EVE General Discussion

Compared to other MMOs this game is hilariously low-effort once you get past the steep learning curve. CCP didn't even pretend the grind was about anything other than money, letting you train skills passively. That alone means this game is actually less of a black-hole for my life than anything else. I sit around and wait for a frigate fleet broadcast, or if I need money I set aside a couple of hours to shoot at space pirates.

99% of this game is sitting inside a station. If that's a lifestyle for you, you're not playing this game the right way.

I'm sure this has been said about any obsession: but obsession itself is not healthy.

Eve is an obsession if you do it to the exclusion of your own health, relationships, or happiness.

In short, if you aren't forming good relationships around you, because you have to go fleet, or you are not eating because you can't pull yourself away for long enough than to cook yourself a meal, or you simply are playing but feeling like you are getting knowhere, then you are on the unhealthy side.

There is nothing wrong with playing 100 hours in a week per se. Just remember that in years to come, when Eve is dead and buried, you'll look back on your life and consider what you've achieved...

Me personally, I play about 10 hours a week. I have a beautiful 7 month old baby girl, and I love her to pieces. She is the best thing I've done in my life. If I where to wake up one morning and realise that I'd rather be playing Eve than with her, I know something is deeply wrong with my head. That's an extreme circumstance, but put it in context. Have you considered what you want from your life recently? Do you have a '5 year plan'? Is Eve-time getting in the way of that?

On that note, I'd also like to point out that I used to play a lot. But then I decided I wanted to do something else. Let me tell you - You can't achieve much in 10 hours a week in Eve BUT, its still hella fun. I think a lot of people miss a key point - I've used it in another thread today. Eve isn't about being the richest, or having the biggest ship. It's about the journey. That journey can be taken with 1 million in your wallet, or 1 billion. That journey can be taken with 10 quality hours a week, or 100 hours. It's just as fun. Trust me.

So my question, I assume, is pretty straight forward; At what point is it to much. 'It' being the game players obsession over the game. There are many different types, groups, and or categories of gamers (Or all being one in the same) however for the sake of typing (on my phone) we'll use just two. Casual gamers and hardcore gamers.

Now the word obsession may not be the right word to use. Any game can be addictive, some more than others. I'm speaking in general terms. Another word may be more appropriate; I'm referring to the game players drive and 'motivation'. At what point is playing too much. This being the amount of time your playing. Can you get 'too' involved in this/any game? What defines too much or too involved? Obviously this is a loaded question not based on any facts, except only comparatively maybe, and one completely based on opinion.

I know some players who will log maybe 5 hours a week of game play (casual gamers) whereas I know others who have logged more than 40+ (hardcore gamers) I myself have logged over 100+ hours in a single week. A few times I even spent my entire weekend, waking up Friday morning and not going to sleep until Sunday night, playing EVE. I've logged some crazy hours in EVE yet I've met a few others who have logged more. So what makes the difference between a hardcore gamer and one morbidly obsessed? (If there is such a thing)

Example: I know a guy who made flash cards of EACH and every ship in eve as well as drones and mods to memorize dmg types, attributes, etc, to better understand game mechanics. I personally see nothing wrong with this and got copies of said flash cards. Ofc they helped. Knowing all these things in advance and not having to seek references prior to commiting to an engagement are truly helpful.

However, it being helpful or not is neither the issue or concern. It's whether or not this level of commitment to a game is good or bad, or healthy or unhealthy etc, etc,. I'm only curious because me (hardcore EVE player), a friend (casual EVE player), and my mom (hardcore WOW player) were discussing it and I wanted some outside input. Sorry for the length and feel free to comment or troll. Thanks.