Another Teen Has Another Collapse After Another WoW Binge
Listen. I played the f*ck out of Lich King this weekend. I got two more characters to Level 70 and my Death Knight to Level 60. I left Quantum of Solace halfway through because I wanted to play (and because Daniel Craig plays James Bond like a mean robot. A hot but mean robot). So in no conceivable way can it be said that I don't understand having a serious, serious romance with a just-released expansion to a psychotically well-loved game.
But I have to be honest, folks: I still went to the bathroom. I still ate. I even managed a little sleep, some cuddle time with the boyfriend, and a few phone calls from my parents. And despite still being incredibly excited about the new WoW expansion, I have no idea how anyone can do anything for 24 hours:
Swedish News service The Local reports that a 15-year-old gamer from western Sweden went into convulsions on Sunday after a 24-hour WoW binge.
Really? Really? Are we still doing this, people? Who's happy doing something for 24 hours? Hell, I've gone into "convulsions" just to get out of a 45 minute seminar; maybe this poor little Swedeling just wanted to stop playing? It does happen - but apparently the desire to return to actual life runs on a 24 hour cooldown timer.
Reminder: Eat. Sleep. Pee.
tiny dancer
Posted to Hot Stuff, MMOs, Video Games on 17 November 2008
· Comments (17)
Other stuff like this: binge gaming, collapse, lich king, swedish teen, warcraft, wow
Thank you! At least I'm not the only one that dislikes Craig as Bond. Though I don't agree with you on that he's hot. His faces looks like it'll melt off every time I see close ups of him.
Anyway, I'm playing plenty of WoLK too (even delayed playing Fable 2 for it), but I can't imagine investing that much time on it. I'd just fall asleep. In fact, I have fallen asleep playing WoW before. But even then it wasn't after having played for anywhere near 24 hours.
well, it's a good thing you bitches don't like daniel craig, because he's MINE, i tell you MINE! ALL MINE! HSSSSSSSSS!
; )
Do you think that they might implement a timer for how long you can stay online? or pop-up windows saying "hey don't you think you should take a break?" I mean, if more kids keel over.
Blizzard?
They worship the almighty dollar (and euro, but only after it's converted to dollar). I'm sure they could care less about the occasional casuality of war.
If anything it'll just provide publicity.
Some battles have to be taken in shifts because they are so long. This is a design feature that encourages obsessive gameplay. Jonathan Blow has done several talks about binge gameplay and after my initial reservations, I agree that WOW is the Cheese Burger and French Fries of the gaming world.
The hate of Quantum Of Solace, especially by Americans is expected, Craigs underseated underplaying of the character is something US cinema goers hate.
Especially when the character is dry witted and clever.
It's a very clever film, with a great story, fantastic script and exceptional camera work and production.
Makes me sad it's taken a panning, all great films do.
@Neo
It is absolutely untrue to say that all great films take a "panning." The New York Times described Beverly Hills Chihuahua as "a clever film, with a great story, fantastic script and exceptional camera work and production." Since we agree these are the qualities that make a film "great," I am aghast at your trying to pitch that no good movies get their proper dues. You are obviously an employee of MGM and I resent your coming out here posing as one of us.
@TheBizcuit
You'll find it doesn't. as I tend to read the NYT reviews quite regularly, when I decide to read reviews, mostly for the cast listings and details of the film as opposed to opinions, I need none but my own.
Odd also that the review on the NYT website is by, I'm a fan of his from RottenTomatoes, Nathan Lee, a man who gave the exceptional Transsiberian a thumbs up.
Yeah, the phrase double check facts before posting springs to mind, as I showed you up off hand.
OK, I will just add my 50 cents before I go to bed. I have to bc it just so happened I opened a BGM from Secret of Mana in Songbird which reminded me of my grinding days. There's that spot I think in Gold city where you can farm two Knights who cant reach you. I spent several hours leveling at that spot.
I have also played WoW. I played it obsessively - just because I wanted to (and it was an open beta ^^). I spent about 8 hours a day on that game, much to the chagrin of my mother who didn't believe me when I said it was just for fun. But spending 24 hours in there, grinding all the way? If gaming starts to feel like work, I should get paid, not Bilzebard.
