The Daily Grind: Dealing with burnout

I believe MMO's only rule is to be massively online and massively multiplayer.

So We can't be burnt out of mmos, we can be burnt out of WoW/Everquest type of games.

Alternative Characters. Alts are the best way to alleviate the monotonous grind feeling for me.

If I start feeling bored and playing alts doesn't help, then it's time to take a break. Whether it be 3 days or 3 months, taking a break from the game altogether is always healthy.

Alts. If that doesn't work, I take a break. I'm kind of bored with WoW right now, but I know I'll be back in the swing of things in a month. So I'm enjoying other hobbies in the meantime. I'll be all the more interested in WotLK from not forcing myself to play the game when I'm bored.

I found it really easy to get burnt out in WoW, because there's not that much to do beyond the PvE, weekly raids (which i hate), and Battlegrounds. Arena is such an unbalanced joke, I won't mention it.

At least in WAR, beyond alt's, there is a lot of other stuff to do, and a lot of variety in Scenario's and places to do RvR. Then there is filling out the Tome, which will take years to do.

I just use the simple old rule do not to play too much. What I do.
I do not rush the game.. enjoy the ride and not rush to the end. I find this help loads.

Also as Celestro posted .. alts can be good. The alts works great when you can play a different class and play it in a new zone (point to WAR).

Also .. say away from the PC:
- Always a have a good book around.
- I always seem to have a Netflix DvD to watch.
- And few fall shows wife and I like watch.

I like to read books and comics based on the MMOs I'm playing. Never fails, read a chapter in a Warhammer book or the newest WoW comic comes out and I'm at the computer playing.

I also refuse to make the game a job. The second I feel I have to log in is the second I loose interest.

Play a variety of games, and never rush through content. I hear too many players tell me how bored they are, as they rush.

Also, I pay no attention to all the coverage of beta's and sneak peaks. I wait until the game comes out, try it out a bit, and see what I think.

Also, I remember that they are just games. As much as we love them, they are just a hobby. Without some kind of activity that gets you out of your chair, or allows you to put your own spin on something (your own ideas, expresses your own creativity) then you will simply burn out every time.
These games are great, but inside them we are playing in someone else's playground. I have to be able to get out of someone else's world once in a while so I can go express my self. I play in bands, draw, and have friends. Anyone playing these games several hours a night will eventually burn out of life.

beau

I cured burnout by switching games. I played WoW for three years, doing pretty much everything there is to do. I burned out right before BC came out and again several months ago. WoW is about the grind. Whether you're grinding for gold, grinding for gear, or grinding for reputation, it's all the same. It's a mammoth time sink that isn't a lot of fun. The thing is, they've made it so you never want to stop playing because you'll be leaving all of your 'hard work' behind.

They're adding a few new twists in Wrath, but they're simply twists on the same old formula. No real change is in sight. Once you make it through the content, more grind.

I tried Conan for a bit and liked most of what I saw. Things were simply too broken for me to continue. Then I picked up Warhammer.

WAR is a constant orgy of things to do. Nothing really feels like a grind. If you get bored with one thing, there are three other fun things to do. All of it is pretty dynamic. Time will tell ifit stays that way. Right now, it's a lot of fun and a whole different experience from the WoW grind.

I watch Netflix's Watch Now (their movie streaming service) when I play WAR... Best combination I can think of... Just start walking around in scenarios, not paying attention while your watching the movie... and guess what... YOU STILL GET EXP! :D

lol... jk... but seriously, its a great combination to pay $15 a month for WAR and $10 a month for unlimited viewing of Netflix's online movies... fun as hell while your questing! =)

Do fun stuff.
Do stuff at your own pace.
Take a break when things are not fun anymore.
Don't let others tell you what's fun and what's not.
When a game isn't fun anymore, try something else.

Fun, that's my magic formula.

An active and busy "real life" will prevent burnout by preventing playing more than 4-6 hours per week!

What they said.

Change things up. Switch to alts, switch games. Play for fun - what you find fun - not what someone else thinks you should do. Take a break. Do real life stuff, not just computer-related things. And if all else fails, don't be afraid to leave and say goodbye.

You can always come back later if you feel like it. But you may have outgrown the system, or 'finished' the content, or ran out of friends, or done all you wanted, and that's okay. Plenty of other fishies in the ocean to play with.