Surviving Game of War

As with all war games, there can be a dark side to Game of War. In every life situation, there are positives and negatives. Somehow, we learn to survive Game of War and we find our reasons to continue playing and investing in the community we have built.

We play for many reasons. Some of those reasons, at times, will spill over into this world and affect how we communicate with and treat others. The drama can be overwhelming at times. So, how do you survive Game of War? In this article, we will explore why various members of the community play, and how to deal when drama rears its head.

Why do we play?

Why do we play? What makes this community worth it? I have my own thoughts. I also asked some of our friends in Line.

Why I Play

The Community. This answer feels obvious. Many of us have stated over and over again that the community is what keeps us coming back and keeps us playing. However, what is it about the community?

There might be Keyboard Warriors, there might be people that are just plain hateful — but on other days, you meet the person that makes it worth it. You meet the person you fall in love with, or your best friend who is there in the moments where you feel alone. You meet the person that checks in just to make sure that you are there and okay because they care. You meet the person you can tell things that you cannot even tell your family.

You meet another type of family. Another support system. Game of War has truly built a culture of its own. With a vast variety of people that become more then just the people you game with. I have not met all of those people but I have met so many people and my life has changed because of the community that I have met in Game of War.

Why others in the community Play

“I continue to play because I enjoy it. I love the teamwork. I love the never-ending updates to keep everyone on their toes. I hate the expense, but it is what it is.”

~SmotPoker

“I play because I like the game, and I continue to play because after work and school I need something to help relax. I enjoy the game and the challenges.”

~Destiny

“I play because my friends also play. It’s also fun to try and figure out the drops, stats, etc.”

~Chem

“I play because it’s fun. Also have gotten to the point where proving it is a strategy game just adds to the fun. Nothing better then in-game hate mail from the “credit card warriors.”

~Liam

“The people we come in contact with.”

~Beatrice

“The reason I still play is because I love to kill monsters. Plus, I have a lot of good gaming friends that I talk to daily. Also, I’m digging that the new world can burn people at SH 16.”

~Lord Lima Bean

“I play for the fun and other players. I came to this game when there was a lot going on in my personal life, and it was a good distraction that became an everyday affair which was better then T.V. You’re interacting with other people. The good, the bad, and the B*****.”

~FunHaz

“I play ’cause of the friends I’ve made. And ’cause MZ is good at sucking me back in by making changes just as I’m ready to quit for good. Love having monsters that don’t take half a trillion energy to attack. I can play without spending again.”

~Crystal Girl

“Well, I play as a stress reliever… as crazy as that sounds… GOW allows me to get away from the normal daily buzz from work and just converse with good people who make me laugh and forget about the stress.”

~Asia

“I like my friends. They are like family to me. I take breaks when MZ gets ridiculous. The updates are something I look forward to, even if I don’t buy packs.”

~ Kayper

“I started playing after I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. I had to quit my job as a teacher and became disabled. I was bored, got introduced to GOW through a mutual friend. Almost 5 years later, I’ve made some lifelong friends and continue to meet some amazing people from all over the world. Keeps me busy and somewhat productive.”

~SweetnSasi

“I play because I love strategy, I love teaching and helping others play, and the biggest reason is because of all the wonder ful people I’ve met. Including my soon to be baby daddy.”

~Carol May

Delving into the Darker Side — What is it?

Game of War has a darker side. There is no denying it. However, this darker side that I speak of comes with any community. It is not unique to Game of War. Game of War is just the community that affects us.

For many people, Game of War is a hiatus or an escape from the reality of their daily lives. However, as we often see sometimes, in a digital world our frustrations are easier to spill out when we do not have to see who we are talking to face-to-face. It is easier to distance yourself and let hateful words fly when you are not faced with the consequences of your actions. When we allow this to happen, our hiatus becomes unsafe and we are left confused and hurt.

We have seen players who mortgage their entire lives on Game of War. They become so entangled in the game that it begins to effect their real lives and regardless of the consequences they do not stop.

We have all seen the darker side to the community. We know it exists and we deal with it day in and day out. However, we have the opportunity to be proactive and to shape our community in a way that makes it unique from any other. How do you survive Game of War and not allow it to take over then? I have some quick tips for you.

Surviving Game of War

So with the darker side of the community how does one Survive Game of War?

Never spend beyond your means.
Having an escape is okay, but do not allow it to take over. When your escape starts to hinder your ability to function in daily life, it is time to back away some.
Know that it is okay to take a break if you need it.
Always remember that there are real people with real feelings on the other side of the screen.
Remember that it is okay to use the block button.
Ask for help if you need it.
Surround yourself with the people that make it enjoyable and fun.
Remember — it should be fun!
Learn to balance the amount of time spent investing here and the amount of time invested in other things.
I know I already said this, but ask for help if you need it and it is okay to use the block button!

Some of the best advice I have seen for this lately came from Rogueness in our Player Profile last week.

“Don’t chase the carrot – play within your means. It’s easy to get caught up and spend more than what you have….don’t do it. Also, remember that there are real people behind the account. Trash-talking is fun at times, but be a decent human being. We all play this game to escape something in our lives -some have stuff worse than others going on. There are some lines that shouldn’t be crossed.”

The Game of War community has persisted for many years. There are so many reasons that this community continues on. We all have our days when we want to delete the app and disappear, but there are so many things and people that keep us around.

Remember this is our community and we are responsible for what we make it. We can choose to sit back and watch the dark side take over… or we can be active and make the community a place that people want to be. A place that fosters a healthy relationship with gaming and does not allow others to be torn apart.

I know that this article was more somber then most, but this is something that we have all seen and is prevalent within the community. So I’d like to encourage you to choose to make the community better and choose to be the person you want to meet on the other side of the screen.