Yes I will sometimes spend hours grinding my characters to a a higher level. No, I will never again play any game that consists of grinding. No wonder that Swedling (love you for that word, tiny) collapsed...
@Enrique: There is a way to limit playing time in the "Parental Controls" section on the official website. Alternatively, there is also a stopwatch available in-game, as well as stopwatch/timer add-ons that one could use.
@Neo
That was a joke. I absolutely don't think Beverly Hills Chihuahua is a "great" film (actually, I've never seen it, maybe it is), but I was trying to parody people who tell you what makes a movie "great," and I was trying to do so in a way that would make you laugh while demonstrating that anyone could make the same claims about any movie.
I'm not even sure what makes for "good writing" much less a "great movie."
I think the jury is still out at any rate...
How the heck would a young boy (15) die from doing anything for 24 hours? Seriously???? It's an excuse for a boy who probably had other medical problems and just happened to make it act up by playing too long with no sleep or food. Where were his parents...where were his friends???
Darn, you just happened to pick someone I'd heard of :(
Apologies.
I took exception to people calling Craig robotic when he's the opposite.
Still, the fact someone willingly chose Warhammercraft over Bond says all I need to read about validity.
Wow...this sounds like my boyfriend! Well, now my ex-boyfriend...
@ John
I don't think he died. Just went into convulsions.
And Neo, Daniel Craig just sucks. Get over it. :P
Don't worry, our species is still subject to evolutionary principles. If someone is inclined to obsess over something to the detriment of their own health nature has ways of weeding them out.
As the A.I. says; 'Huge Success'.
While I think this expansion makes previous WoW entries look like poo, and play like poo, I cannot see someone playing for 24 hours and NOT being an idiot.
This kid deserved the convulsions he got. His parents deserve all the scrutiny and blame in this situation. It isn't Blizzard's fault that this moron abused the game. And it is obvious, by just how rare this is, that it doesn't happen to most people playing this game and isn't that big of an issue.
It's like blaming the makers of fireworks for that guy who took thirty rockets, tied them to his waist, and lit them off hoping to launch to the roof of his parent's house. Or the nail-company for that kid who was nailing wooden two-by-fours together while sleep deprived and hammering one through his hand. It's simply not their fault that the user was an idiot and chose to use the product in an unhealthy or unwise way. They cannot control what you do with your purchase. This isn't a police-state (or shouldn't be).
Now, on the subject of QoS versus WoW? I find it extremely disturbing how Neo could make so many faux pas in his posts.
Neo:
Your opinion is that Craig is not wooden and is in fact a fantastic Bond, and that this movie is absolutely amazing. A cinematic gem. This is, of course Your Opinion(tm). And while there is certainly a lot of merit to it (I agree that Mr. Craig is not a wooden actor) it is not the only valid viewpoint on this film. Maybe Bond films aren't your thing. Maybe gritty, violent, depressing movies aren't really what you are looking for. Why should you be punished for your personal taste, or told it is not valid?
And to say something like "Still, the fact someone willingly chose Warhammercraft over Bond says all I need to read about validity." is to actually discount your validity as much as his. In fact moreso. World of Warcraft, while not a game with universal appeal, should not be seen as the lesser of two entertainment venues. It is an intelligent game, when the player wants it to be, with stunning art direction (especially in the new content) and an incredibly deep, rich world and story. A person who is a fan of Blizzard and the WoW universe is no less intelligent or valid than a person who is a major fan of the Bond Films. Both are part of the Pop Culture Elite, both have massive followings, both are equally worthy of praise. And both have merit. So if a person chose to cut off his viewing of QoS to play WoW because he simply did not get into the film- that is their choice. And it is a choice and opinion that is just as valid as yours, who would never do such a thing.
So please, keep your backwards insults to yourself there, and just leave it at "In my opinion . . ." which I didn't read once in your responses, but should have.
Also: lumping all Americans into the category of "cinematic trash-lovers" is about as productive as labeling all French people "America-hating snobby lady-boys". Not only is it not true- it's bound to piss off a lot of people.