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GAMES ROOM - We all know of that wonderful game Meerca Chase, and at one point
or another, I am sure we have all played it. There is just something about the
game. Maybe it is the rush of your fingers tapping on the keys to make that Meerca
turn left, right, up, or even down. Maybe it is the constant dodging of those
pesky little red neggs that pop up. Or maybe it is even watching that Meerca’s
tail grow abnormally larger with every negg it eats, while you sit there and wonder,
should that be considered a health hazard. Erm… yes back to the point. The point
is, Meerca Chase is addictive, and could become dangerous to your health. Let
me explain myself before I am called a n00b! Thank you!
First I believe that we shall look at the facts. There are many facts that
lead up to the conclusion that Meerca Chase may become dangerous to your health
and maybe even to your relationships with friends.
Fact #1: Meerca Chase has already become the most popular game to play in Neopia.
You don’t see anyone saying “Aaah! I haven’t played Codebreakers yet today!
What am I going to do?!?” and then start to hyperventilate now do you? Now why
is this? Do I have to repeat myself, Meerca Chase has taken over people’s lives
to the point that they need it to survive.
Fact #2: Meerca Chase is a fun game. As we have already discussed the back
and forth across the screen is addictive. But why not play Bumper Cars, which
still goes back and forth across the screen also? Why I ask…. WHY? Because Meerca
Chase is a brain washing game to all of the gamers out there. Don’t ask me how
it brainwashes them, I don’t know of its secrets, for I have torn myself from
the game.
Fact #3: Power. What is it about having the most trophies that makes everyone
go all googly eyed? Easy, they are envious, or want to be admired. Everyone
fits in there somewhere. So why a Meerca Chase trophy when you could be playing
Chemistry for Beginners and have a better chance at getting a trophy. Simple,
because Meerca Chase is the most popular game, to be one of the few to have
that trophy makes it even more prestigious.
Fact #4: The addiction to the game may cause you to not want to leave the game.
You may find yourself saying, just one more game and then I will go an eat dinner.
Or even, just one more game and then I will call my friend. However, that one
more game may turn into twenty more games, and twenty may turn into forty. The
fact is you may find it hard to tear yourself away from this game.
Fact#5: Meerca Chase is always told as an easy game to earn fast Neopoints.
This is true, and for many this always gives them three thousand Neopoints each
day! That is a lot of endpoints from one game, especially when you are trying
to save up for, lets say a Faerie Queen Doll to get the avatar and add to your
collection. Unfortunately, since Meerca Chase does not have an avatar, your
collection may start to suffer. Nobody wants that to happen!
Alright. Now that we have seen the facts, I bet you are wondering “Am I addicted?”
or even saying to yourself, “Ha! I can’t be addicted to a silly game!” Well,
I can answer your question, and maybe even prove you wrong! SO when do you know
you are addicted you ask me. Well this is:
Symptom #1: First, your favorite game is Meerca Chase, but that isn’t all.
For all you know my favorite game could be Meerca Chase, but I am not addicted.
Alright, so what else you say? Well, it is the first game you play when you
go log on to Neopets. You may even play it before visiting your daily freebies.
Symptom #2: You find yourself playing the game until your hands hurt. No matter
how hard you may try to pull yourself away from the game you just can’t. Game
after game you just keep playing trying to improve your score, and make it onto
the high scores table.
Symptom #3: You may experience sudden rushes of anger when you do not beat
the score you had achieved the last time you played it. These sudden rushes
of anger may also appear when a negg pops up directly where you picked up a
yellow negg, causing your game to end before you would have wanted or hoped.
Symptom #4: Your parents or siblings may be telling you to take a shower because
you are starting to smell. This symptom does not need any more explaining as
to why you smell.
Symptom #5: Your eye sight may start to become fuzzy and hazed over due to
the fact that you are staring at your light blue computer screen for hours.
Yes as tragic as the symptoms for the addiction to the game may be, there are
ways that you can recover. Unbelievable? Well believe it! Are you addicted to
Meerca Chase? Let’s find out! Count the symptoms that you are experiencing,
and look at the chart below.
One Symptom- Play Meerca Chase, you are not addicted.
Two Symptoms- Watch out, you are well on your way to becoming addicted.
Three Symptoms- Uh-oh! You are in the early stages of addiction!
Four Symptoms- Meerca Chase has almost taken over your life!
Five Symptoms- Get help NOW. You are addicted beyond a safe level.
Now, these steps are to be taken by anyone experiencing three to five of the
symptoms. They may seem difficult or even daunting, but have no fear. You can
do it!
Step #1: The first step is not a toughie. Now why would I start you off with
a tough way to break an addiction? The first step to breaking your addiction
to Meerca Chase, and returning to a normal life is to go to the games chat board.
Tell them that you have an addiction to Meerca Chase. They will understand.
In fact, many other people might be experiencing the same thing, and need help.
I am sure there are people willing to help you there.
Step #2: After seeking some help and comfort from the other players on the
games chat board, you are ready to play Meerca Chase. Here is the catch. Give
yourself a time limit on playing. If you find yourself getting angry at the
game because you didn’t get the score you wanted, take deep breaths. It is okay.
There is always tomorrow to get Neopoints.
Step #3: After your time limit is up. Stop playing. Come back to the game in
a few hours if you haven’t sent all of your scores. It will still be there.
Keep the same time limit when you come back to the game. The time limit is not
meant to frustrate you, just to give you a break from the game.
Step #4: When you have played three times a day, stop playing the game. Play
it tomorrow. It will still be there. You can work at it tomorrow. Remember tomorrow.
Do you get this step tells you that there is a tomorrow and it will come? Okay
good. I felt dumb for a second there,
Step #5: Play other games. Go chat on the chat boards. Restock. Play with your
pets. Go join a guild and make friends there. Go to the trading post and find
good deals, or just see what items are there. Go create a pet web page. Do something
to get your mind off of Meerca Chase, and on the other great points of Neopets.
It is a wonderful site full of many things. Have you experienced them all? No?
Then go experience them!
Step #6: You are well on your way, but there is one thing left. Go back to
the boards, and thank your support group. They have done an awesome job making
sure that you have not played Meerca Chase until you died. They deserve the
thanks.
You’ve done it! You have recognized your addiction. You have realized that
something must be done. You have even taken it all the way to breaking your
addiction! Great job! Now that you are freed from the brain washing effects
of Meerca Chase, what are you left to do? You can go outside, read a book, or
even go take that shower you need. No you cant? Why not? Uh-oh! You have another
addiction? What could that be? You are addicted to the Neopets in general! When
did that happen? When I told you to go and experience the rest of the site huh?
Um, this might be a problem. Don’t worry though. I can help you break this addiction
too, but first, please go take a shower. When you come back. I will help you
break your Neopets addiction. Now go along.
Once again, good job! Look for my article on Breaking your Neopets Addiction
next! Don’t worry, I will hurry to write it so you don’t suffer too long. In
the meantime, remember to take showers when you need them, hygiene is very important.
Why do you think that there are so many hygiene related items on Neopets? They
care! ‘Till next time. This is Katrinka, and I am out.
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