Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you currently on hiatus from MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/the-daily-grind-are-you-currently-on-hiatus-from-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/the-daily-grind-are-you-currently-on-hiatus-from-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/the-daily-grind-are-you-currently-on-hiatus-from-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

National Lampoon's Vacation
Something fascinates me about many of the more vocal commenters on Massively. No matter what game is launching, re-launching, closing, expanding, or going free-to-play, someone usually has to make it known that he doesn't play MMOs at all anymore. The fact that he's still reading about MMOs on Massively is a compliment to us, but I'm always curious about what drove him away from actually playing.

So if you're a former MMO player and you still like to keep up with the news, let us know why. What drove you away? What makes you still read about it? Are you holding out for the next big MMO, or is it something more?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you currently on hiatus from MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutgame-discussiongamer-discussionhiatusmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopiniontdgthe-daily-grindFri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the fastest you've ever burned out on an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/the-daily-grind-whats-the-fastest-youve-ever-burned-out-on-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/the-daily-grind-whats-the-fastest-youve-ever-burned-out-on-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/the-daily-grind-whats-the-fastest-youve-ever-burned-out-on-an/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Jedi Council chambers
Well, I'm taking what is probably the first of many breaks from The Old Republic. I played heavily over the last week and I managed to get two classes to 20 (and do a good bit of warzone PvP and roleplaying).

While I love the class stories, the rest of the game is pretty bare-bones, and I'm returning to greener and more feature-rich pastures. I'm a notorious game-hopper, though, and this isn't so much an indictment of TOR as it is an inevitability. That said, I did tire of BioWare's Star Wars opus sooner than expected, and that leads into today's Daily Grind question. What's the fastest you've ever burned out on an MMO?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the fastest you've ever burned out on an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareburnoutea-biowareelectronic-artfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionmissing-featuresmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopinionsci-fistar-wars-the-old-republicswtortdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republicthemeparktorThu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: How to deal with burnout]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/25/the-perfect-ten-how-to-deal-with-burnout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/25/the-perfect-ten-how-to-deal-with-burnout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/25/the-perfect-ten-how-to-deal-with-burnout/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Perfect Ten and GI Joe
I remember the first time I got hit hard by the powerhouse slugger known as "burnout." It was during my second stint in World of Warcraft, oddly enough, which by then had extended to a year and a half of solid play. I was clocking in three to five hours of game time on a daily basis (this was my pre-children era, obviously) and enjoying the cruise up through The Burning Crusade's content.

Then one day, out of the blue, I realized I was sick of it. A cold trickle flowed down my spine as I couldn't conjure up any feelings of excitement, pleasure, or interest in this game. All of the accomplishments and achievements I had worked so hard to get became absolutely meaningless to me in the space of a couple minutes.

I logged out, canceled my account, and then fell into a several-day funk when I was thrashing about as I tried to figure out how to fill this now-gaping void in my free time. Slightly pathetic, yes, but no less real for it.

In retrospect, I see how I stacked the deck for such an enormous crash, and many years after it, I now have a much better handle on how to deal with burnout than I did back then. In today's Perfect Ten, I want to pass along my meager wisdom and experience about how to deal with this event... because it happens to most of us, sooner or later.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: How to deal with burnout

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: How to deal with burnout originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behaviorburnoutcrackedfeaturedgaming-behaviorlistperfect-10perfect-tenskinner-boxtbcthe-burning-crusadethe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 25 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Ten tips to avoid drama burnout, part one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/storyboard-ten-tips-to-avoid-drama-burnout-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/storyboard-ten-tips-to-avoid-drama-burnout-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/storyboard-ten-tips-to-avoid-drama-burnout-part-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Roleplaying doesn't create drama. Sure, we all hear stories about roleplaying drama, but it'd be more fair to say that MMOs create drama. There are epic arguments that erupt over who gets a piece of armor that will be obsolete in a few months, it's not really reserved to having players sitting around and talking. The difference, of course, is that the lower the stakes, the higher the drama and the more petty politics can get. It's the sort of thing where petty politics can get so bad people step away forever, because the fun of roleplaying is just not worth the irritation.

Needless to say, you don't want that. If you enjoy roleplaying, you want to keep it as unspoiled as possible for as long as possible. So for this week's column, I'm going to cover the first half of ten tips that I find help ensure that you don't wind up getting knee-deep in drama that ruins the roleplaying. It won't always prevent drama from occurring, but it can help make sure it's nothing more than a mild misunderstanding.

Continue reading Storyboard: Ten tips to avoid drama burnout, part one

MassivelyStoryboard: Ten tips to avoid drama burnout, part one originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceburnoutcolumnsdramadrama-burnoutfeaturedopinionroleplayingroleplaying-dramarpstoryboardFri, 29 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you need breaks from MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-need-breaks-from-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-need-breaks-from-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-need-breaks-from-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's safe to say that if you're a regular Massively reader, you're pretty fond of MMOs on a whole. It's all but a tautology, even. Unfortunately, whether you just run the occasional mission in Guild Wars or you're in the midst of a hostile corporate takeover in EVE Online, playing MMOs can start to take a toll on you. They're demanding of your time in a way that many other video games aren't, with the constantly evolving social framework really pushing players to log in on a regular basis.

