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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2009 19:47:46 GMT
I went early this a.m. for coffee(around 7:30 a.m.). The cafe also provides wi fi service. A young woman I know from the neighborhood was online playing(is that the correct term?) that farmville thing. I came home and spent most of the day gardening,cleaned the pond,weeded,macheted,chopped,mulched. I took a couple of breaks and had some iced tea.The weather here is crystal clear,high 60's,gorgeous! I went back to the cafe at 1:00pm to take some BBQ ribs to my friend who was working a double shift there. The young woman was STILL online,yes,"playing" farmville. As I know her,I asked her if she had been playing since I saw her early this morning. She said yes,she had not left. I am not trying to be judgmental about this seeming phenomena. I spend much more time online then I would necessarily care to,and I know it's addictive. But,I just don't get it.  Is there some kind of RUSH or other pleasurable endorphin producing charge? Am I missing something here? |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2009 19:54:59 GMT
I know how addictive some of these things can be, so I have avoided it. I read an article saying that Farmville is currently the most addictive game on the internet, causing certain people to get up at 3 a.m. to "harvest" their crops. It is also extremely important to recruit friends to play, so it has all of the makings of a sect.
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Post by spindrift on Nov 1, 2009 20:25:57 GMT
You read that in the New York Times, didn't you? Ha ha...yes it is very addictive. I am addicted but now that I have my virtual 'farm' more or less as I want it, I don't check it so often. I certainly never sat for hours looking at it grow...I know that many people do this.
Farmville must induce a rush of pleasurable endorphins...it actually makes me feel 'happy'. Two days ago when I managed to get hold of a black cat I was thrilled. It gave me a real high. I try to analyse my addiction. I know that I find the colours quite beautiful....the animations are charming in themselves, the imagination of the game designer is limitless...I am looking forward to Christmas so that I can find out whether we will have the chance to acquire reindeers etc.
Kerouac , have a look at it. Unfortunately I think you are too busy on here to give it a go.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2009 20:47:39 GMT
Don't forget that I am already on Second Life!
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Post by spindrift on Nov 1, 2009 20:54:03 GMT
Yes, I remember. But I found Second Life quite difficult to learn. On the other hand Farmville is dead easy...
I'd still like to try SL again. It's very complicated.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2009 21:37:24 GMT
Perhaps Kerouac is working on some endorphin producing formula for the Port in his spare time!  |
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Post by lagatta on Nov 3, 2009 23:23:52 GMT
casimira doesn't get it because she does some of that old-fashioned meat-world farming and gardening...
I've never heard of "farmville". I can see the attraction though. I do listen to the early-morning farm show "D'un soleil à l'autre" on Radio-Canada (the French network of the CBC). There is something very compelling about the thought of people growing and producing actual food. But couldn't she volunteer in a community garden? Or do an internship with you?
"Oh, that's too dirty. I'll wreck my fingernails"...
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Post by imec on Nov 4, 2009 0:13:19 GMT
"Oh, that's too dirty. I'll wreck my fingernails"... and don't forget the worms... |
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 4, 2009 0:59:53 GMT
Well, I tried Farmville because so many people I knew were playing it. I have to say, it is cute with all the little animals and growing trees and stuff, but ...............................
GAWD, is it boring!
I shouldn't say that. I should say that it's boring to me, because I guess I can see the appeal of accumulating and arranging all that stuff. It's a "let's pretend" game that somehow captures the attention of an amazingly wide array of people.
The one I am addicted to is Mafia Wars. I cruelly mocked my son for being so into it, then finally checked it out to see what all the fuss was about. That was it -- I was hooked! It involves a good bit of strategizing and learning. Really, it's an allegorical cornucopia.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2009 6:19:24 GMT
I finally had to delete Sim City from my computer last year because it was too depressing to see my cities slowly turn into slums. I was always breaking the municipal budget with cool stuff, and I had some truly awful fires in the industrial zone.
One of the best things about Sim City, though, is that they understand the little boy's urge to destroy what you have just built, the same as a house of cards or a pile of blocks. So there is a whole section devoted to suddenly provoking earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, not to mention tornados, fires and attacks from outer space. I always enjoyed the giant robots who would come strolling down my streets to laser blast my most beautiful buildings.
But at least I didn't have to worry about things happening at 3 a.m.!
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 4, 2009 6:54:00 GMT
One of the best things about Sim City, though, is that they understand .... THAT is what gets me about these games! How do they manage so perfectly to tap into particular desires for play in adults? I introduced a real-life friend to Mafia Wars. She has since outstripped me and we spend a fair amount of time discussing the game, even though there are tons of 3-D life stuff we could be discussing. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2009 8:24:52 GMT
Oh, and meteors! I could have meteorites come crashing down on my cities. You can't have that in real life...
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Post by spindrift on Nov 4, 2009 9:49:47 GMT
And so the designers of these games have us tracked for our inclinations, all in the name of future marketing I imagine.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2009 10:02:00 GMT
"Upgrade to our deluxe version for only £9.99 a month!"
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Post by spindrift on Nov 4, 2009 12:10:52 GMT
;D
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Post by imec on Nov 4, 2009 12:34:06 GMT
THAT is what gets me about these games! How do they manage so perfectly to tap into particular desires for play in adults? Like the various "attractions" in Grand Theft Auto... |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2009 17:28:04 GMT
I don't do any of these games or any other games on the internet. I simply don't have the time. I played a mean game of cards with my sons yesterday though.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2009 2:39:58 GMT
Playing cards with people and games in general like chess where you are interacting with another human being is something I miss. I used to play some card games with a neighbor and thoroughly enjoyed it,same with chess. I tried on the computer and I just zoned right out.
It's too alien.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 6, 2009 1:49:33 GMT
I've always hated games, even chess and cards. Nothing against them; it is a fine way of interacting and limbers up the brain; I just find them boring.
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Post by spindrift on Nov 6, 2009 12:07:59 GMT
I'd love to play card games with someone, or backgammon or Liar dice/Poker dice. I don't know anyone who plays games. When I lived in Nairobi we played games every and all weekends.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2009 12:14:16 GMT
I'd love to play card games with someone, or backgammon or Liar dice/Poker dice. I don't know anyone who plays games. When I lived in Nairobi we played games every and all weekends. I too,spindrift. Maybe we could play together online . Anything to lure you away from farmville! |
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Post by spindrift on Nov 6, 2009 12:19:47 GMT
I'm not on farmville too much now....only spasmodically |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2009 12:27:47 GMT
I'm not on farmville too much now....only spasmodically yeah,you're just waiting for the reindeer to arrive! |
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Post by spindrift on Nov 6, 2009 13:44:53 GMT
::)Yes!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2009 15:33:17 GMT
I like playing chess too, yep, it's the interaction that is fun, the smiles and the little sneaky looks, wondering who is bluffing who is not.
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