Holy Order™ - RF Online Philippines | RF Online, Online Gaming, and Real Life

Article Index
RF Online, Online Gaming, and Real Life
Socialization, Teamwork
Leadership and Trading
Summary
All Pages

Page 1 of 4

Are you an online gamer? If ever you're not, have you ever considered wanting to try it out?

One of the most common thoughts that come to the mind of a gamer, is that they are afraid of getting addicted to online gaming if ever they try getting themselves to play an online game. Having been an online gamer since 2004, I can say that such a feeling has its value. Online gaming IS addicting, BUT everyone have their own levels of self-control. So, if you ask me if I'm an addict, I can say that I am not.

I'm sure many of you have heard this line many many times: "It's all about being responsible, and playing online games just takes time management." This is very true, and with any task or activity, or hobby, all it takes is time management, prioritization and doing what you want to do responsibly. But, having been around a lot of online gamers in the guild, it's evident to me that not everyone has it that easy. There are those who can handle their time very well -- they are able to have a social life outside the game, they can work/study, and they have time for their friends and family, and there are those who just spend too much time on the game, that they forget their real lives.

By now, you're probably saying, "I've heard this a lot of times already, what's your point?" What I'm trying to point out is that online games is addicting only if you let it be, and that there are A LOT of values that you can learn from online gaming. For this particular write-up, I'll refer to RF Online as an example since it's the game I've played the most. I'll focus on the different values I've learned, as well as the different things in my life I was able to improve because of gaming.

Time Management and Prioritization

Perhaps, this is one of the values I was able to improve on the most because of playing online games. Juggling work, friends, family, the guild, and playing is not easy at all, and I'm not saying that it's getting any easier with how the guild is growing. I was able to learn that you can't do everything you want to do in a day, and that time management is not all about adjusting your hours within a day. This is where prioritization comes in.

At work, there are breaks (lunch breaks, logical breaks, etc) and these are the times that I use to squeeze in the stuff I have to do for the guild and friends. If I have to address some issues like answer threads, I use such opportunities to go to our forums and reply. Since I can't play RF inside the office, this is the least I can perform my responsibilities in the guild. Also, there are times that there's not too many tasks, so I spend those hours chatting with friends, and formulating events for the guild.

After work, I go home then either spend time with the family to watch a DVD, play RF, or chat with friends. Yeah, I'm really thankful that Instant Messaging was created! At least, I can have time for my friends even if I don't get time to meet with them regularly. Like work hours, I have to choose which one I have to do. If I find that I wasn't able to spend much time with my family, I try not to spend too much time in front of the PC. When I know I haven't spent much time with the guild, I prioritize that, and play with them and help them level up.

On Saturdays, I choose between going out with friends, or staying at home to play the game. Saturday is usually my day to use up. Lately, I've been spending it with friends over a few hours of badminton, and since they're also guildmates, I hit two birds with one stone! Fun and healthy too! But, when I figure I've been lacking time for my in-game responsibilities, that's when I sit down in front of the PC and spend long hours during Saturdays playing.

Sundays, it's always family first. If the family wants to go out, hear mass, I do that first. At the end of the day, when all my responsibilities are done, that's the time I sit in front of the PC and cater to the other stuff I have to do.

This is my weekly ritual, and I'm sure other online gamers have figured out their own schedules to fit other parts of their lives outside the games. If you're an online gamer, and don't have one and just spend long hours in front of the PC, it may be time to think about other things, especially your health. Did you know that sitting down too long increases your chances of kidney/liver problems because of poor blood circulation? Just food for thought.

Prev - Next >>