Life Lessons in Gaming

nith6579 — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:20:13 GMT

That was a very well done, as well as a well-thought read.

Makes me want to go level to 70 on my 67 now <_> As well as a new viewpoint on life events, as "corny," if you want to call it that, as it sounds.

Cheers Evertras

Yours, -Nith(ulous) of Staghelm

Life Lessons in Gaming

Kody — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:20:12 GMT

Definitely a good read. I agree with you on the lessons you can learn from playing games, too.

Life Lessons in Gaming

Jarlaxle — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:20:11 GMT

Hey, you are a good writer and I have a lot of respect for people that 'explore', find exploits and are great at researching.

...but its sad that in a game, work in equals work out. In the sense of time spent that is. Its a totally different thing when the game is more skill based, and you rather "train" your skills than spend time on it for the sake of work in equals work out. Namely, grinding in most todays level based MMOs

So as a future game designer, I hope you realize this. I also hope that you see that its the rewards that keep you 'working'. Those same rewards that are damaging to a game's balance

On the other hand, "Stop and Smell the Roses" I totally agree with. This way of thinking sets you apart from others, and makes you an ideal QA guy. You should be beta testing those new MMOs instead of grinding to level 70 in WoW :(

Check your Messages, btw.

Life Lessons in Gaming

Evertras — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:20:10 GMT

I think mindless grinding = reward is a very bad setup, certainly, and for parts of WoW it irritates me. I think the "work" in a game should absolutely be fun on its own. However, to some extent that can be up to the player. For example, I enjoyed most of my honor grind for gear by having fun in AV (I have 5 AV mounts in my bag now lawl). I suppose I should say "putting effort into something will get you rewarded". :)

And hey, sometimes you do just have to grind through something to get to the good stuff... like QA paperwork. ;)

As for beta testing... after I finish college my target is to work for Blizzard. Gotta set my sights high, eh?

And it says I have no messages. :(

Life Lessons in Gaming

Jarlaxle — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:20:09 GMT

Also, I forgot to mention that the "Stop and Smell the roses" part could be said for sex too - enjoy every moment of it and don't only do it for the sake of orgasm

"And hey, sometimes you do just have to grind through something to get to the good stuff... like QA paperwork. ;)"

Thats real life :P

You should have a message now

Life Lessons in Gaming

Evertras — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:20:08 GMT

Ah got it now. And yep, that's real life, just trying to draw the parallels. :D

Life Lessons in Gaming

ShinjaShinryuu — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:20:07 GMT

Very very nice written text.

I wanted to write a comment on your first post here on this blog already, but as I had to be registered to do so, I just skipped that. Wanted to do the same for the second and 3rd, but again the registration kept me from doing it. Well now finally, this post got me to register myself so that I can finally post comments.

I agree with most parts you are saying here, but considering what I myself have learned in the game is a little different. I learned to work together with people, I learned how to lead people on (5man instances, raids and later guild) without letting them feel controlled or without letting them think that I think that I know everything better than they do (which I don't). I learned not to loose my nerve at anything (wipes, stupid gaming, flamers) but to just stay calm and get along with them or leave it and try again (something every wow player should learn... hello at 5 man instances or random bg) I learned to know when I should take the advice of someone and when not, even when to say yes and still manage to do my own thing (something very useful in life, imho) (2nd post following)

Life Lessons in Gaming

ShinjaShinryuu — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:20:06 GMT

(sry for double post, I don't know at how many characters I'm limited here) I learned of course not only good things from here. I also saw a game break up friendships, something that should never, never happen. I saw ig friendships breakup because someone left the old guild for another one. I saw people who were liked suddenly being hated by everyone because they left the guild for one which had gotten further in pve, by the simple reason that it was considered as treason. I saw people leaving the guild where all there friends were in joining one they knew nobody really, just for getting better items. I saw myself being blamed by an ig friend for the simple decision of taking away the rank of "veteran" from here because she hadn't really played with that character for some time... giving us a pretty long period in which she stopped talking to me.

And yes, I believe you can find stuff like that a lot in life. Friendships breaking up, because one of them is suddenly hanging around with a group the others don't like, considering it as treason or whatever. Couples breaking up because he doesn't want to buy here the present she wants or she doesn't want to go to the club he's going to. Well, you get the picture.

These are life lessons of a specific sort. They are lessons in social relationships, in your fellow humans. Something which, as I believe should be mentioned in your post in some way, as it is, in my opinion, one of the most important parts which you can learn through MMORPGs.

I hope you keep up the good work evertras. Your mage-page is simply great, your blog has super-potential, your vids are very instructive while entertaining. I have seen you have been a little... reluctant on updates lately. I still hope you keep them coming!

Greetings from Japan from a guy actually coming from Luxembourg (does anyone know that country here) and being back home soon,

Shinja

PS: I'm sorry for my English mistakes... haven't written it in a long time and it is my 4th language...

Life Lessons in Gaming

Trojec — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:20:05 GMT

Great read, Evertras. I wish you the best of luck with college, WoW and life in general. You seem to have a good additude towards life and that's why people continually come back to you and see what's going down in a mage's life. I myself religiously check your webpage for updates. I'm addicted like the rest.

Till next time, Trojec of Rexxar

/duel

Life Lessons in Gaming

esdfer — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:20:04 GMT

Very good read Evertras. I find more and more good coming from reading what players have to say about playing WoW. Stuff like this is totally true.

Life Lessons in Gaming

Rogerpants — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:20:03 GMT

I could read you all night /wink

I recently dropped out of college after over 4 years in IT there (was due to graduate in about 9 more months), mainly because I was so stressed out from looking ahead and becoming overwhelmed with all the things I still needed to do... job fairs, applications, being turned down, getting my own place and a real job... growing up. I got too bogged down in the stress and started indulging in methods of escapism (oversleeping, drinking, gaming).

I don't really know where I was going with this but I wish you'd post more!