Ever felt the need to 'give up' the game for a while?

Has anyone ever felt the need to put the game to one side for a while? I'm talking about due to addiction or obsession with the game and about having a need to 'give up' the game or to 'unhook' for a period of time (I know how ridiculous that sounds! ).

At the moment, I'm in the process of producing a piece of academic work (a postgraduate research project) that represents the culmination of quite a few years of study. It's going to be an important few months for me and I need to dedicate myself to my work. I think this means that I will have to give up the game in order to focus 100% on my studies for a small period of time. I'm thinking of giving my FM disc to Mrs Crouchaldinho to hide somewhere in the house! St. Albans City and Hellas Verona will have to wait for their managerial saviour while he finishes off his MA!

I have to admit, and I am slightly ashamed to admit, that the game, even after all of this time, still has the power to impact upon my mood, make me grumpy and frustrated etc. However, it's not always negative, and quite often the game can make me feel uplifted and positive, but I think I have to face the fact that FM is probably a game that I can never just 'pick up a play' casually. When I'm feeling addicted and I have that 'one last match' feeling, I have to play most days and, at the moment, I really need to use that time for work.

FM also occupies way too much of my thoughts during the day at times! When I'm not playing it or thinking about it, I can often be found on here talking about it with like-minded souls and fellow addicts! I think I probably play too often and it definitely has an impact upon my work at times. Pretty bad when you think about it like that!

I think that I probably have a quite addictive/obsessive personality. I absolutely love narrative (I'm a bit of a book worm) and FM always provides a compelling narrative in so many different ways! At its best, FM has the feeling of being a 'page turner' and that's why I love it so much. When I'm really into a save, I often get that 'must play one more game' or 'must just tweak my tactics' or 'must just make that one last signing' feeling! I love FM to bits and find it great fun etc., but sometimes I get too obsessive and need a break. In this case, I probably need to ask my wife to hide my FM CD for a while so that I can complete my studies without distractions involving getting the best out of my talented young striker or attempting to win that elusive missing trophy! As I said above, the mighty Saints and the Gialloblu will have to wait!

I'm interested to hear if others have ever felt the same way or whether I am just a bit of sad addict! :o And should I ask Mrs Crouch to hide my CD?

I pretty much gave up the game from FM2008 until this one, if that counts?

Why Ackter?

Yes, it counts. Well, unless you were still playing FM2008 the whole time!

No, still enjoying the game (probably because I'm going through a good spell at the moment)

No, still enjoying the game (probably because I'm going through a good spell at the moment)

Read the OP.

This is a thread about giving up the game because you're enjoying it too much! Not because you don't like it!

Why Ackter?

Yes, it counts. Well, unless you were still playing FM2008 the whole time!

Mixture of lack of time and never being able to really get a game going. FM2011 has me hooked proper though.

Mixture of lack of time and never being able to really get a game going. FM2011 has me hooked proper though.

It sounds like you actually have willpower then!

Even with a lack of time, I make time where there isn't any!

I gave up the game for 2/3 months from January-April time, as I couldn't get into the game enough this year.

During that time I kept getting 'FM cravings' and after watching a game of football or MOTD, I would have the need to play FM.

So when I finally re-installed it, I have been enjoying it a lot more (struggle getting into games still though).

I didn't give up due to addiction, though I was addicted to FM10.3 though.

Yes. It may singlehandedly be responsible for me leaving my dissertation till the last few days before the hand in date. It's well in hand, but would have been done much earlier if it weren't for FM! I've logged about 800hours on the game so far though!

Damn you SI for making a game I enjoy so much!

When Uni work got pretty heavy, I had to distance myself from the game as much as I could, as it has always been perfectly capable of swallowing entire days. Not sure I've ever really given it up, though.

I gave up the game for 2/3 months from January-April time, as I couldn't get into the game enough this year.

During that time I kept getting 'FM cravings' and after watching a game of football or MOTD, I would have the need to play FM.

Yeah, I know all about those FM cravings.

Recently stopped playing for about three weeks but kept getting the cravings. Nothing quite like having an FM save on the go!

