May 07
Just thinking about how little we MMO players have to show for our work down the road. It can be frightening at times. Hence the comic.
EXTRALIFE – By Scott Johnson is powered by WordPress with ComicPress | Subscribe: RSS Feed | Return to Top
Ive loved your comic from the first time I read it, but that comic wasnt funny at all. Ok you made a point that is valid but the logical conclusion isnt suicide. Maybe the last frame is him tossing his computer over the edge and getting a life not ending it.
I thought my first comment to your site would be “great job, I love you’re comic”, but alas its
YOU SUCK!!
LOL @ Dredawg.
Seriously, you’re offended??
|Not really funny… then again not bad either|
A little extreme for a comic, scott?
Hmm.. is that the same cliff from one of your Wii strips?
Good grief.. It’s so obviously a joke!
Hahaha, I was going to say the same thing Shinn.
Poor Scott doesn’t feel his life is worth anything after playing MMO’s. See that’s why I don’t play them.
Cya in the next MMO! My accomplishments are in my head, just like when you play with a ball, it is just slightly more evolved! Funny to see how peoples want to capitalize on everything and make money from everything! Making fun is the prime consideration when I play MMOs, everything else is secondary! And fun is…priceless.
I ‘rofld’ at this, seeing as I had a dirty WoW addiction in 2006, raiding all day and night – I quit because of the very reason, apart from maybe the suicide attempt in the last panel.
But, yeah – I’d think people who are still playing it won’t really find this enthralling as others!
Hmm…are you saying this guy is jumping? Even if it’s a joke, I think some people out there may not take this well. I also wouldn’t like certain younger players to see this.
Oh, and playing any type of game is for the FUN of it! Period!
Its a great comic and social commentary. The same could be said of alot of things in life, not just mmo’s. Its the classic “father work-oholic who realizes he is a failure” idea. Alot of people come to a moment of crisis where they wonder if they have done anything worthwhile with their life.
The absolute “winner” that I know of is a fellow from EverQuest who has put in, as of today, 30,458 hours of game time. That is 30,458/24=1,269 (24 hour) days. 1,269/365=3.4 (24 hour day) years. If he slept 30% of the time the real time playing would stretch to almost 5 real years of his life. Most of you will say – that will never happen to me. Before you even think that – see how many mmo hours have you logged in and do the above calculation…
If you dug a ditch for 30,458 hours – how long and wide would that ditch be today? Exactly…your obsession owns you. I think that Scott’s comic could have used a positive spin. Shock value does not work here because MMO addiction is the new disease of today’s world. The good news is that there is a
way out of your MMO addiction. Uninstall the damn game, throw away the disks and log into your real life…
Remember: Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
I play MMO’s, and know what I got to show for it?
I had fun.
Yay!
Plus I got to kill things without going to jail!
Ah, but that’s why I play Final Fantasy XI! On that game I can unlock achievements on my 360! Then the world will know what I’ve accomplished!
…except all the achievements are secret… so only the people that have done the same things as me will know…
…where’s that cliff located?
Heroin addicts have fun as well. Alcoholics too… After a while (month, years of your life), 50+ lbs later, screwed up social skills, degenerated intellect that has not read and analyzed anything of value for a long time you will realize that “fun” was not fun. Fun was an obsession that ruled you. Oh gotta get to that next level, that new item… Meanwhile, you are one of the millions trapped in a well crafted social experiment which you perpetually fuel with your money. Neo, wake up and welcome to the real world!
You know, I really hate to say this, but Scott’s little comment on MMOs can be applied to any video game. I am sure many of us have spent countless hours playing games from Mario to Gears of War. If you really look at it, what have we accomplished from that. The same can be said for watching tevelvision shows or movies. Heck, you can say the same thing about books. A person can read a full-length novel a day for every day and you can ask what has he really accomplished.
This is personal entertainment. It is not a bad thing to do, as long as you do other things as well. Allowing personal time for yourself is fine, but it is also important to directly interact with other human beings. You do not need to save the world in order to feel important; all you need to be is a positive influence on at least one person. Touch the life of one person and yours shall not be in vain.
This comic shows me how much Scott hates us gamers. It sickens me so much. Actually… it is BS, I just wanted to jump on the bashing the comic wagon. I liked it.
LOL!
From reading these reactions I can tell that you struck the right chord….I like those jokes the best….
they tickle!
Being a wow-dropout I can see your point though…
with a name like ‘Dredawg’ you’d think I would have a better chance.
