MMORPG Time Limits

[Professor S]

China just recently imposed time limits on the single user gameplay of those that play it. I've never been one to agree with much of anything China does, but with the negative impact of MMORPG's on a gorwing segment of the gaming population, I have to say I might agree with their philosophy, if not their execution.

Ideally, I'd like the industry to recognize the need for time limits on their games. In the end, not only do I think it would be much healthier for those who play them, but also I think it would increase the profits for the company.

Here's my reasoning: Many that are MMORPG fanatics play for 12-18 hours a day at time, allowing them to level quite quickly. Now, with this much activity, I imagine that they could become bored with a game quite quickly once they top off, and then move to another MMORPG, and then switch back, etc. This happens pretty often, from what I hear. By limiting the time that a user can be on per day, not only will they "have a life" but it will also increase the length of time that these power levers need to get to where they need to be, therefore increasing the number of consecutive months of sunscription fees.

Of course, those limits would key on IP Address and not account information.

I think its a win-win, what about you?

[Typhoid]

I agree with it sort of.
But when you do things like that you sort of take away people's freedom. That's a bad way to word it, but I haven't had coffee yet.
By limiting something people want, without even being any sort of head of family/office/government, it just seems wrong to me.

I agree people play those friggin' things for WAY too long at a time, but it's up to them. The people who play for so long that they forget to eat/sleep, have serious mental issues stemming from outside of the game in the first place, which should have been addressed prior in their life. While limiting it would stop people from "getting bored" of the game in the traditional sense, it would cause them to be "pissed off" in the literal one. I couldn't imagine a game telling me when I had to stop. It should be my choice - assuming that I am my own person - of what I do, and when I do it, within the legallity of the government.

[manasecret]

Well, like you said about China, "I have to say I might agree with [your] philosophy, if not [your] execution."

Like Typhoid said, limiting paying customers to only so many hours a day is asking for a rankling. It won't be taken well by pretty much anyone in the community, even if it's meant well. Not to mention you're just going to cause the people who really want to play for as long as they want to find workarounds and so the whole thing will be a lost cause from the beginning.

I do think you're right that industry and the companies making the games need to take an active role. My suggestion -- how about putting warning screens that pop up every time you logon, ala Wii warning screens? Make them big, obvious, and non-skip-able.

There's precedent for that in other Pigovian or "sin" items in other industries, such as cigarette and alcohol warnings. You let people play as much as they want without enforcing an arbitrary time limit, but you also get the information out there to every single person playing that playing for long hours at a time is dangerous to your health and could cause death (http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/09/17/internet.death.ap/index.html).

[Professor S]

Mana, I like your idea. I've never bveen one to inhibit freedom, and your idea to get the information out is the perfect way to assure the user and the populace worried about this addictive trend that abuse of their games (or anything for that matter) can cause serious damage.

On a side note, does everyone agree that MMORPGs are addictive to a growing section of the populace? As a former participant in WoW, I think its pretty obvious. I still get the hankering to hop back in and blast away with my musket!

[Typhoid]

I thought they already do that.
Common sense would say that since they do it for all video games already, why they wouldn't do it for computer games aswell?

[playa_playa]

This is a terrible idea.

MMORPGs are social games by nature. And in the end, they must require the player to interact with other players to continue to advance. Raiding and getting pvp points are examples of this.

Raiding in Warcraft, for example, is capped to 30 some odd players the last time I checked. Do you realize how much of a pain in the ass it'll be to tell those 30 some odd raiding members that they will not be able to play earlier that day (especially a problem for raid leaders as they invariably must do some prep work in the game beforehand for the raid) or that if the raid goes on long enough, she might forceably be logged out in the middle of it?

What's worse, what if the time limit hits just as the raid has cleared to the boss or in the middle of the fight?

Players would see this as nothing more than cockblocking by the developers to limit content consumption. And in the end, more and more players would feel cheated.

[BreakABone]

So instead of leveling up quickly and moving on to a different game, what happens if a person just plays multiple games a day?

So instead of one day to reach level 9.
You spend 1 day reaching level 3 on 3 different games.

[manasecret]

I wasn't aware they do that, Typh. Can you give an example?

I know they give motion sickness warnings for most games and say you shouldn't play for too much. But I think the warning needs to be more forceful for MMORPGs, as normal games have a pretty self-limiting effect -- people just get bored. (EDIT: or they just end!) MMORPGs however, are severely addicting. (Yes, Prof. S, I think everyone agrees on that.) I played WoW for a week when it was free right before it came out officially, and it took over my life that week. I have sworn never to play it again.

On second thought, other games do apply as well. Games like Counterstrike and Civilization. I need a warning on those for my own sake!

[thatmariolover]

World of Warcraft already has time limit restriction built in for their localized clients for countries with laws already in place.

