This can’t be good for productivity
For those in the nerd world (or anywhere in South Korea), you know that today is the release of StarCrack II. Oops, I think I meant StarCraft II. It is 25% loaded on my laptop already. 27%. 28… For those that live under rocks (or in the real world, which is worse), StarCraft is an excellent real time strategy game; you know, the kind where you build troops and manage resources. I am loading the sequel, one that is 12 years after the original and a reported $100 million in development. Yes, this comes from Blizzard, the same people that put out World of Warcraft. I expect this game to be equally addictive. I know the original was.
So when will I write? *whimper* I don’t know. I will be addicted to the computer for a while. Bad writer, no video games! Well, maybe I can set up a StarCraft reward system. An hour of play for every 1000 words? Should be steeper than that, but I’m weak.
Still only 30%. I guess I can do some writing while it loads.
Scott W. Baker: Chaos out of Chaos 
The key to managing addiction, I believe, is to sinfully indulge in moderation.
For example, I used to be addicted to video games and caffeine.
Now, I allow myself 1-2 hours of Xbox time a day, if I’m in the mood for some gaming. I used to play Halo 3, Call of Duty: World at War, Modern Warfare 2, et al, for hours at a time. Now, I hardly ever play my 360. When I do, I make it worthwhile — I buy the must-have games that suit my tastes: most recently Splinter Cell: Conviction (best game I’ve played in a long time), Red Dead Redemption, and Transformers: War for Cybertron. But I don’t spend any given day playing a single game for hours. It just doesn’t fit my goals any longer. I’d rather squeeze in time for reading, writing, research, working out, friends, girlfriend, et cetera — but that doesn’t mean I can’t indulge for 1-2 hours in the day, especially if it’s a day like today where I don’t have to work.
As for caffeine, and the sugary sweetness that is Pepsi/Coke/frappuccinos/coffee/tea/you-name-it, that shit is damn good. But fattening. So, whereas I used to drink 4-6 sodas/teas/coffees a day, I now limit myself to a maximum of 2, and opt for water or Gatorade instead (or Lipton Citrus Diet Green Tea–yum!).
It’s all about moderation, my friend.
As delicious as StarCraft II — or Pepsi, damn you delicious Pepsi — is, you can still find time to squeeze in writing and other projects.
All a matter of discipline and willpower.
Well, I’m going to get back to Splinter Cell now. Lulz.
Hahaha… my husband told me that I could play for an hour per 1000 words. I turned to him and said “really? A 1 to 1 ratio is what we’re going for here?” His mouth hung open for a minute and then he was like, “oh right, um, 2000 words for each hour you want to play?”
Heh. Yesterday I did 2300 words in an hour and a half. Then I got stuck trying to brush up on my html enough to get some stories up online. So alas, very little SC2 for me yet.
So far it’s a lovely game though, what little I’ve played 🙂