Dredawg, you have to realize that he isn’t making these to cater just to you. It’s just like complaining on somebody’s blog that their opinion goes against yours. Cry.
Ouch, it’s hard to see that strip and to hear your diary and not feel a little bad about playing video games that much… But I’m having fun! If I wasn’t doing that, I’d be doing something else and someone somewhere would probably think I’d be spending too much time on that as well.
Bottom line, nothing we do really gives us anything to show for it, no matter how one tries to rationalize it. The important thing is to be able to look back and say two things: I had fun and I don’t regret it.
You could have had fun, but if it was at the expense of something else you may regret it. I enjoy WoW, I’m having fun in there, but I also have a real life and a girlfriend, a job, etc… If you know how to manage your time between all of those without losing anything, you shouldn’t regret having fun.
Yeah, same as been said. Much like having any hobby or form of relaxation.
Haha, I love it. I wonder the exact same thing (whether it’s worth it), but then I rationalize it by saying that I don’t care about the time wasted; I just want to have fun NOW.
Scott, you need a name more “down with the skrit”.
Why is he jumping backwards, head first man.. do it head first XD
On a more serious note I think everyone that’s played a MMO for more than 3-4 hours a day had sooner or later asked themselves this question, had felt the emptiness when finishing up with a game, but it’s all about the “journey” not the results. So have fun with it, and when you feel it’s necessary end it or move on to something else.
Oh my god! I hope I don’t turn out like that… :goes back to playing City of Heroes: o__O
I think people who compare games with drugs don’t know what its all about, or have wasted too much of their lives on them already.
Playing a game is something to pass the time. The spaces between doing something important, and doing something important. You can wake up, do shopping, apply for a job, play a MMO, make dinner, and play some more. There is no time wasted at all for most people. What would you have done with the extra time you had? Watched television? Went to a bar? Sure, those are great options, but dont tell people they don’t accomplish things, because NEITHER DO YOU.
There are people who will play their games at all costs. Thats where it gets risky. But sooner or later, you will snap out of it, and get your life back on tracks.
What I accomplished by 2 hours of WOW a day? The same as you accomplished by reading this post.
ROFLMAO ah Scotty boy how you love to poke fun!
From all of my time playing video games, about 23 years now (ack) I have learned about the ins and outs of computers, from installing hard-drives and video cards, to tweaking the insides of machines to do my bidding. Then based on their logic I have been able to recognize patterns which is my current job actually recognizing patterns, cutting out the time wasting and making jobs easier for people aka process management. Plus in some sick way it relaxes me, even after trying to kill the darned Zealots 6 times in a row before finally finishing that evil quest. ARG!!!11one
Scott you have a few great podcasts based on your love of this stuff and many true and lasting friendships with people because of time spent with them playing these games. So I think that you probably have a lot from playing games, MMO or otherwise.
But you are right, this is how people outside of gaming see it, kinda sad that its us they come to when they need help with their technology.
Hi, I’m Aramax. I’ve played MMO’s since the early days of Ultima Online. I’ve logged thousands and thousands of hours in a lot of those games ( Most you probably never heard of since I stay away from mainstream games because it’s hard to have any sort of influence in those sort of games ).
Some say I have nothing to show for all this time and energy… some people like Scott Johnson and I have to disagree.
I learned that every MMO’s ever created depend entirely on the community the game was build uppon. The greater the community the more competition there will be between the players. Everyone want to impress everyone but only the more respectful and most respected make it to the top. Lies treason and deceptions abound sometimes it even turn nasty.
I will be frank with you, the reason I made this comment is because I want to invite you all to join my brotherhood that I will be creating soon and offer you the chance to be the first members of the greatest guild ever created in a small MMO.
http://www.stygianworlds.com/
Send me a Private message via the Asylumsoft forum if interested.
first off i think the comics here are great and i also have to give a shout out to the excellent podcast. I didnt quite get the last frame in the comic though. is he jumping or falling off a cliff? if he was jumping wouldnt he be drawn facing forward? anyhow its funny.
Doctor Soul snagged it again damnit
So I have to ask this. To all those MMO haters who think we have nothing to show for out time, do you really think you are somehow better for spending your evenings watching American Idol re-runs? Honestly, WoW and it’s kin are a social activity where we interact with others with similar interests. Voting for the latest wanna-bes on Fox is not a social activity.