Fortunately for gamers, there are usually a lot of alternatives beyond just endlessly killing the ubiquitous 10 rats. So do you need to take the occasional break from playing MMOs? Do you need to intersperse your playtime in World of Warcraft with regular single-player interludes? Or do you find that it's still just a game and you can log in or not as the mood strikes you with no real need for a specific break?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you need breaks from MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avoiding-burnoutbreaksburnoutculturegaming-breaksmmo-breaksopinionpausestdgthe-daily-grindTue, 31 May 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Fighting the flames of burnout]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-guild-counsel-fighting-the-flames-of-burnout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-guild-counsel-fighting-the-flames-of-burnout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-guild-counsel-fighting-the-flames-of-burnout/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Everyone, and I mean everyone, who plays MMOs will face burnout at one point or another. It doesn't matter what your playstyle is; it doesn't even matter whether you're in a guild or not. Raiders log in and find that they can't wait till the raid is called, even before it began. Soloers log in and ask themselves why they should bother doing that shard- or token-run for the billionth time. Tradeskillers log in and realize that their hatred of crafted stew has carried over to their real lives.

In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll take a closer look at burnout. While it is unavoidable, we'll examine ways to get through it, for you as well as your guild.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Fighting the flames of burnout

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Fighting the flames of burnout originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceburnoutfeaturedguild-adviceguild-counselguild-leaderguild-leadershipguild-managementguildsleadershipThu, 07 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do betas affect your enjoyment at launch?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/the-daily-grind-do-betas-affect-your-enjoyment-at-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/the-daily-grind-do-betas-affect-your-enjoyment-at-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/the-daily-grind-do-betas-affect-your-enjoyment-at-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

MMO betas get a lot of press these days, and whether you feel they've devolved into pre-release marketing campaigns or are serving their original testing purposes, one thing almost everyone can agree on is that open betas (and even some late-stage closed betas) offer a pretty accurate representation of the game you'll be playing at release.

This can lead to premature burnout (or at the very least, a bit of boredom once the game goes live), and this phenomenon is particularly noticeable if you play a lot of themepark games where there's a very definite character progression path and an optimum route from zone to zone.

Titles like RIFT can build a lot of positive buzz by inviting tire-kickers in to "test" early and often, but the strategy could conceivably backfire if folks feel they've played their fill prior to release. What about you Massively folk? Do you scale back your beta activities so as not to spoil a game's launch, or do you go all out and play a beta as you would a live game?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do betas affect your enjoyment at launch? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betasburnoutgame-discussiongamer-discussionlaunchmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopen-betapreview-betareleaseriftrift-planes-of-telarariftstdgtestingthe-daily-grindtriontrion-world-networktrion-worldsMon, 31 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Burnout: Report says Chinese gamers losing interest in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/burnout-report-says-chinese-gamers-losing-interest-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/burnout-report-says-chinese-gamers-losing-interest-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/burnout-report-says-chinese-gamers-losing-interest-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Is there a point at which oversaturation, cultural prominence and old habits collapse under their own weight? According to a recent survey by Chinese market analyst Niko Partners, trends are shifting away in China from hardcore MMO gaming to more casual fare like social networking games.

GamesIndustry.biz reports that self-defined "hardcore" gamers in one of the largest MMORPG markets in the world have grown tired of the thousands of carbon-copy MMOs out there and have rebelled against the monotony by taking their business elsewhere.

Niko Partners' Lisa Cosmas Hanson sees a pattern to this trend: "We believe that the Chinese market has taken up SNS (social networking site) gaming in earnest, and that the hardcore gamers have shifted their preferences to include these games alongside the casual gamers who naturally appreciate them. The hardcore gamers are growing weary of the monotony of themes in the Chinese MMORPGs, and they want to extend their social interactions to games that attract a more diverse user base."

By 2014, the analyst says that there will be 141 million online gamers in China, and the casual games market will grow from 23% to encompass 30% of all online revenues -- approximately $3 billion US.

MassivelyBurnout: Report says Chinese gamers losing interest in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutcasualcasual-gameschinachinesechinese-marketfacebookGamesindustry.bizhardcoreniko-partnersover-saturationsnssocial-networkingwhat-me-worryWed, 06 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the longest break you've ever taken from MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/12/the-daily-grind-whats-the-longest-break-youve-ever-taken-from/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/12/the-daily-grind-whats-the-longest-break-youve-ever-taken-from/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/12/the-daily-grind-whats-the-longest-break-youve-ever-taken-from/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Even the most die-hard among us need a break now and then from killing ten rats. I mean, those rats, they deserve it -- don't get me wrong. They killed our families, stole Christmas, tried to blot out the sun and sold us Amway. But heroic rat-slayers need vacations from MMOs, and sometimes we have to get away for a while to recharge our batteries and check out other entertainment pleasures out there.

