Get a life.

13/04-2001

Another phrase that has puzzled me since I first heard it. And recently someone posted a post in the NG, containing a long list of what he did when not playing Clanlord, to show to us all that HE at least had a life. Somehow he felt compelled to do that, and it made me wonder why. Of course, I always wonder why. Why is the main question you can ask about anything really, and the question that will give you the most interesting answers.

I took a look around me to try to answer this, and here is what I saw: Being a mature gamer is not comme il faut, not something you should be doing. Games are for kids, not adults. As an adult, you can have any other hobby in the world and it will be ok, but as an adult gamer, you see a lot of raised eyebrows. I certainly do. Maybe the americans have it easier, but a norwegian adult is supposed to be responsible and not play with the kid´s toys. Although I bet the programmers around the world have it a lot easier than any of us in other professions... If I am going to impress someone of my capability and professionalism in my work, I don´t tell them I play games as a hobby. Unless I´m trying to impress a game company. I know, it IS odd, but there you have it.

In addition to this comes this "Virtual World" concept, that adds to the perception of a person who have given up the real world in order to live a virtual one. If I dare to tell anyone that my hobby is playing games, I would still be reluctant to tell them that the game I enjoy the most is a online roleplaying game. Because not only does prejudice abound on games, but even more so on MPRG.

Maybe Clanlord players have this is as a core somewhere in our spine. The rules of the society outside us. Recent post from someone in the NG stated that he, the poster, soon was out of college and wouldn´t need Clanlord as he would have a life by then. He thought of Clanlord and RL as mutually exclusive. Either you have a life, or you play Clanlord.. And that is even more odd.

Clanlord is part of my life. It´s my current hobby. The time I invest in my hobby is related to what else I need to do. I have played lots and have played little. The hobby includes writing Baba´s diary, RQ and all the things surrounding Clanlord, not only playing the game itself. I need my Clanlord fix every day though, like the morning ceremony with Coffee and the newspaper, I need at least 15 minutes in town catching up and feel the day is not complete without. To me life and Clanlord are not mutually exclusive. One is in the other. I have had many hobbies and interests in my life, and still do but my main hobby is Clanlord. And the hobby Clanlord has the same function in anyones life as any other hobby.

Will I still be playing in 10 years? I have no idea. I wouldn´t mind if I did. A hobby that can capture the interest for so long, sure is something to hold on to...