I’m sure you’ll all respond with “I don’t watch American Idol,” which is totally missing the point. Leisure time for most Americans is parking their fat butts in front of the tv, turning off their minds and not speaking with anyone else. Engaging in a group activity, even a virtual one, is far better than the mindless diet of tv that is typical in most households.
It should be “MMOs”, not “MMO’s”. You’re looking for plural, not possessive.
Id rather waste my time doing something in the real world then in a mmo… ive had years experiance with games as many. Its too damn hypnotic.
I agree with Dredawg and Rico – where’s the funny? Not everyone has the same sense of humor – I’m worried for the reader who identifies exactly with the guy your cartoon…
i have to admit…i am a little taken back by how seriously some are taking the comic…its like you people have never seen a roadrunner cartoon. and did you worry when daffy duck shot himself in the side of the head? or when that dude that had the singing frog tried to jump to his death?
i am not sure where you guys are getting this vibe. i have a sneaky feeling it probably is just the state of our world where everyone is so freaking worried about words and symbols and images.
is it no longer funny when homer had a heart attack on the simpsons? is it no longer laugh worthy to see monty python do the dead parrot sketch? what about this comic is so dark or horrible?
just trying to understand…
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Losers
Phen for the win GOOOAAAAL
Wow honestly guys if you don’t see the humor in this then I just feel bad for you. It seems clear to me the Scott isn’t suggesting that MMO’ers should jump off a cliff. To think that is not only misguided it’s just plain dumb. And if you feel as though you’ve been attacked… GET A FREAKING GRIP! Learn to laugh at yourself and the whole world will laugh with you.
Well that’s all I have to say.
Thragmol SMASH!™
have to agree. Phen makes a fine point.
really peeps, get a grip. great comic as always scott.
Don’t worry, Scott. I think a lot of people are just taking it personally because they have a hard time justifying their own MMO addictions. Perhaps for some of them, the seed of doubt was just planted.
I have no idea how anybody could not take this in good humour. I find it hilarious. Way to go, Scott!
EDIT: Umm that was clearly not my url. Hehe. Sorry i’m in between finals and am using a computer in a lab. Sadly I am not and will never be an emo band.
It’s actually the one linked in this post.
So yeah. That’s all…
Thragmol SMASH!™
That was just funny, if you didn’t like it thats your problem.
This is just redicilous how people are getting all upset about this. Maybe its bit questionable from some point of views, but its just humour. And when you think of it wasting three or more years on soething that wont help you in any way (exept for the fun part) is bit… you know. I’ve spend as much time on computer (or wii) as the next guy, but im not even suggesting it has ever helped me with anything in the real world.
Sigmund Freud: But you know that there isn’t such thing as a joke.
Me: STFU and go smoke a non-meaning sigar.
I think its the depressing parrallel you’ve drawn to reality. Maybe it’s people sick of reading “I quit WoW cause it’s evil” posts.
Try a 911 comic with George Bush in the third pannel holding a joy stick, watching a live video feed and asking, “Did I win a trip to the Middle East?!?”
See how that goes over.
Lighten up people! Geez!
1st amendment not withstanding, it’s a freakin comic!
and who said he killed himself? it could easily be a carnival ride where you jump off a “cliff” and on to a trampoline. Or there could be a lake just a few feet under the cliff and the guy and his friends are diving into the water? Those who immediately thought, oh he has to be killing himself are obliviously thinking of things that are not funny.
it’s funny because it’s true.
(….okay, give me a blindfold and a last cigarette)
Seriously guys you don’t get it, or just the anonymous nature of the internet that allows you to go off the wall and pick at this comic. It just seems far beyond understanding how you could take a comic which has consistently poked fun at the geekdom we surround ourselves with and on a dime take it too seriously. Either that or most of you are somewhat new to this site and haven’t caught on yet. Point being that you’re reading into this too much.
The critiques are also overly protective of the content that is placed in this peace. I must agree with Scott when he points out that he worries about our growing fears with being too open a society. I need to strongly ask you to remember the context in which these comics are made. They aren’t for some massive political view, nor to insult any aspect of the geekdom that has previously or will later be made. Plus from listening to Scott on ELR, I can imagine he usually takes a point to consider everyone’s concerns.
If you’re going to read this comic or any others please consider the comic’s aims and material it usually covers,and the seriousness of the message typically potrayed. If you cannot respect aims and values of the artist who has written the work, or take it too seriously in relation to media it is in, then you are actually sort of insulting the artist for the work he produces.
Seriously schools need to have an introduction to reading art and new media.