Wrath of the Lich King Wow Expansion Launch Party

That's what my hubby is doing tonight. For four hours. How the heck do people celebrate the launch of a video game for four hours? Anyway, have fun honey!

I'll Pass on World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

Only one week away until the new WoW expansion is released. There are so many things to do with the new expansion. It's very tempting for me to play again.

But, alas, I cannot. I must stay away until at least the end of November. I'm participating in NaNo, and it is impossible to do both. They both use far too much time.

So, WoW, you'll have to wait for me. Hopefully you'll still be there when I'm ready to come back.

World of Warcraft at Level 70

Well, what do you know... just as I was wondering if there would be anything besides raiding and PVP waiting for me at level 70, I came across this blog post. I suppose I had my head in the sand and had no idea of what was coming out in the expansion. There might be a post-70 future for me in WoW afterall.

Grinding and Level 70 in World of Warcraft

Just a side note on this Pokemon, Webkinz and Wii blog to say that I'm getting closer and closer to level 70 in World of Warcraft. (I have a warlock.) The truth is, I'm not looking forward to hitting the level cap.

I'm not quite sure how people can grind to level 70. The getting there is so much fun. They're missing out on a lot.

So, when I'm level 70, I'm not sure if I'm going to quit WoW and play the Wii as my entertainment.

The kids, however, are in the love with the Wii. Our four year old has a bit of trouble using the controller, so she uses the GameCube controller when she plays. Right now, Boomblox is the favorite. Xmas this year is going to be game-tastic.

WoW Jobs and WoW Portraits

If you're a stay at home mom (like me), you like to play WoW (like me) and you're looking for a job (not like me), this might be the one!

Also, if you love your character and would like an oil portrait to hang on your wall with your kids, here's a source.

World of Warcraft Addiction

Sometimes I wonder, "Am I addicted to World of Warcraft?"

I could compare myself to the die-hard WoW players, who raid for hours on end, and devote entire weekends to powerleveling, and forgo sleep. Compared to this crowd, I'm a WoW wimp.

But in my life, there are times I'll forgo doing something I should be doing in order to play WoW. An hour or two will fly by while running around Desolace whacking Slitherblades and Scorpashi. Turn ins here, running around there, whacking this monster, looting treasure chests, shopping the auction house, selling loot - it all becomes so compelling, it's literally a never-ending story.

If I played WoW hours like a raider, my life would fall apart - addicted or not, this kind of devoted game play isn't possible as a mom and a professional writer and speaker. Then if I add in all of my other interests, there really is very little time to play WoW and still get sufficient sleep.

Yet, I do. Sometimes I play WoW when the dishes are piled up, when the underwear drawer is empty, and when I have a deadline. "Just one more thing, then I'll camp out," I think. And that one more thing becomes two more things, then five, then ten. Before I know it, I have no time left to do those dishes, the laundry, the writing, before I'm forced to stop playing to feed my children or take them to a class.

So when is it an addiction, and when is it merely getting lost in the moment?

Just like food, alcohol, TV, and so many other pleasurable things in life, there has to be a way to find fun without crossing the line into obsession and mindlessness. The fine line between the two is hard to find in WoW, because the nature of the game requires a high level of participation in order to play effectively. Even a casual gamer has to spend at least a half hour or an hour in order to do anything significant. If you count running and flying time, the time it takes to find a safe place to camp, vending, turn ins, and all of the details that, individually, don't take much time at all, it adds up fast.

Having fun and being addicted are hard to separate in WoW, but I believe it's possible. If it's not, then I have to give up WoW, because after all, WoW is only one possible thing to do in life. And, I have a pretty good feeling, that it'll always be there to go back to.

Done With Webkinz

Webkinz no longer is interesting. Going on a Webkinz break. Maybe I'll come back later. For now, I'm playing World of Warcraft.