So what's the longest break you've ever taken from playing MMOs? Was it because you burnt out, crashed hard, and vowed not to go back (at least, not for a very long time)? Were you forced to leave MMOs behind due to a vacation or tour of duty overseas? Did you find a single-player title that sucked you in for a marathon gaming session?

We'd love to hear about your breaks -- what took you away from MMOs, and what you learned while you were away. Did it refresh your perspective and attitude?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the longest break you've ever taken from MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amwaybreakburn-outburnoutgriswoldskill-ten-ratsmmo-breakopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSun, 12 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: An anniversary well-spent]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/behind-the-mask-an-anniversary-well-spent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/behind-the-mask-an-anniversary-well-spent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/behind-the-mask-an-anniversary-well-spent/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Over the last week, I've been spending a lot of time playing Champions Online's anniversary event. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it rekindled my enjoyment for the game. While I've been playing CO, here and there, I think like many players, I suffered from a little burnout.

The anniversary event itself wasn't really what cured my ills. The extra things involved in the event were just little fun add-ons to the game. The main tasks in the game were still there for me: run Serpent Lantern, run NemCon, maybe level an alt, mess around on PTS, and roleplay. Even the "big bang" Destroid attacks were only a decent diversion for a half hour or so.

What really got my excitement going was the increased socialization. A lot of people claimed "the zones are empty," but that couldn't be further from the truth. I logged out one night in Millenium City #7 and logged in the next afternoon to Millenium City #20, with most of the lower instances completely full. That's close to 2000 players in just MC alone. I participated in a lot of roleplaying and hung out with the CORP guys during their RP event. I added over 10 people to my friends list last week.

The main reason my burnout was cured? I gained an optimistic look at where the game is headed.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: An anniversary well-spent

MassivelyBehind the Mask: An anniversary well-spent originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryanniversary-eventbehind-the-maskburnoutchampions-onlinecoco-anniversarycostume-contestcrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosdestroideventeventsfeaturedpvppvp-tournamentqularr-suckrp-eventserpent-lanternThu, 09 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you get game wanderlust?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/the-daily-grind-do-you-get-game-wanderlust/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/the-daily-grind-do-you-get-game-wanderlust/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/the-daily-grind-do-you-get-game-wanderlust/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We gamers are a fickle bunch. Perhaps you're a veteran player of Guild Wars and have always loved the game, even when you knew the sequel was coming. But you saw the recent Ranger reveal, and when you logged in you were suddenly struck by an overwhelming urge to play Guild Wars 2 immediately, not this crappy old game that you hate and is terrible. It's not that you're actually dissatisfied with the game, but the promises of new shiny things have left you feeling an urge to pick up and go somewhere new.

The allure of something new and good can be a powerful intoxicant, and it can bring people into strange new locations. Do you find yourself wanting to head off into a new game despite there being nothing wrong with your current main game? Are you tempted to try out newer titles on a regular basis, even if you know you'll end up going back? Or do you convince yourself not to go anywhere when you'll just turn around in the end?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you get game wanderlust? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appealburnoutguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2newnew-thingsshinystupid-old-gamestdgthe-daily-grindwanderlustSun, 18 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Beta burnout, spoilers, and testing TOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/the-daily-grind-beta-burnout-spoilers-and-testing-tor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/the-daily-grind-beta-burnout-spoilers-and-testing-tor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/the-daily-grind-beta-burnout-spoilers-and-testing-tor/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The recent hubbub surrounding Star Wars: The Old Republic's closed beta invites got me to thinking. Perhaps I should reconsider my recent policy against signing up for the betas of games that I'm planning on playing long-term, not only to get a sneak peak at the most anticipated title in years (purely for journalistic purposes of course), but also to help test and make my voice heard while the game is still somewhat malleable.

Then, I recalled my experiences with betas ranging from Vanguard, to Mortal Online (alpha?), to The Matrix Online, all titles which at one point or another were at the top of my list of prospective "main" MMORPGs. In each case, the testing period soured me on the games before they even launched, and while each case was different, the ultimate outcome was the same: come release, I really had no desire to be there. That changed quickly with Vanguard, and I did ultimately end up playing the release client for quite a while, but as a result of the other burnouts, I've adopted a policy of signing up for betas of those titles that don't really interest me long-term.

What say you, Massively readers? Are you prolific beta-testers who lend a bug-hunting hand to every title that comes down the pipe? Or are you more like me, selective and prone to avoiding those games you know you actually want to play at release?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Beta burnout, spoilers, and testing TOR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testingbetasburnoutmortal-onlineopinionspoilersstar-wars-the-old-republicthe-daily-grindthe-matrix-onlinethe-old-republicVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesTue, 29 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you have fantasy burnout?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-fantasy-burnout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-fantasy-burnout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-fantasy-burnout/#commentsFiled under: ,

Okay, a lot of us rolled our eyes after a while at Global Agenda's ongoing No Elves campaign, but there was a ring of truth in it. Other genres are definitely out there -- post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, and so on -- but the fantasy genre is still the king of MMO Land. If you look strictly at overall numbers, particularly in the free-to-play category, fantasy is easily the most dominant category.

