Quick interview with a casual gamer

Not everyone who plays computer games becomes addicted. For many people it is just a harmless hobby which will have little to no impact on the rest of their life. Today I interviewed Jason, a 25 year old male casual gamer

Me: Hi Jason! I want to start by asking if you have ever subscribed to an online role playing game?

Jason: Yeah the first online game I started playing was World of Warcraft. Actually, that’s probably the only one I really got into. Before that there were the other Warcraft games, but I never played those ones online.

Me: What is the draw to the non online versions of Warcraft? Why did you play it?

Jason: Oh, it was so well made. Well balanced. There are online modes but it isn’t an RPG. It’s just your army versus someone else’s army and it takes 20 minutes. And then that’s it. It’s not something you get immersed in with a character and a guild but it’s still fun.

Me: And there is still a big market for these games which are online without the immersion and role playing?

Jason: Oh yeah! The new Starcraft game is coming out in less than a year and that’s going to be one of the most bought games... It’s online but players just play each other without the development of characters.

Me: what was the appeal to you for World of Warcraft?

Jason: I went into it because it was a very well developed game. You get rewarded for all your actions and the harder you try and they more you try the more you are rewarded. It plays to everyone’s level.

Me: did some of your friends all start playing at the same time?

Jason: No we never all played it really. Some of us play and some of us quit and then some of us start it up again.

Me: So since you started playing, four years ago right? What percentage of the time have you been an active subscribing member?

Jason: Oh I’d say only about 20%. I play it when I get bored. And I play more in the winter as it’s too cold outside. I know it’s going to be fun and if I don’t have another game or anything interesting to do to keep my attention I know I can fall back on it.

Me: Well, thank you for your time Jason. It’s interesting to talk to someone who plays but not at a chronic level.

Jason: Anytime!