My BF's MMORPG Addiction

Question

My boyfriend is addicted to a game called Maple Story, a free MMORPG, but if you want your character to look a certain way, want to level faster, or want any conveniences, you have to pay real money. Such as your character having wings, costs about $5, and lasts only 90 days. So while it isn't like WOW, where you're guaranteed to be spending just to play, my boyfriend has already spent $2,000 feeding this game addiction in the past 2 years.

We live together and he's 28 years old. He neglects helping me with simple household tasks, i.e. grocery shopping, cleaning, vacuuming, doing dishes, etc.. And when he comes home from work, he'll play until he's ready for bed. And when I ask him to put the laptop away and go out and do something with me, he doesn't want to, or he says he paid real money to get 2x experience and doesn't want to waste his money.

And I told my boyfriend last night that I'm going to disconnect our cable Internet and turn to a slow dial-up, solely so he can't play Maple Story, or at least can only play it until his frustration with the slow speed overpowers his desire to play.

He admits he has an addictive personality and says that playing Maple Story is better than doing drugs or drinking, and seems to be threatening to return to such activities (as he has in the past). We've been together almost 3 years and I really love him, but this is getting so out of hand. He wouldn't talk to me for 2-3 hours when I told him about my plans to switch to dial-up, and only after heavy coaxing.

I don't know if I'm asking a question or just venting. =\ Anyone else out there addicted to Maple Story or know someone who is?

Answer 1

I think you are as stupid as he is for staying with him

Answer 2

I used to be addicted to gaming...long time ago. I was neglecting everything around me, even school. I started to fail 2 classes so my parents grounded me for 2 months. No computer for 2 months can do a lot to you. If you could somehow take his laptop away, you could probably get more out of him. You could even go as far as threatening to break up with him if he doesnt change his ways. I think going to dial-up is a good start. It would definately limit his gaming, and regular internet browsing abilities. I know it would probably make him EXTREMELY angry, but if all else fails, delete his maple story account. I know some of these are a stretch, but it sounds like your situation is close to no hope. He's not going to give up on it until something bad happens. $2000 is WAY too much to be spending on a video game.  

Answer 3

I had tried wow a little bit I do not see what can be so addictive.  Honestly he needs a break and likes games thats it.

Answer 4

The fact that he's playing such a terrible game speaks for itself. Dump him, and upgrade to dating a WoW player.

Answer 5

Just make sure that he gets disconnected alot or can't play the game and he we will soon lose his intrest in maplestory.

Answer 6

smash the d**n computer and kick him in the ***

Answer 7

He's 28? Ha

Answer 8

well you can deffinetly call that an addiction but i have played the game and i can see how this game can get very addicting because of the player community, items, even bosses, altough i like to play freebie thourgh most of the games i play but as i can see $2,000 in 2 years seen like a lot to the 360$ in 2 years for membership in WoW (if you select 1 month recurring) so tell him about tat

Answer 9

It could be worse, as well as the legitimate markets in most games, there are generally black markets in game currency and items.

The most extreme example being:

http://epicslut.ytmnd.com/

Maybe you can find a way to shock him out of this addiction.

Answer 10

I have some advice for you.

Trying to take away his game as if you are his mother will create a lot of resentment and future conflict.  What you need to do is discuss your needs and his so that you can agree on a schedule of when his time will be devoted to household tasks and when he gets to do whatever he wants (such as play the game).  The schedule will also define your time in the same way.  It is also possible to divide the work (with performance criteria specified) so that he can play the game so long as the garbage is all taken out and the dishes are all clean, etc...

The next thing you need to do is learn about his game a little.  Become familiar with what he likes and then get him a new game that is not "Free".  This will do a lot to limit his game expenses.  Make an upfront agreement with him about how much money can be spent each month by each of you on recreational items and how much of that can be rolled over into future months.

Once you have all these agreements in place, you will have to get over how you feel about the gaming and live up to your end of the bargain.  There are things you like to do that he thinks are silly too.  Avoid that desire to interfere with his play time.  If the rules no longer apply to you then they no longer apply to him either.  His time is his time at that point whether he is playing a game or washing his car.

Answer 11

follow the world of wifecraft solution

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVhwwFHGE...

Answer 12

stick to what you say your going to do, he will soon get over it and realize you mean much more to him than the game.

If he goes back to drugs then you should leave him.

He obviously doesn't respect you enough to see that he is hurting you.

Good luck.