Why is this game so addictive?

Seriously. Why does it drag you back all the time? I've never played a game as much as I do GW. I can't get enough of it (all three games). Even now I'm sat here twitching to go on. WHY!?

because its like a whole separate "nicer" world.

you get attached to your character/s, you see it/them as a individual, not as walking pixels.

you always have something to do: complete a mission, money to make, someone to talk to... and it never ends if you dont stop it. there always will be something to do untill you stop it. this is an issue with most online games like GW and WOW, they absorb people

just dont let this game take over your life, make sure you dont spend time playing instead of school/ homework/ goin out with friends

Ive been led to believe that WoW is far more addictive than GW, and so is Crack.

Edit:
Just thank god your not addicted to Crack!

<3 my GW addiction

and im not afraid to admit it (2500 hours in past 16 nounths)

I <3 my addiction too
I still spend more then enough time on schoolwork/job/friends and sports.. I even spend time on other games (yes kids, it is true, other games do excist :P)
I agree with the fact that gw seems like a neverending world of fun There is always stuff do to, even just standing in towns looking at what people spam, offer someone a little help, go out for a stroll in the shiverpeak mountains (don't forget your thermo underwear, it could get chilly).. the possibilities are endless

"I'll just do that one last quest...It wont take me long..."

"I'll just do that one last quest...It wont take me long..."

"I'll just do that one last quest...It wont take me long..."

"I'll just do that one last quest...It wont take me long..."




Is THAT the time?

"I'll just do that one last quest...It wont take me long..."

OMG! That is excactly how I felt last night ^^

hahaha, that is so true :P thats what I had last night :/

Guild Wars is addictive because of its name Guild Wars (GvG).

I don't know, I was addicted to D2 for over 2 years, still have my accounts open too. It;s the ability to forget what troubles you may be having in real life that makes these games so addictive. Thats what I feel anyway, whenever I'm depressed this game has A way of cheering me up

I also agree that we see our beloved characters as more than just animated pixels, that could be why some of us go out our ways to get the best gear/armor for them lol.

Im addicted to guildwars too... [1200hours in 14 months] = not as much as you Maria The Princess, but oh well.

I just cant get enough of farming [underworld as 55 or Famine or SS or Solo FOW RANGER!] and PvP. Pve action is always good with guildies tho =)

Guild Wars is a great game and highly addictive in its own way like any other game. Im sure most of you do as i do you seem to sit there on vent and run around talking in guild chat and on vent for about 4 hours and you dont actually seem to do anything but you dont want to log off


PvE Account 3,200 hours 12 months, PvP Account 1,400 12 months (would be at about 18 months now but i dont own it anymore :P) Thats a shared account btw before i get the z0mg do you have a life bullshit

Chapter four will simply make things too big. I hope they won't add new professions in that one, because i will have more the nenough things to do with my current seven characters.

Going everywhere with every character will become humanly imposible after a couple more chapters. At some pount you will have to choose wich of your toons will be used in wich chapter...

all mmorpgs r addictive, not just gw....

I wouldn't say it's "nicer". It's actually quite violent and brutal. I suppose it's nicer in that the countryside isn't a blood-soaked open graveyard of decaying monster and human corpses (which is what it would look like if GW was "real").

...

Allow me to throw some pseudo-psychology into the mix:

Guild Wars is addictive because it is structured and controlled.

In the world in which we live, as individuals we have very little control over our environment. Our world is chaotic, unpredictable, and our culture preaches the ideals of individualism and freedom of action... do what you will at your pleasure as long as nobody else gets hurt (hedonism, Wicca).

What is interesting is that our entertainment has become the opposite of what reality promotes. Our entertainment is now tightly structured and controlled and we escape the chaos of life into the order of a game.

Oh, you may have the "freedom" to walk anywhere in the Guild Wars world, but you are strictly bound by the constraints of the game. You could probably count what you can "do" in Guild Wars on two hands.

Guild Wars offers no surprises. Actions, movement, etc. are tightly controlled by the game. In GW, you "live" under what would be in real life rather oppressive constraints.... however, as players we gravitate to this because there is order and structure and we as players have firm control over what happens in our "world".

So, I believe what makes Guild Wars addictive is that it offers an experience unlike that of our real lives. "Nicer" translates to "a structured environment in which we have direct control".

The world of Guild Wars is conceptually rather hellish and violent, but because it is structured and orderly, and we as players have control over that order, it is an appealing escapist quality from our chaotic world in which we have such little control or influence.

Anything that immerses you in another world will affect you the same way. I've found myself doing it with a good book. "Just to the end of this chapter", next thing you know it's 2am.

With GW, you look at the clock, 10pm. Well, it shouldn't take more than 30 mins to cap that skill, I'll be in bed by 11. Two hours later, you finally get your cap. And then someone in the group needs help. Goodbye sleep.

I used to buy at least one new PC game per month.

In the last 16 months I have bought exactly three games; Guild Wars Prophecy, Guild Wars Factions, and Guild Wars Nightfall.

I have not played quite as many hours as some of the previous posters (I think I am on about 1900 hours).

As for having a real life? Well, I am 43, married, two teenage kids (one of whom also plays Guild Wars). I read a lot, have a pretty good job, and do all the usual stuff.. In fact I am going out tonight to see The Human League playing live, for any of you who are old enough to remember them :-))

As for why Guild Wars is so addictive?

I really have no idea.. it just is!

My current quest is to find an elemental sword, so my game play is sort of:

Just one more chest, just one more chest, just one more chest, just one more chest, LOL

They have clinics in Eastern Asia for game addicts :P

For once, its the western world that is medically/technologically behind.

In the Netherlands they have a program for addicted gamers too They get treated by the same institution that also helps people with drugs, alcohol addiction and eating disorders.. I find it great that people take addiction so seriously around here
If anyone is interest in their program, follow the provided link I wish you the best of luck ^^
http://www.smithandjones.nl/ned/fram...=/ned/camp.htm
P.S. Just glad that I am not in need of such a program

I played GW a heck of a lot before title were introduced, and when those came around... well, I have this superiority complex or something, and I had to get titles that no one had, or were super difficult to get. (Looks back at the hours and hours of CR'ing.)

/cry!

Its a fun game...

That's my favorite character... Monks ftw.