I think most MMO's do.

http://mmopub.com/2007/02/07/vietnam-game-suspended-for-lacking-time-limit/

[Professor S]

World of Warcraft already has time limit restriction built in for their localized clients for countries with laws already in place.

I think most MMO's do.

http://mmopub.com/2007/02/07/vietnam-game-suspended-for-lacking-time-limit/

Do you think they should pro-actively implement that across the board for all users?

[thatmariolover]

Do you think they should pro-actively implement that across the board for all users?

I want to say yes, because after being addicted to WoW and raiding on a regular basis, I feel it really could have ruined my life. I know that sounds dramatic, and it is, but I really think it's true. WoW has a time limitation function built in if parents are willing to configure it. The real issue is that there's a large group of adults that don't self regulate themselves. On the one hand, if it's your week off and you really want to raid a lot, a time limitation doesn't make sense to me. But on the other hand, people with compulsive tendencies end up getting addicted; that means marriages are ruined, kids are neglected, jobs are lost, and university classes are failed.

Realistically, the concept of WoW and the concept of a time limit are somewhat incompatible. Online games in general are filled with hundreds of time sinks to provide a varied and prolonged experience. Even after reaching the highest level, you've got a ton to do because they're always adding new gear, new dungeons, and more levels to attain. The current payment concept is also incompatible. The monthly payment plans would have to change if they went ahead with a time limit. If you're barred from playing, reduced cost subscriptions should be available.

In the end, I would probably answer no. But maybe Blizzard could sink some of those tens of millions dollars they're making into support groups (sounds corny, but they could do something).

I'm using WoW as an example because it's really the only MMOG I ever got very far into, so forgive me. Maybe somebody else has a broader range of experience they can provide.

[GameMaster]

Its up to the user to 'play responsibility' in terms of time management. Very few do and its admittedly hard. But imposing time limits for paying customers is crossing the line, IMO.

The best analogy I can think of is tobacco companies limiting the amount of cigarettes one can have per day. Which sounds stupid but I believe its a similar scenario.

If the game is offered free though, by all means, restrict whatever you want.

[Professor S]

You know what? I think its all about personal responsibility.

If your child is playing to much WoW, nut up and unplug the computer. If they bitch and moan, just say "welcome to the real world". Parents are there to provide limits like that.

As an adult, you are free to ruin your life with gaming addicition if you want to.

There should be stern warnings, though. You should at least be 100% aware that this product can mess you up.

Thats my frighteningly libertarian take on it.

[Angrist]

What if I want to play a lot when I have the time? I'm a busy student and rarely have time to play games. But when I have a few days off, I like to play my new game all day. That's how I played Metroid Prime 3, 2 weeks of concentrated play (although it wasn't more than 8 hours a day).

So IF they come up with a way to limit unhealthy play, I demand a 'fair use' policy.

[Typhoid]

I wasn't aware they do that, Typh. Can you give an example?


I know they have them in front of every gaming system booklet, and game booklet, and I know there is a screen for it in front of some PS3 and 360 games (aswell as every Wii game), and I don't know 100% if it's like that for computer games though. The trend would tell me there would at least be a page in each manual of each game about extended play - but I can't really prove that without owning a current computer game - which I don't.

[KillerGremlin]

The ESRB needs to jump on this shit. They rate games M because they are worried some violence is going to ruin a 11 year old's life, but these massive online RPGs get E and T ratings and they ruin way more lives. People with compulsive tendencies are obviously at the highest risk. It's crazy to think that people are losing their jobs or failing their classes because they got addicted to a game, but it happens. thatmariolover makes a good point when he says if you have a free week to waste then you should be free of restriction. I agree that there should be some sort of warning indication or better guideline explaining the dangers of online gaming addiction. I don't think a mandatory time limit should be put in place. I've had free weekends where I have done nothing but played 48 hours of games....mostly Counter-Strike and TFC.

[Angrist]

Oh, Thatmariolover had already said what I was trying to say? My bad.

I've played WoW for 2 years or so. It was awesome, until it got reaaaaaaaaaally boring. And they released a boring expansion.
I used to raid 3 nights a week and I was logged in as often as I could. If I was at home, I was probably on WoW. :(

[Professor S]

I experienced much of what Angrist mentioned, the boredom and everything. I heard about the expansion with new content, dungeons, lands and races... but all I could think was...

"No new classes?"

New races are great and all, but outside of the first few levels, inherent race traits do next to nothing to change gameplay. I wanted new classes to really enhance the gameplay and create new ways to plunge through the hundreds of hours of playing that could have been had.

In the end, the ability to play a Shaman on the alliance wasn't all that appealing... you're still a shaman.

[Professor S]

An upcoming dicumentary about MMORPG gamers. Looks interesting.

http://www.secondskinfilm.com/v3/?id=home