So does it get to be too much after a while? Do you need a break from wings, mages, and mythical creatures? There have always been alternatives lurking here and there, but with the growing popularity of alternatives such as Fallen Earth, Champions Online, and Star Trek Online it seems that maybe the industry is suffering from a bit of fantasy burnout of its own.

So what about you? Hit that handy little button there and let us know: are you more than ready for a change?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you have fantasy burnout? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutfantasyfantasy-burnoutno-elvesopinionthe-daily-grindFri, 30 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Burnout, revenge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/anti-aliased-burnout-revenge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/anti-aliased-burnout-revenge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/anti-aliased-burnout-revenge/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Oh those sparkle ponies. They were a fun diversion last week, and a pretty fun topic to write on. Kudos to Blizzard for making crazy amounts of cash last week -- you guys at the marketing department really knew your audience and how much they'd pay for a shiny mount. While I may disagree with the size of the price tag, I still admire how well that move worked out for them. I'm sure we'll be seeing more things like that for World of Warcraft in the future.

Anyway, let's move onwards to this week's topic: MMO burnout. Almost all of us experience it at least once with one of our favorite games, and some of us have experienced it more than once across a single game or many games. Right now, I'm really with you guys who are suffering from burnout. I've been looking for a good game to sink my teeth into, but I just can't seem to find "the one" right now.

So I'm off doing some other activities, trying to rekindle that spark of love for MMOs. This week I want to talk about some of the ways I've been combating burnout, much like Mr. Kyle Horner did before me, and hopefully you guys can chime in with some ways of your own!

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Burnout, revenge

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Burnout, revenge originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceanti-aliasedburnoutculturefeaturedgaminggroupingopiniontipstiredThu, 29 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stop playing your favorite game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/stop-playing-your-favorite-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/stop-playing-your-favorite-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/stop-playing-your-favorite-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Do we have everyone's attention? Great. Now do exactly that. Stop playing your favorite game. Not forever, just for now. Just let it rest and play something else for a while. That's the idea proposed by Bio Break in an entry about letting go. The idea, as it's put forth, is that the best way to fight burnout is to prevent it from happening in the first place. If you're really enjoying a game and are just a few days away from a major goal, why not put it down and savor that instead of pushing forward until the game has stopped being fun?

Of course, it's hard for us to behave that way -- if we're enjoying a game, our inclination is to keep playing until we aren't, at which point burnout kicks in and we start almost dreading logging in. But it's an interesting idea and a different approach to keeping ourselves engaged. It's a lot easier to go back to a game if you've just let it sit for a while and have had some time to think about it fondly without being reminded of its blemishes. Absence can indeed make the heart grow fonder, and perhaps you should let your favorite game be absent for just a little while. You'll still be almost at your next major checkpoint when you get back, after all.

MassivelyStop playing your favorite game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicbio-breakblogsbreakbreaksburnoutculturefighting-burnoutlogging-outopinionrestingstaying-interestedstoppingWed, 09 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOrigins: The devolution of a gamer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/mmorigins-the-devolution-of-a-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/mmorigins-the-devolution-of-a-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/mmorigins-the-devolution-of-a-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It all started with a sick kindergartener. Trapped inside our tiny apartment, watching my feverish son flop listlessly on the couch, I was determined to find something to distract him. "He loves those wiggly, fiery pet things people have in that new game with all the rats," I thought, pulling up my husband's brand new EverQuest account. "I'll start him whatever makes those, and that'll keep his mind off how rotten he feels." After a hurried phone consultation with my husband on classes and stats, we found ourselves flitting about in front of Felwithe, searching for a way to summon our pet. "What's with this shield and sword that keeps popping up?!" I cried in frustration. Frantic inquiries to any enchanter who seemed likely to know how to summon the orange thing that wiggled its tail as it slowed down finally yielded the truth: we'd created the wrong class entirely. One re-roll and seemingly hours of dead bats later, our magician summoned her first fire pet -- firing an interest in MMOs that would become a family passion.

My son went back to school the next day, leaving me at home with my work ... and that magician. Felwithe was annoyingly dark, and I kept getting lost every time I got beyond sight of the castle ("I've lost my body again; you think that bard friend of yours will be online tonight? Every green hill and tree looks the same, and Sense Heading does nothing to help ..."). Still, there was something persuasive about the experience. It wasn't long before my character had outleveled my husband's, I'd made friends with a band of intrepid trailblazers and joined what would become one of the server's top two raiding guilds.

Continue reading MMOrigins: The devolution of a gamer

MassivelyMMOrigins: The devolution of a gamer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Age-of-ConanAoCburnoutCity-of-HeroesDAoCDark-Age-of-CamelotEQEverQuestFallen-EarthfeaturedmmoriginsWorld-of-WarcraftWoWFri, 04 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some players feeling burnout in Darkfall already?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/some-players-feeling-burnout-in-darkfall-already/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/some-players-feeling-burnout-in-darkfall-already/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/some-players-feeling-burnout-in-darkfall-already/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Syncaine has another interesting Darkfall post up on his blog discussing why he thinks some players have started experiencing burnout so soon after release. He feels some of the issues are a result of how the game world has been playing out, while others are attributed to individual play style.

