hi! i'm not sure whether to post this in off-topic or in general, so i'll just post it in general.

I'm doing a school project on the sort of alternate persona that people are able to express by playing video games. I would like to see if any people out there with a lot of WOW experience (or if there are any extra-famous people from the community) who would be willing to take 5-10 minutes out of their time to answer 6 questions for a brief interview about what sort of effect video games has had on his/her life.

Just post or pm me, and no trolls please, i'm actually doing this for a school project

just to clarify the specifics of the project due to people wanting to know:


1. Why do you play (video game name)? Do you use it sometimes as an escape from reality?

2. Do you feel like you have more freedom to do what you want inside the game or inside real life? Why?

3. Do you have more confidence in your abilities do things in game or in life?

4. Do you feel that by playing (video game name), it has increased your overall happiness in real life?

5. What would it take to make you stop playing (video game name)?

6. How much time have you spent on this game(estimate or exact)?

Thanks!

1. it's something fun to do, whereas work and dealing with people are not fun.

2. ofc, more freedom in game.

3. tough question, ofc i do many things well in real life, but some things in game come much more naturally to me than things in life.

4. As with getting away from work, and other people, the game hasn't made ME happier, it's just been a distraction from some of the bad things in life.

5. death, either of me, or the game. i'll play until servers are shut down, or i am dead.

6. i'm too afraid to type /played on all my characters and add it up.

Thanks for the reply! If you know any others who would be willing to post it would be greatly appreciated!

1. I always use it as an escape from reality. I cant deal with my own life.

2. More freedom in game for me, because in real life i dont have the right social-web to make nice money or do whatever i want. In game everything is possible.

3. Its same, i think.. I mean, i dont think i'm pro in game aswell. But yes, maybe i think i can do more in game than the real life!

4. Without the game my real life at moment would be empty and i'm sure i would be dead yet by suicide or forced to make my life (what is just blocked and cant handle it.. i feel)

5. If some wonder comes and i'll have the power to fixate my real life, then i'll do that. But i wont stop it i think, just play less.

6. Well, i have 18 chars (8 at max lvl) .. im too lazy to add it all up, but im sure, its more than 120 days, gross, total time




Sorry for my english it isnt perfect.

This post was edited by Senee on May 18 2012 08:46am

1. Why do you play (video game name)? Do you use it sometimes as an escape from reality?
I mostly play World of Warcraft (or better to say played) as fun and relaxing, though I have been raiding at high progress for a quite a while. And - yeah - I really have to admit I sometimes used it as an escape out of reality. At least the most times when I had sick trouble. 'Twas a good distraction without a doubt.

2. Do you feel like you have more freedom to do what you want inside the game or inside real life? Why?
To be honest - I did not feel free to do so in World of Warcraft. As mentioned above I have been playing at high raiding level for some time (25 man of course) with 6-7 raids per week, which also granted me Realmfirst Kills (e.g. Lk-Heroic, Halion etc.). However this did not grant me freedom in this game, as it was somehow focused on this. Preparing for raid most of the time and doing what you are ought to do. Running Heroics, getting some Gold. Just the daily routine - who does not know this?

3. Do you have more confidence in your abilities do things in game or in life?
Obviously I have more confidence in life. Doing an A-Grade without doing anything at all for this is somewhat satisfying. I know what I am able to and am proud of that and of what I will do in my future (Teaching Profession). However I have also been confident of my ingame abilities as I have always been one of the best Holy Paladins out there and have been set to raid whenever I had time, regardless of who needed to pass for me (at least in progress time - who would care about farm raids?). Selfconfidence 100%

4. Do you feel that by playing (video game name), it has increased your overall happiness in real life?
No. World of Warcraft did not increase my overall happiness in real life. This are pixels and will always be pixels. Who cares in which rank you have completed any raid out there? It's a hobby which is not giving any chances for your future, it's meant to be a distraction for me, to flee from real life for a while, at least a bit. Social communication is there too, it ain't pure phantasy. Overall happiness: No. Rush of happiness: Yeah, after realm firsts at least or heavy achievements.

5. What would it take to make you stop playing (video game name)?
I am no longer playing, so I cannot tell what will make me stop, but what made me stop. My girlfriend. I rather keep spending time with her than with any videogame.

6. How much time have you spent on this game(estimate or exact)?
Ì have been playing since Vanilla release and this with just two characters. My Warlock and Paladin. As I no longer have access to my account I can only give you the approximate values I spent on this game:
Paladin ~400 days.
Warlock ~150 days.
Other Characters ~100 days.
----------------------------------
650 days (yeah I am capable of maths!). Nearly lost two years of my whole life due to World of Warcraft and I am not ready to waste any more money or time on it, as my girlfriend showed me how great life can be!

If you should find any grammar/vocab failures, keep 'em. English ain't my main language, though I am quite good at it.
Good Luck at your project, hopefully could give you some help
Should you need further details for your statistics (I just guess you're doing one) pm me. Ready to help you

Thank you both so much! The info is well appreciated!!

1. Why do you play (video game name)? Do you use it sometimes as an escape from reality?
A: Occasionally maybe. I work a lot so when I have free time i spend it doing what I love.

2. Do you feel like you have more freedom to do what you want inside the game or inside real life? Why?
A: Definately in-game. It's a world with endless possibilities. Life kinda resides around the 9 to 5.

3. Do you have more confidence in your abilities do things in game or in life?
A: 50/50 there for me, i'm a very confident person IRL, and about the same amount in game.

4. Do you feel that by playing World of Warcraft, it has increased your overall happiness in real life?
A: Not necessarily. But for my real life friends who play also it gives us something extra to talk about and look forward to when we can game together.

5. What would it take to make you stop playing World of Warcraft?
A: If the next expansion is as stupid as I keep hearing it will be I might quit again. But i'll find a new game.

6. How much time have you spent on this game(estimate or exact)?
A: Oh god, 6 years between 8+ chars, 2 max level and i've had 3 max level in a previous expansion......so a lot

Hope this helps, gl on your project.

perfect thank you!

Can pm me for more info been playing wow and moat mmos since release for more questions

1. Why do you play (video game name)? Do you use it sometimes as an escape from reality?
WoW, yes

2. Do you feel like you have more freedom to do what you want inside the game or inside real life? Why?
Less freedom, better community. I can pretend to be anything and communicate with other people on a better level

3. Do you have more confidence in your abilities do things in game or in life?
In life, I was never very good at the game, but I spent a fuck ton of time on it

4. Do you feel that by playing (video game name), it has increased your overall happiness in real life?
Yes. I started on D2 when I was little and it was apart of a majority of my childhood, it was good because I was a foster kid, I'd move families and friends, but my online friends were always there.
When my tastes migrated to WoW the culture and community and family consumed me.

5. What would it take to make you stop playing (video game name)?
Nothing. I lost alot of function in my left hand in afghanistan, and the pinky especially. Unfortunately your pinky is what you use quite a bit, but I was able to adapt with my skills hindered.
I guess I'd have to lost both my hands or something.

6. How much time have you spent on this game(estimate or exact)?
I have a few characters, the one I spent almost all of my time on was 89(ish) days over a period of about 4 years.

This post was edited by MaliceMizer on May 18 2012 10:47am