Years ago….
Many years ago – lets say 1990, I became addicted to a game called Legend of Zelda. I loved it. I was in college at the time and it was my “escape” from all the stress of school and working three jobs. (I paid my own way through college – hence, the three jobs!)

Anyway….I was on the hunt for those triforces and rupees. I loved Legend of Zelda. I eventually won the game. I got all nine triforces, slayed all my enemies and saved the princess! But to my soon-to-be husband, he was dumbfounded when it came to my fondness for this game. (This coming from a guy that spends half his time with his nose buried in a book. Now to me – that’s painful. Yuck. WHY??)

Nerd, geek…..gamer…..whatever you want to call
those of us who love these electronic quest games – I was definitely one of them back then.

Flash forward 20 years….it’s 2010! Tadaaaaah!!
I’m 44 – a mom of two….married to that guy that wasn’t yet my husband back then (he still spends a lot of time with his nose buried in a book!). I run my own business, I have responsibilities now. I’m older and wiser. (I guess!)

I had long forgotten my “gaming” days of college. They were pretty much obsolete other than some yoga on the Wii occasionally. Is that “really” gaming though?? Nah.

My 15 year old son has been a full on gaming freak since about the age of six! He’s hardcore xBox. Although I thought his obsession with these games was somewhat unhealthy (insert any statistic you like here regarding gaming and violence etc….blah blah blah) – I realize that it’s basically just an outlet for him. He actually wants a career in game development. So I would say it’s had a positive influential affect on him. Has he picked up some “bad” words along the way…..seen some “graphic violence” – yes. Does he understand it’s JUST a game – and it’s not cool to kill real people?
Ummmm….yes. (Insert your lecture here if you must.)

I digress.

Recently, I started observing some of these games he plays. Mainly Modern Warfare, Red Dead Redemption, Blur….
I said to him just a few months ago, “Can I play a little?”
“Sure Mom….go ahead.”

OH boy…..did it reignite the gamer in me.

I was a noob getting sat down in Modern Warfare…..a maniac driver crashing at high speeds on Blur, Split Second and Forza, trying to gather up a posse in Red Dead and solving the mysteries of Alan Wake. I had to buy my own xBox! My husband gave me that “oh so” familiar look that I saw 20 years ago. “Uh oh”

Well…..from the xBox….I went even further. At the suggestion of one of my son’s friends – I decided to try an online game called, World of Warcraft. Though it sounded stupid and uninteresting…..I thought, why not? Free trial. Can’t hurt me. I’m SURE I’ll hate it. It sounded goofy. Running around doing quests? Slaying dragons and monsters. Collecting items to obtain a higher level? (Legend of Zelda?)

I yie yie!! Pure Fun. Super Fun.

You laugh. But I LOVE this game. Love it.
I’m a blood elf – a bad ass one at that. I am working my way up to level 80! I have pre-ordered Cataclysm.
I love dungeon runs – and all the quests. I love my pets and mounts. I like selling my goodies and buying
goodies. I love ramping up my armor and spells and talents.

You laugh again? You think it’s silly?
Well I think hours of TV is silly. I think eating fast food is silly.
I think reading books is silly. (Yea….I said it….reading books is lame-O! Ya squares! LOL)

Everyone is different.

I understand the game is addictive. Did I know how much? No way.
I had to laugh when I researched World of Warcraft and addiction.

http://www.wikihow.com/Break-a-World-of-Warcraft-Addiction

http://news.filefront.com/world-of-warcraft-addiction-stories/

Really??? REALLY??

Can I walk away at any time? Yes…I think so. Do I have a “real” life outside
of WoW? Yes. I exercise, I go to work, I cook, I enjoy working in my flower garden.
I spend time with my family, my pets – friends.
I have “real” friends and I do “real” things. Seems stupid to even have to say that.
Jesus.

Look at Farmville. Never played that game (never will) – at least with World of WarCraft I’m
not bugging other people and strangers to help me maintain my farm!! “Help I need water for my corn fields!”

WoW for me – is an escape. (Like maybe Farmville is for some!)  One of the few things that totally
takes my mind off the stress of running my own business, my responsibilities. Some people find an escape
in sports, some in books, some going to the movies or watching really weird reality shows like “The Bachelor” (lol) – as long as I’m not snorting coke or under a table drunk in a bar, I’d say I’m doing alright with my gaming fun.

So sure – we could debate the pros and cons of gaming from now until the end of time.
But wouldn’t that really just be another way of whiling away the time? Some people
seem addicted to debating for goodness sakes!

So yes. I am a WoW Geek. I think it’s cool. I think it’s fun. I think I’ll be just fine.

Remember the Sunwell!!!

Game on.

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