Ultima Online is evil... I'm serious

[Tom Flapwell]

Any kind of obsession is unhealthy, and this girl clearly has an addiction. I suppose we shouldn't blame the game or its makers, any more than we should blame golf for a person's golf mania. But Giz, surely you don't think her loss of academic ability and acquisition of antisocial tendencies is no problem.

[Moddex]

Or the fact that soon, her physical capabilities could soon take an impact of prolonged lack of activity?

[Rooster]

I know a guy who hardly ever talks when we go to the pub, but will sit and play WOW for hours on end, chatting to friends online and whatever.

We came to the realisation that he's been playing computer games since he was about 7, and doesn't know how to talk to people in real life.

I mean, I play A LOT of computer games, but usually single player games. I get my contact with people on IRC, here, or just down the pub over a quiet pint of John Smiths.

[Dr. Doog]

that's kind of like how I am; I've never had much social interaction outside of school, but since I've been using computers for so long I've found my way into places like DC which provides imperfect social interaction, but interaction nonetheless.

[Moddex]

When it comes down to it, those of us who've become veteran DC members are in some level, addicted to this and possibly other forums or impliments of technological comunication.

[Dr. Doog]

why do you think I've stuck around after leaving a couple of times?

[Loeln]

While mmorpg's can be fun/interesting/time passing/etc. at age nine, there should other things to do than sit in front of a screen for oh so long. Goodluck with those alternatives.

However, if it does get to such a point that it becomes damaging to her physical/mental health, rather than sabotage the computer its self, uninstall the game and block any places she could download it from and/or hide/scratch the installation discs.

Hmm,... new desktop background?

[likeafox]

I might have been something like that at age 9, although not with MMORPGs. It was other stuff like Mario 3. There are some redeeming qualities about most video games like improved reaction time, problem solving skills and such. But most MMORPGs are as inactive as games come. At their basic level they are interactive chatrooms, which in itself isn't bad, but still no substitute for the real thing. Once the addictiveness sets in, the socializing element becomes somewhat lost and levelling up, getting better items, etc, become a sort of electronic crack. It tricks your mind into thinking you're accomplishing something. You begin to sacrifice real-life goals for imaginary ones. There is nothing beneficial about most MMORPGs. It's not another Tetris that improves your cognitive abilities. You sit all day and press a button while your mind goes dull.

My advice: If she likes games, get her on a different one. Any genre but MMO.

[gen200]

yeah, I agree, likeafox, MMOs are like that.

my six-year-old brother loves puzzle games and fast side-scrollers, but he's not really obsessive about it.

he's one of the more 'healthy' members of the family, and he's extremely smart, and these games don't seem to negatively affect his grades.

It's the same with my other sister and fighters.

I'll take your advice and get her on a different game, as well as get her active.

PREVIEW OF MY NEXT WEEK'S ISSUE: Visual-Spatial in a nutshell;
"We don't need no sequential education,"

P.S. Mario 3 is AWESOMENESS!!!

[GhostWay]

Hm, I remember UO. Frankly, I'm surprised it's still around.

But yeah, it's definitely something a kid that young shouldn't be on. I don't really know any suggestions other than what's been stated here. Except that she's violating Origin's ToS, which requires the player to be at least 13 to sign up for an account. If all else fails, you could report this to Origin, and they might ban the account for ToS violation.

But that's assuming she's playing on an official server. There's literally hundreds of bootleg servers that people use to play the game to get around fees and "inconvenient" rules. If that's the case, you won't have much luck with a technical solution.

(The reason I know all of this, incidentally, is that I had a friend who played for nearly two years on a "bootleg" server, until the server went away due to lack of funds.)

I'd also like to note that it's not only is such overuse of computer games unhealthy for for the body, it's also unhealthy for one's mood. Sunlight causes the brain to produce more serotonin, which causes happiness, and (prolonged) lack of sunlight can lead to depression, depending on how long the person is spending out of sunlight. Which is the reason people tend to get depressed more in the winter than in the summer - shorter days and whatnot.

[FerretParade]

Puzzles game are the best man. I'll kick any of your butts at tetris attack!

[Gizensha]

I might have been something like that at age 9, although not with MMORPGs. It was other stuff like Mario 3. There are some redeeming qualities about most video games like improved reaction time, problem solving skills and such. But most MMORPGs are as inactive as games come. At their basic level they are interactive chatrooms, which in itself isn't bad, but still no substitute for the real thing. Once the addictiveness sets in, the socializing element becomes somewhat lost and levelling up, getting better items, etc, become a sort of electronic crack. It tricks your mind into thinking you're accomplishing something. You begin to sacrifice real-life goals for imaginary ones. There is nothing beneficial about most MMORPGs. It's not another Tetris that improves your cognitive abilities. You sit all day and press a button while your mind goes dull.

My advice: If she likes games, get her on a different one. Any genre but MMO.

On the contrary. Chatrooms are, in some cases, a preferable way of communicating than real-life, simply because there is less need to put on a facade and so you can be more like yourself within them.

[Liberal Cynic]

Puzzles game are the best man. I'll kick any of your butts at tetris attack!

Is that a challenge little man?

[FerretParade]

Yes... Yes it is.. Bring it chump!

[Liberal Cynic]

Well then, Let's get it on!

The first game. Pong.
Just watch.