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You’ll pardon the title, but I was attempting to come up with some witty way of saying I’m quitting World of Warcraft, but nothing else came to me.

I know there’s probably a range of reaction to this news, especially after I said recently that I wasn’t quitting the game.  In regards to that post, my reasons for resigning from Azeroth at this time have absolutely nothing to do with Guild Wars 2.  If the game came out tomorrow, I still wouldn’t be buying it.

Also, it has nothing to do with anything Blizzard has said or done, nor any in-game drama or such.  From the moment Mists was announced I had no intention of buying the expansion, but I had planned to keep playing the game.  Plain and simple I felt I could’ve continued enjoying the game without buying Catacylsm (in hindsight) and didn’t want to make the same mistake.

So, now to the why of this news that’s out of left field to many, especially if you’re a regular reader and know I’m quite passionate about the game and make no bones of my ability to find enjoyment (or how excited I was to get my Tauren Paladin capped).  Even in game I don’t think I discussed things with my Real ID friends.

First off, I have always lamented parents who use television to babysit their children.  I think it has a big effect on how the world has gotten to where it is in so many negative ways.  Entitlement, lack of values, etc.  I always vowed that would never be me.  Yet every morning my son watches Blues’ Clues or what have you and I sneak on WoW to work on some profs or banking or just whatever I can for that escape.  Sure, I keep tabs on him and still interact with him, but it’s not what it should be and I recognize that.  I have enough to do on the computer as it is, adding in 30-90 minutes of WoW time isn’t fair to him.  That one bugs me a lot.

Now as you might guess, my Azeroth time during the week is often sporadic at best, because while I have made said mistake, I’ve also been pretty good about it.  I’ve tried quite often to limit my self-immersing game time to weekends.  Now, Mrs. Amateur and myself have a pretty large circle of family and friends so often we have things to do on the weekend.  Particularly in February, May, and December.  But, if not, my typical Saturday right now is get up around 7:30-8:00 so that I can be at work for 8:45.  I get home around noon, possibly run some errands, and spend time with my son.  Occasionally we’ll curl up on the couch and watch a movie during his nap time, because quite frankly I miss the days he used to fall asleep on my chest.  If not, I do housework.  Mrs. or myself will make dinner and then I’ll do more housework until 9 or 10 o’clock.  In most cases, the last thing I want to even do at that point is log into WoW and have to pay attention.

Sunday morning used to be some WoW time, but again, it goes back to the situation with my son and television (Sundays are Mrs. Amateur’s sleep in day).  So I try to immerse myself with him while taking care of any housework I didn’t get done the day before (it’s tricky, some things he’s helpful and others he’s hindering).  That usually leaves time to go to the park and hopefully actually do some housework I want to get done rather than just what needs to be done.

The short solution I’m sure is to do this during the week, but it’s myself and the boy from 7am to 1pm and then I go to work.  So I focus more on cleaning up after him and kind of picking at the housework a little bit here and there just so I have somewhat less to do come the weekend.

I’ve tried to selfishly take the time for myself to play World of Warcraft as a reward or a break or whatever you want to call it, but then I just end up looking at everything for that much more.  Sometimes I get frustrated while taking care of things because I’d rather be in Azeroth.  It gets to the point of animosity, but I’m a person who sees what needs to be done and just does it.  Often, regardless of what I’d rather be doing because that’s just how I’m wired.

This isn’t a decision I came to lightly, and it isn’t something I came to without trying other options first.  But the fact is, it’s something I have honestly come to realize…and I’m ok with it.  That’s probably surprising, but I watched a DVD today and the person it was focused on said “it’s actually easier to deal with it when you’re not given the chance to make the decision.”  To me, there is no decision or choice process.  I recognize this is what I need to do in my life right now and my reasons can only result in positives.  Will I miss the friends in-game?  Absolutely, and hopefully the ones I don’t already interact with outside of WoW will make the effort to at least check in around here or in e-mail.

Ah, yes. Here.  I’m sure some are wondering what the fate of AA will be and rest assured it continues on in all its…um…glory?  I said it before and I’ll say it again: this blog is a great outlet for me and I’ve become connected with so many absolutely amazing people as a result that I’m not about to just walk away.  Plus, I’m still passionate about the game, the lore, transmog (free trial account runs MogIt just fine!).  I’m not going to stop writing just because I’ve stopped playing.  Heck, I’ve proven a few times during the annals of my words that I can maintain a solid column without actually playing.  This won’t be any different.

In closing, I know this goes against a lot of what I’ve talked about and topics I’ve created about where I planned to go and what the future of WoW held for me, but I have to be realistic and honest too.  I’ve not even talked about the nice weather coming and how my time indoors will no doubt reduce even more or looked at it from paying for something I’m not playing.  But that’s because in the grand scheme it’s just another grain of sand.

At the end of the day it’s my face, my character, and my values that I see in the mirror before I go to bed.