Game specific issues include large alliances that have been forming up in Agon and that some people feel they must keep up with the Joneses. Being in an über-alliance means that nearly (if not) all your neighbours are friendly and that you must travel far and wide to find any PvP. Perhaps due to exploitation methods in the past (e.g., being able to skill up on invincible mobs), some players feel they need to grind before they can be truly effective in the game.

Play style specific issues include trying to play a sandbox game with an "on rails" mentality and that some people simply can't handle the notion that for every triumphant gaming session, they will probably encounter an equally disastrous one. While some people think they crave a wide open, hardcore PvP experience, they refuse to accept that it may not actually be their style.

MassivelySome players feeling burnout in Darkfall already? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurineburnoutdarkfalldarkfall-onlinehardcoresandboxsyncaineWed, 15 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: Just when I thought I was out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/07/behind-the-curtain-just-when-i-thought-i-was-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/07/behind-the-curtain-just-when-i-thought-i-was-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/07/behind-the-curtain-just-when-i-thought-i-was-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

It's funny the things that can suck you right back in, just when you thought you were out.

I've been feeling pretty burned out with World of Warcraft over the last couple of weeks, and I wasn't enjoying the feeling at all. There was a brief interlude where the Argent Tournament piqued my curiosity, so I grabbed the PTR downloader to give that a try. That lasted all of about an hour, when I realised just how long it would take me to download the files. I'm not sure if I should blame BT for my frequently crappy connection speed, or Blizzard because they can't seem to create a decent downloader. It doesn't matter really, as I can QQ about both equally.

Then it hit me - burn out didn't need to be a bad thing. In a shocking turn of events, I decided to actually listen to our readers' advice, and spend some time with other MMO, and maybe try a change of pace.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Just when I thought I was out

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: Just when I thought I was out originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-curtainburnoutd6-generationentropiaentropia-universefeaturedlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropodcastsecond-lifestar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-rpgSat, 07 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW Lead Systems Designer tells people to play other games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/wow-lead-systems-designer-tells-people-to-play-other-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/wow-lead-systems-designer-tells-people-to-play-other-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/wow-lead-systems-designer-tells-people-to-play-other-games/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It must be nice to dominate the MMORPG market so thoroughly that you actually recommend your players try out other competitors to stave off burnout in your game. Ghostcrawler, Lead Systems Designer for World of Warcraft did just that. "If you're just burned out, it's also not the worst thing in the world to try out some other games -- the past couple of years has been great for them. Just check back in with WoW every now and then."

To give this quote some context, the suggestion was one of many directed at those players who simply devour WoW content faster than Blizzard can dish it out. Ghostcrawler's other suggestions include rolling an alt, crafting, completing a task list of achievements, or perhaps going back and finishing up all the quests you might have missed. It's a fairly obvious, yet shockingly honest statement to make given the current MMO landscape. It seems most people who leave WoW for other games inevitably return even though the game is over nearly five years old right now. This may not always be the case, but obviously Blizzard remains confident if they're willing to make a statement like that.

[Via: Player vs. Developer]

MassivelyWoW Lead Systems Designer tells people to play other games originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardburnoutcompetitionghostcrawlerworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 24 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: How do you handle burnout?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/22/eve-evolved-how-do-you-handle-burnout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/22/eve-evolved-how-do-you-handle-burnout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/22/eve-evolved-how-do-you-handle-burnout/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Burnout is something that affects all MMOs and most players experience it at one point or another. Your favourite game stops being as fun as it used to be and you don't feel like logging in. We all handle this in our own way. As a long-time MMO gamer, I've faced burnout many times in games ranging from EVE Online to Everquest 2 and World of Warcraft. I've quit the latter two games several times due to burnout but somehow even after playing EVE for five years (five years exactly on Tuesday 24th), it has never made me quit even when I've burned out. So how do you handle burnout and what makes EVE so special?

In this short article, I discuss burnout in MMOs and the different ways I've handled it over the years in EVE Online. Read on as I explain why EVE is the only MMO that has never made me quit.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: How do you handle burnout?

MassivelyEVE Evolved: How do you handle burnout? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictionburnoutccpccp-gameseveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedjoystiqfeaturesquitstressSun, 22 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: On burnout]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/behind-the-curtain-on-burnout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/behind-the-curtain-on-burnout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/behind-the-curtain-on-burnout/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

So, I'm afraid that I'm getting a little close to burnout.

Oh noes. zomg. qq. whine. complain. Etc, etc.

In the past, I have suffered from serious burnout which resulted in me leaving World of Warcraft for six months or so. I'm still not sure how they survived without me. We've all been there, where the rewards for logging on just one more time aren't enough anymore. I say that we've all been there, of course that may not be true; but you're a rare specimen indeed if you've managed to play MMOs for any significant length of time without burning out for at least a little while.

