Parents shut down Wow session, wahhhhhhh!
The amount of time spent on Second Life decreased in August, the first time in a year and a half, according to a Reuters story:
Signs of a Second Life slowdown have been apparent throughout the summer, with declines seen in the number of active users, 30-day logins and user-to-user transactions.
Speaking for myself, my own virtual world time inside Second Life has been being spread around elsewhere online. I’ve been spending more time leaving comments on other blogs (non-MMO and non gaming-related for the most part). Also been trying out a number of services and trying to learn more about making video, particular High Definition video. Being in learning mode can eat up hours.
Some might be wondering what the title is in reference to. It’s actually a video I spotted some time ago that has been sitting in the draft bin. I liked the title and was waiting for it to fit some other story. This is more from a parental perspective and covers a child that might be spending a little too much time in-world.
Now how about you, are you spending more time in Second Life, less time, or about the same as before summer?
September 25th, 2007 • 
TD Goodliffe • 
comment | September 26, 2007 at 02:47 | individual comment-link
Having a son with whom I’ve had similar (although a LOT more civilized) discussions, and also being a definite SL addict, I can relate to both sides in that video. What disturbed me is the one point the kid made about how the parents aren’t taking the time to understand…I have to agree with him there. While his own attitude was immature at best, they also need to understand the work that goes into getting a character into a certain place at a certain time with a certain group of people in WoW. Took me a while to understand it and as I said, I actually understand a type of MMORPG.
That said, I DO with WoW had a way one could walk away at a moment’s notice without losing all the progress made. RL does have a way of barging in at times.
As for the actual topic of your post (grin)? My own SL time did decrease this summer because of family vacations and other activities that happen only in the summer (love the harvest from my garden now, though!). This year has been my first round of seasons in SL (my “birth” date is coming up in a few weeks…I’ll be 1), so I wasn’t sure if my own drop in usage was normal or not. Sounds like it is.
Now that autumn is here, I know I’ve been inworld more…and suspect that will go up as the dreary days of winter stretch on and on and on…
Diana
comment | September 26, 2007 at 02:49 | individual comment-link
I really should read back before struggling to post. I meant to say “I do WISH WoW had a way…”
Sorry.
Diana
comment | September 26, 2007 at 05:56 | individual comment-link
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Diana. You make a good point about taking time to understand, however, as a father of a son who spent well over 12 hours playing Halo 3 yesterday, when it’s time to quit playing, it’s time to quit playing.
comment | November 22, 2007 at 22:15 | individual comment-link
Warcraft has a way right on their website.
unfortunately you will have to access your childs account (you must have their password to do this)
theres a parental controls button on the first page after you login.