I often hear that most MMORPG players are students. Although that is true, I also see many who are already with the working class. When you are a student, you will most likely want to get to know gamers who are also students like yourself. Same goes with working people. If you belong to the working class, some of your real life buddies and office-mates will in all likelihood be your in-game friends as well.

One thing I find cool with playing online games is that “Age doesn’t matter”.. Although people might call me “ate” in game or sometimes I also call some people ate or kuya or even mommy, people still treat each other as equals.

We all start as equals in game. Guess what? How you portray yourself in-game will be how people will see you. You can be old but childish and immature or young yet know how to show fairness and maturity. I admit that sometimes I use the fact that my virtual persona can be different from the real me. I can show a side of my personality that I normally don’t show in public. As a member of the working class myself, I also find that I am treated based on how I portray myself in work. Though I am more reserved with my personality at work.

Sometimes after having a harassing day at work, I just sit down in front of my PC and play to relax myself. That’s why I get distraught whenever I am being pressured to do something in game. Deadlines in website updates and people in game asking me forcefully to join clans and help them with quests. It makes me think that I’m not playing for fun anymore. I love my work and I also love to play. I guess I just needed to be reminded that playing also has responsibilities just like my work. In the same line of thought, work can also be fun just like playing.

So whoever said that “work is just a hindrance to playing games” or “playing is just a hindrance to work” just doesn’t know how to balance the two together. Why not keep both? After all, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. On the other hand, all play and no work makes Jack poor. See? Work and play are really equals, and you know what’s best about it? Balancing them is not only as easy as it looks. It is also fun to take on the challenge as I personally do both everyday.

**The opinions and viewpoints published in this article are not necessarily those of Level Up! Inc, its games and its licensed products or services.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 11th, 2008 at 8:00 am and is filed under Community. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.