Potential Concerns: Time Management and Addiction

Playing a game where the player is part of a virtual world can be very appealing and engaging. Like going to see a movie to take a break from the "real world", playing an MMOG can be a nice way to relax and temporarily get away from the quirks and annoyances of everyday life. Going to see a movie also allows the viewer to potentially see the world from another perspective (through dramas and documentaries), or experience an entirely different world (through historical, science fiction or fantasy movies).

To play an MMOG as a break from the "real world" is not necessarily unhealthy. It is only when a player of a MMOG begins to give their game play priority over the "real world" that problems occur. The point where this happens may be hard to define, so it is a good idea to speak with your teen and make sure that you establish a shared understanding of what is "too much".

Here are a few aspects of an MMOG that may play a role in addiction:

• An MMOG is a multiplayer game that typically has people playing it 24 hours a day.
  
  Due to time zones and different people's availability, there is usually at least a few people playing and often thousands of people playing a MMOG regardless of when a player logs in.
   
• An MMOG is a game that has no defined end.
  
  Most MMOGs offer quests or various goals to complete, but there are so many available, and more are added, that there's always something to do. Players who want to play 24 hours a day could find things to do.
   
• Peer Pressure from members of a group may exist, depending on their personalities.
  
  Players may feel guilty if they have to leave before completing a quest (or goal) because many quests require a full group to finish.
   
• There is no easy way to estimate how long a quest (or goal) will take to complete.
  
  Even when a player thinks that he or she is almost finished with a quest, problems can occur. Sometimes a quest is in multiple parts, and the goal is to finish all of the parts. If the player does not know how many parts there are to the quest, they could end up completing many more tasks than they initially wanted, thus spending more time on the game than they should have, or intended to at one sitting.
   
• It is easy to lose track of time.
  MMOGs are so engaging it is easy to lose track of time passing in the real world.

Here are some suggestions for how to help your teen enjoy a MMOG while avoiding addiction.

• Set clear limits.
  
  Set clear time limits or rules as to when your teen can play the game, and adapt those over time if needed. It is important to be clear how long is "too long", and why.
   
• Learn about what parts of the game are time consuming, and help your teen come up with a way to limit their playing time without causing unnecessary frustration.
  
  In World of Warcraft, the general order of activities for players from most time consuming to least time consuming are as follows:
   
  • Instances (dungeons): These often take over three hours to complete.
     
  • Quests (goals): Some can be very short or may take over an hour to complete.
     
  • Other activities in the game: There are typically smaller activities that don't yield as much reward as quests or instances, but are interesting or enjoyable for a player to do. Activities usually involve gathering or building things (tools or items) that can be sold for money in the virtual world.
    
    Activities are a side activity — for highly competitive players activities may feel like a diversion from the "real" game or a waste of time. Less competitive players may actually prefer activities over quests. Activities allow players to stop whenever they want.
     
  Note that all times here are estimated and may vary based on the game. Ask your teen for details if you need to know what parts of the game are longer than others.
     
• Make sure that your teen has at least one other real world activity that they enjoy other than playing MMOGs.
  
  Make sure that playing video games is not the only fun activity that your teen is involved in. An engaging real world activity can provide balance to virtual play.
   
• Get your teen involved in some real world activity that involves working or playing with other people his or her age.
  
  Sports or team based activities or clubs can help your teen to become or remain comfortable communicating with their peers in the "real world".  

The Chinese Government limits MMOG game play to 3 consecutive hours.

In August 2005 the Chinese government passed a law requiring MMOG companies to impose penalties on players who play for more than 3 consecutive hours. More than 20 million people in China play MMOGs, mostly at net cafés. According to the new law, players must take a 5 hour break before resuming play. If they do not, their character's abilities will be automatically decreased in the game.