I guess burnout doesn't have to be a bad thing. I only just got a Wii. Don't laugh, I know I'm a little behind the curve on that one. Spending less time on MMOs means that I'd have more time free to play through Resident Evil 4 on the Wii, which makes sense, given that I've already gone through it on the Gamecube and PS2. I could also go back and pick up Resident Evil 0, and the remake of the original. And the Gamecube versions of 2 and 3. And Umbrella Chronicles. Wait, they released Code Veronica for the Gamecube as well, didn't they?

Okay. I admit that I need help.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: On burnout

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: On burnout originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>40kbehind-the-curtainburn-outburnoutworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 21 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: What keeps you going?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/24/behind-the-curtain-what-keeps-you-going/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/24/behind-the-curtain-what-keeps-you-going/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/24/behind-the-curtain-what-keeps-you-going/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This week, I have been mostly killing Baron Rivendare. I'm now sitting with 65 kills under my belt, with no Deathcharger to show for it. We are not amused, and are now convinced that Blizzard hates us. Precious. Sss.

I have the run down to a science now - dodge one pack of mobs, step aside from that pat, kill this group, spank the boss, rinse and repeat. Then repeat it again, and again, and again, and again, and again. I'm sure you get the idea.

I was talking with one of my colleagues at my 'real' job just the other day, when he asked me if I had anything planned for the evening. I started to plan my response in my head, trying to come up with an easy way to translate, in non-gamer terms, what I'd been doing with my time of late. I ended up going with, "Not much" because I just couldn't figure out how to explain it without taking half an hour.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: What keeps you going?

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: What keeps you going? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baron-rivendarebehind-the-curtainburnoutdeathchargerdeathchargers-reinsfeaturedgalaxiesstar-wars-galaxiesworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 24 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: Can Wrath keep us entertained?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/mmogology-can-wrath-keep-us-entertained/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/mmogology-can-wrath-keep-us-entertained/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/mmogology-can-wrath-keep-us-entertained/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


My World of Warcraft guild is fairly casual - so why do we already have level 80s? Pre-Wrath of the Lich King we farmed Karazhan. Gruul's Lair and Zul'Aman were regular runs, but we never tackled Black Temple or Sunwell as a guild. We leveled alts, crafted, PvP'd and told bad jokes in guild chat. Despite our relatively casual nature, five of our members hit 80 just two weeks after Wrath of the Lich King's release. There's already talk of running Naxxramas in the not too distant future (perhaps next Sunday A.D.).

I know that's not record speed, but holy crap! If my guild of casual players is quickly level capping, a good percentage of WoW players must also be nearing the end game. There were at least forty of them on my server late last night. It took Blizzard nearly two years to release Wrath and it seems like a lot of people are already prepping for end-game raids. How in the world will this expansion hold players' attentions past Christmas, much less until the next expansion? How long before we hear cries of, "There's nothing to do!"?

Continue reading MMOGology: Can Wrath keep us entertained?

MassivelyMMOGology: Can Wrath keep us entertained? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardburnoutexpansionexpansionsfeaturedjoystiqfeatureslongevityqualityworld-of-warcraftwrath-of-the-lich-kingMon, 08 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When is a grind not a grind?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/the-daily-grind-when-is-a-grind-not-a-grind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/the-daily-grind-when-is-a-grind-not-a-grind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/the-daily-grind-when-is-a-grind-not-a-grind/#commentsFiled under:

According to a history documentary this blogger remembers watching some time back, 'the daily grind' was originally a literal grind; the processing of cultivated grain to make flour for bread, which people would do on small stone wheels. In their thatch roof cottages. Before the Trogdor came in the niiiiight.

But in the context of MMOs, such as Scott Jennings' recent criticism of Warhammer Online for being grindy, what exactly makes a grind? It's easy to come up with a rough definition: doing the same thing over and over with little variation and modest but predictable reward, a bit like grinding little stone wheels to make enough flour for one family sized loaf.

However, given that pretty much everything you do in an MMO is a task carried out for some sort of reward or other, what stops it all from feeling like one big grind - variations in quest type, changes of scenery, or changes of mob type? What features work best - and worst - to break up the monotony? What makes the difference between feeling like you're playing and feeling like you're grinding?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: When is a grind not a grind? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boredomburnoutgrindingthe-daily-grindxpSat, 18 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[That's it, I'm quitting MMOs forever!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/thats-it-im-quitting-mmos-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/thats-it-im-quitting-mmos-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/thats-it-im-quitting-mmos-forever/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


MMO burnout is an interesting creature. Rarely do people who quit MMOs do it quietly; it's usually crowned by a forum or blog post addressing the fact that this person has now "found a life" and are going outside more. In the process of burning bridges, these posts usually make two distinctively recycled points: All MMO players are overweight, and they never leave the house.

Such is a recent post at MMOCrunch regarding a player who has quit MMOs forever. Burnout is certainly understandable, especially in today's oversaturated market, but it's the method of the quitting that's always interesting to us. What does this say about MMOs and their impact on us, as players? Do people quit scrapbooking by burning their fancy paper and glue-on letters?

Continue reading That's it, I'm quitting MMOs forever!

