirement. Now that I no longer play competitively, and don't care how much higher any of my friends are from me, I play to kill time and I'm much better off as is.
Shoot me an email at cellist@cableone.net if you like.
A good many of us are only posting on this board when we are at work and cannot play.
I myself have given up everything to list a few:
Sleep, favorite TV shows, Movies, Sex, relationships, skiing, snow mobile, bike and motorcycle riding, backpacking, fishing, food, days of work, sick leave, vacation time, time with familyand friends, opportunity for advancement at work by using research and study time to play EQ, I have stopped working out at the heath club, and I think and dream of the game when I am away from it.
By the way, I am a part time player too, that work and sleep thing just ***** up my real plans you know.
Any questions?
I myself have given up everything to list a few:
Sleep, favorite TV shows, Movies, Sex, relationships, skiing, snow mobile, bike and motorcycle riding, backpacking, fishing, food, days of work, sick leave, vacation time, time with familyand friends, opportunity for advancement at work by using research and study time to play EQ, I have stopped working out at the heath club, and I think and dream of the game when I am away from it.
By the way, I am a part time player too, that work and sleep thing just ***** up my real plans you know.
Any questions?
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