Is it worth it?

[Balboa]

Okay, I got interested in this game after I borrowed a .hack game from my friend, and really liked the idea of an online game. I've really researched MMORPGs, and as this is the most played worldwide (which I believe is a very good thing) I've figured this would be the best to play. But then I thought about it, and when I really want to do this, it seems it's going to take some time and money to have fun. So...

Is it really worth it?

I'll probably have one to three hours a night to play it, if I didn't have any homework (I'm in school). The game seems time consuming, and it may not be worthwhile to get it if I can't play it. And then there's the fact that I have to pay $15 a month to keep playing. It doesn't seem that much, but I don't have a job and so I'll have to pay this out of my own pocket. But it also looks really fun, with a great *ACTIVE* community (there are 4,000 *I think* people on this site now, which I think is also amazing). So... I have an inner turmoil. I want it, but then I don't want to loose my life to it.

So, again... is it really worth to buy and play it?

[Stigg]

How much school work actually needs to get done? Are you really really able to manage your time wele?

This is a great game, but it defiantly IS time consuming....not because it is hard or 3 hours per night isn't enough...but because those 3 hour nights will turn into "Oh I just will get one more level!" Next thing you know its 11am the next morning and your late for school and haven't even read your book for the report that is due.

Yes. It is a game worth getting and the community CAN be great....ifyou put yourself within the right crowd. This forum is very supportive and will be a big help to any new player.


Pre-TBC if You were looking to join a raiding guild (at level 60) your 2-3 hours per night would have not been sufficient. Chances are the same thing will hold true for this expansion. BUT that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy other aspects of the game! Try a trial, and figure it out for yourself!

[Balboa]

Well, I only have about three hours a night because I have a sister that I am forced to share the computer with. We each get our own times and everything, but it's annoying if I want to do something like this. Usually, I get home at three and do my homework until 5:30 (when my time starts), eat dinner real quick and get on until 9 (when it's my sisters turn again). So, I can manage my time wheel. LOL.

[Tanitha]

I'm with Stigg. It sucks you in. You need to be able to prioritise and budget your time well with this game, otherwise you'll find yourself doing "Just one quest more" until you pass out.

I'm lucky. I have a mobile alarm clock that keeps me away from it for any great length of time and before I purchased the game made the decision that I would approach and play it as a casual player.

One can still enjoy it that way, very muchly so.

Try a trial though - that's the best way!

[Balboa]

Okay... where can I find a trial at?

I already can see myself more as a casual player. I'll do my best to level up, join guilds, and have fun, but I think I'll just not complete all the time consuming stuff, or do it when I have more time.

[Tanitha]

Normally the same stores that sell the game will sell you a trial DVD. They run for about NZ$4.95 here. Alternatively, by looking through the support section of the official website you can download a trial edition from there. I don't have a direct link, but it will be a hefty download.

[Balboa]

I'll try downloading it later tonight. Thanks. :)

[larissa]

At Stigg and Tanitha say, it is very time consuming if you get caught up in it. I had not idea I'd become so addicted, but not spend most of my waking moments playing Wow ... well, when I'm not working at least. :grin:

The trial CD should be plentiful and cheap, especially with the Burning Crusade now out. What better time to pull people in to the game than with a new expansion for people to also buy? Give it a shot, see if you like the game, the graphics, the mechanics and storylines. It'll only give you a taste, of course, but it should be good to give you an idea of how much you like the game.

I'm very much a 'casual' player, in that I don't see myself raiding much, beyond adding on to raids looking to fill out their numbers. So even if you do skip the raid content, there is just so much content to experience, and I made it to 60 just this past weekend, and I certainly missed or abandoned a lot of quests along the way. Even with just an hour to play, you can get lots of things done. There are tons of quests where you just deliver goods around, or hunt down mobs in the area, or you could even just go out looking for experience and cash, or work on your professions for fun and profit! :grin: I would reserve instances for when you have your 2-3 hours of time, as you'll probably take this long for a level equivalent instance.

If you do join up, I would recommend finding others to play with. Make friends! Having someone to talk to, quest with and experience the game with is amazing! Having done it myself, I could never see myself soloing a character up all the way. Just know that as with the outside world, there are good people as well as bad people ... but that being said, I think it's just the stories and the odd personal experience that makes it seem like every 9 out of 10 people are jerks. You always remember the bad ones, but not the tons of nice people. It's really not that way, and in fact I would say it's the reverse.

~~~Larissa

[Balboa]

Wow. It seems great. Going to download it now. I found it on the main website. I guess I can interact with others online with the software... I have no idea how the "10-Day Free Trial" works...

[Balboa]

Oh... it's downloading. It's at 16%... with 2 hours of time left. I won't be able to play tonight, DARN!

But anyway, it is actually the complete game downloaded onto the computer. It just won't let you in after 10 days. You have to buy the game and use an activation code inside it to be able to go on after that. But you won't have to go through this long loading process again. Yippe!

*Now at 17%*

[Foonyak]

I have no idea how the "10-Day Free Trial" works...

I know you can activate a trial witha credit card, though I'm unsure on whether or not you can do so with a prepaid game card (they should be available through any retailer that carries the game). You have ten days to do whatever you want. Your level is capped at 20, there is no in-game mail, trading, bank use (I may be wrong on that one), and a few more restrictions that I can't recall. You should be able to read up on it either on the official site (www.worldofwarcraft.com) or in the trial readme.

[Tanitha]

If you are in the US, you need to provide your credit card details as part of the age verification process.

Apart from that there are a few restrictions on what you can do. No trading, Auction House use or suchlike and there are limits on what level you can skill to. If memory serves me right it was level 20 and skill level 100 on professions, but I am probably very wrong there.

Other than that, it's a fully functional game as far as I know. Once you've played through it you can upgrade that to the full game and keep on playing with your existing characters.

[Jokque]

People literally ruin their lives on MMOs (loosing social circle, getting crappy grades, skipping work, etc etc)

Id say dont start, they are rather addictive, particulary for people new to the genre

[Balboa]

Well, I know even if I become addicted... I am only allowed on the computer only three and a half hours a night... or I won't be playing at all. I don't want to become one of those who ruin there lives. I read an article about World of Warcraft (well, kinda MMORPGs in general, although it named this game) and how addicting it was... how people gave up their entire lives for this game. Now, I don't want to criticize anyone, but I do not want to be that addicted to this game...

I want to just have fun with it.

[Woodlander]

It won't ruin/consume your life if you don't let it and remember that it's a game not a job and it won't make you money (legally). Assuming as I do that you're a male of the species I propose the following litmus test:

When you start thinking about WoW more than you think about girls and have to stop and think whether you should go out on that date w/ the hot cheerleader or join that guild raid then it's time to cut back.

[Balboa]

I am currently waiting at the third load screen. First, it put the game onto my computer. Then it made it accessable (I can't spell), and not it's installing patches. Whoever said hefty download was correct...

[Balboa]

Okay. I've been playing for about a few hours now. It seems fun. I just wish I had a party to run around with. If you get a change, I'm on the Antonidas server and go by the name of Sabathl.

[icutyoubad]

In my experience, most of your early levels you will play solo other than instances. There just isn't a lot that *requires* a group to do. Most of the quests are soloable, and if they aren't they will appear in your quest log with (Group) next to them. Personally I don't like to group unless I'm doing an instance or helping people out with a quest. I find the guild chat is enough social interaction for me while I solo quest.

Then again, there are those times when you just randomly run into people doing the same thing you are, group up and find they are really cool people. Those are always good times.