MassivelyThat's it, I'm quitting MMOs forever! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutmmo-burnoutmmocrunchquittingThu, 16 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Dealing with burnout]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/the-daily-grind-dealing-with-burnout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/the-daily-grind-dealing-with-burnout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/the-daily-grind-dealing-with-burnout/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We've talked about burnout before on Massively, even in a Daily Grind or two. But we're always interested in how you're doing in the quest for MMO enjoyment. So today's question is simple: how do you deal with burnout? If you've been playing these things for a while you probably have figured out a couple of good ways for keeping yourself invested in your game. What are your secrets?

This blogger tries to keep things varied; it's a lot easier to burn out if you're only doing one thing night after night. PvP, questing, crafting ... there are a cavalcade of activities in any given game that can keep things from getting too monotonous. How do you do it? How do you stop the burn?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Dealing with burnout originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutopiniontdgthe-daily-grindThu, 09 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Burnout: This MMOG isn't what it used to be]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/27/burnout-this-mmog-isn-t-what-it-used-to-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/27/burnout-this-mmog-isn-t-what-it-used-to-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/27/burnout-this-mmog-isn-t-what-it-used-to-be/#commentsFiled under: ,


The loading screen in your brain is stuck. What is this madness? Is it the same tireless errands disguised as quests, social ties torn asunder leaving your guild in disarray, maybe it's the same old rigmarole and you need a new routine in-game. You don't want to give up, you turn to leveling endless alts, doing unorthodox things in the game you'd never do before, even playing less to help stave off the ennui to help reclaim the magic isn't working. You're burned out. Maybe it's time for a break, probably not your first time around either if you've been playing any MMOG for years it's something many of us struggle with.

Over on Hardcore Casual, Syncaine addresses the topic and brings up some interesting points like when the MMOG genre was in its infancy players were a lot more tolerable to game debilitating bugs and hardcore server rulesets. It was an amazing time, most players describe an awestruck wondrous feeling of enjoyment with their first MMOG, but at the beginning of the graphical online genre it really was a revolution in gaming with a much different atmosphere. Today, MMOG players are less patient; newer MMOGs have spoiled the masses, and sometimes we really don't know what will make playing our dream MMOG an exhilarating experience even when thinking we do. Are you in a burnout now? If so, let us know how you are dealing with it.

MassivelyBurnout: This MMOG isn't what it used to be originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boredomburned-outburnouthardcore-casualmadnessopinionsyncaineFri, 27 Jun 2008 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Gaming Iconoclast: Fighting Ennui]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/the-gaming-iconoclast-fighting-ennui/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/the-gaming-iconoclast-fighting-ennui/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/the-gaming-iconoclast-fighting-ennui/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A subject for a great poet would be God's boredom after the seventh day of creation. -- Friedrich Neitzsche

The first person who considers TGI to be poetry is a perfidious and nefarious cad, who is not to be trusted, and any pretentious wanker to use the phrase "blank verse" when speaking of it will be met on the field of battle to enjoy a Norton Anthology upside the head. However, thinking TGI to be great is vigorously encouraged.

We're not here to be subtle, folks.

Continue reading The Gaming Iconoclast: Fighting Ennui

MassivelyThe Gaming Iconoclast: Fighting Ennui originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutculturefeaturedjoystiqfeaturesmoarthe-daily-grindthe-gaming-iconoclastWed, 04 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Why won't you just take a break?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/player-vs-everything-why-wont-you-just-take-a-break/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/player-vs-everything-why-wont-you-just-take-a-break/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/player-vs-everything-why-wont-you-just-take-a-break/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Everyone plays MMOGs at different speeds. Some people spend just a few hours a week playing, and some of us spend altogether far too much time on these games. I submit, for evidence, that 4-hour raids three nights per week is considered a "light raiding schedule" by most raiding standards. That's almost a part-time job, when you count the time you spend farming for mats and doing random other runs on top of that! Still, it doesn't matter how much time you actually spend playing -- anyone can get pretty wrapped up in their favorite game. Even a "casual" player can get to the point where they're just playing because it's what they do, instead of playing because they're having fun.

Whether you play for 5 hours each week or 50 hours each week, sometimes it's good to step back, take a breather, and get off the game for a while. Right? It seems so simple, so obvious. "Yes, of course it's good to take a break," you say, nodding along with me. "Just as soon as I get my Tier 9 Sword, Epic Firetruck, and Gleeful Gnome Pet, I'll do that. Though, I should really wait until my Tier 10 Sword and Mega-Epic Firetruck... and then help my guildies get theirs." Meanwhile, there's that nagging feeling in the back of your mind: Is this actually fun?

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Why won't you just take a break?

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: Why won't you just take a break? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 May 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictedaddictionburnoutfeaturedguildshealthjoystiqfeatureslifelifestyleplayer-vs-everythingpsychologysocialWed, 28 May 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: When will the players leave WoW?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/player-vs-everything-when-will-the-players-leave-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/player-vs-everything-when-will-the-players-leave-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/player-vs-everything-when-will-the-players-leave-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


I always think it's interesting when I hear developers talk about how World of Warcraft opened up the MMOG market for new entrants. We have all these new and exciting games coming out: Age of Conan, Warhammer Online, The Chronicles of Spellborn, and plenty more. However, the overwhelming response that I get from WoW players when I talk about these games is a blank stare and something along the lines of, "Okay, that sounds all right... but why would I ever want to leave WoW?" I think that developers tend to underestimate how attached people get to their MMOG of choice. There are now over 10 million World of Warcraft players. The question is, do they even want something different?

I've read a number of bloggers in the past few months and talked to a number of players who claim that they're only playing WoW right now because "it's the best thing out there." They're yearning for something else. Not something totally different, mind you, since they obviously have a blast in Azeroth. But something fresh enough to be new and exciting without bastardizing the game style they know and love. However, I've noticed something interesting. This breed of player tends to overwhelmingly be comprised of people for whom World of Warcraft was not their first MMOG. Otherwise, people just want WoW to put more content in and are willing to make do with what they have until then. I think there's an intriguing bit of psychology there that's worth examining.

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: When will the players leave WoW?

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: When will the players leave WoW? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentboredboredomburnoutcompetitiondikumudeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedfree-trialgame-developmentjoystiqfeaturesmmo-burnoutplayer-vs-everythingsoesony-online-entertai...vanguardworld-of-warcraftThu, 17 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When will you be done with WoW?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/25/the-daily-grind-when-will-you-be-done-with-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/25/the-daily-grind-when-will-you-be-done-with-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/25/the-daily-grind-when-will-you-be-done-with-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Who knows if/when World of Warcraft will ever end? While I'm by no means a power player, if WoW disappeared tomorrow, I'd be a little saddened by all the things I hadn't gotten to experience in it. At the same time, however, no matter how often I drop in, I eventually reach a burnout state before the month is up, and I cancel service until the next time I get the urge.

So, for me, it's just a general malaise that sets in that makes me quit WoW. For those of you who've quit, even briefly, what did it? And what would make you stop playing, forever?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: When will you be done with WoW? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutcancelmalaisequitquittingthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftMon, 25 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Building a better MMOusetrap: Burnout for the holidays]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/building-a-better-mmousetrap-burnout-for-the-holidays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/building-a-better-mmousetrap-burnout-for-the-holidays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/building-a-better-mmousetrap-burnout-for-the-holidays/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Burnout is a topic almost every MMO player is familiar with, you or a friend reach that point where the game has lost it's wonder, and you just can't be bothered to login anymore. Sometimes the feeling goes away and you get back on the horse and carry on, or it stays and you leave the game for good, perhaps for another game, or you just leave the whole genre behind.

It's a topic that has been discussed before by a number of different people, by players, developers and journalists alike, and there never really has been a concrete reason behind it. Some people burn out before end game, some after months and months of end game content, and others last years, just to finally snap. I know I'm not going to be breaking any ground discussing it again, but it's something I've been thinking about covering for a while, and lately the topic has been hitting close to home. Every year around this time, no matter what game I'm playing, you see more and more burn out, and people drift away from the game. Some chalk it up to the holidays (the period between Yanksgiving (or American Thanksgiving for our US audience), and Decemberween (Christmas)) as the contributing factor, as people spend more time with their families, and their wallets. Others say it's seasonal depression, and once the skies turn to slate and the snow begins to fly, people just don't want to be sitting in front of the computer anymore.

Personally, I think it's a mix of both, as well as the fact that this is the time of the year we look back and take into consideration everything we have done throughout the year. I've always noticed people look at their time in MMOs in three distinct ways at this time of year.

Continue reading Building a better MMOusetrap: Burnout for the holidays

MassivelyBuilding a better MMOusetrap: Burnout for the holidays originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutfeaturedholidashholidazejoystiqfeaturesWed, 19 Dec 2007 23:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: It's better to burnout than to fade away]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/the-daily-grind-its-better-to-burnout-than-to-fade-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/the-daily-grind-its-better-to-burnout-than-to-fade-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/the-daily-grind-its-better-to-burnout-than-to-fade-away/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One of the things that any MMO player who has been playing for a while can tell you about is burnout. You know, that point in time where you get to where you dread logging into your game of choice. It may be because you've never made it very far and you can't manage to solo content by yourself; it could be because you're not interested in listening to 24 other people bicker about what's going on with loot; it can be just as simple as not being excited or happy to be in that particular world anymore. Whatever the case may be, we've probably all felt it at one time or another.

In my case, I'm burned out on raiding. Of course, it seems to be most all there is to do once you hit endgame in World of Warcraft, so I find myself logging in less and less. Of course, for me, the nice part about this gig is that a whole bunch of other worlds then open up to me to check out, which I find I've been really enjoying. But for today's question, we'd like to ask what you do when you get to the point where logging in feels more like work and less like fun? Do you jump around from game to game, hoping something will take? Do you go outside (gasp) and spend some quality time under that bright fiery ball in the sky? Do you get more reading time in? Do you just keep going because others are depending on you until such a time as you absolutely can't stand it anymore? We're curious. How do you handle the burnout?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: It's better to burnout than to fade away originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutfrustrationthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftTue, 11 Dec 2007 08:09:00 EST