Yes. It may singlehandedly be responsible for me leaving my dissertation till the last few days before the hand in date. It's well in hand, but would have been done much earlier if it weren't for FM! I've logged about 800hours on the game so far though!

Trying to avoid something similar over here.

When Uni work got pretty heavy, I had to distance myself from the game as much as I could, as it has always been perfectly capable of swallowing entire days. Not sure I've ever really given it up, though.

How did you 'distance' yourself? In what ways?

I need the tips!

I gave up FM08 as otherwise I wouldn't have completed my Masters. Not only does it take up your time, but it ruins your concentration levels too as your mind drifts to FM. I recently took a bit of a break as I like to between seasons and also as I was going back home for a week over Easter and didn't want to get into the new season too much, but the whole time I was away I was craving FM...

God yes, many times. And you know what, we ALWAYS come back!

Since I first played CM, I've moved to 6 different countries, giving up CM/FM each time but not for long. I've been through too many relationships to recall in that time until I finally found a wife who indulges my addiction. Through all the ups, downs and changes in my life, FM has been the one constant.

WHAT I actually do each time is completely uninstall the game and my saves and break the disc. But then the next version comes out and ...

I gave up FM08 as otherwise I wouldn't have completed my Masters. Not only does it take up your time, but it ruins your concentration levels too as your mind drifts to FM. I recently took a bit of a break as I like to between seasons and also as I was going back home for a week over Easter and didn't want to get into the new season too much, but the whole time I was away I was craving FM...

Yeah, I know that feeling!

God yes, many times. And you know what, we ALWAYS come back!

Since I first played CM, I've moved to 6 different countries, giving up CM/FM each time but not for long. I've been through too many relationships to recall in that time until I finally found a wife who indulges my addiction. Through all the ups, downs and changes in my life, FM has been the one constant.

WHAT I actually do each time is completely uninstall the game and my saves and break the disc. But then the next version comes out and ...

Phnompenhandy, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one.

Snapping my disc though? No way!

That is willpower to quit the game, snapping your disk, don't think I could bring myself to do that, I would regret it straight away afterwards. I've not given it up as such but if you want some tips, try and develop insomnia

I had a mild case of it a few years back and it got me through all my college work and still time to play FM, it has it's up sides and down sides.

I believe that life would be much better if I didn't play this game. Some day I'll stop....

Just had to give it up for a few weeks to get my undergrad dissertation finished. Pretty sure this time next year when I'm doing my masters thesis the same thing will happen. Damn you FM and your seductive ways!

I tend to play less FM naturally as it gets closer to crunch time in real life.

I have deleted the game from my pc I just felt a real disappointment to this years game especially after patch 3 I really looked forward to this years game and it let me down. I struggled to enjoy the game because of this which is a unusual as I love the game so I'm hoping some time out from it probably till FM12 (Although I will wait till the final patch before buying) will help rebuild my love for the game and bring me back to wasting more hours of my life away.

I can take a break from the game for a while without getting withdrawal symptoms, but the same cannot be said for this forum...

all the time mate i just keep going and just hope that my next save is my best save ever because you just never know

I got 'tired' of every version in January and that's the time i don't play it, I play it again until June and that's it for me. Of course I play it as soon as the demo comes out and all until January.

Played FM08 for 2 weeks and hated it, the match engine and changes were not to my liking and then FM09, that too me was the most dreadful release since CM4, words cant describe it really and if i did i would probably be banned for it

FM10 made up the disappointment of 09 and for FM11 early days yet but the match engine seems to have taken a step back from the 10 version, the 11 version with the 3RD patch seems to be jaded with the 3D match engine.

crouchaldinho, I totally agree.

There's been a few times where I've needed to stop playing for a while, though I've never quite had it in me to give the disc to someone for safe keeping. It's like an addicition I can't quite let go of.

Usually every so often I'll feel I've overplayed it, and it loses a bit of the fun factor. Too much of a good thing. It's usually at the end of a season where I've overachieved and can't bring myself to start over again with preseason. A few weeks away normally does the trick, and I start pining for tactical tweaks and developing a top team.

Or like you say - real life importance takes over. I refuse to play it during exam periods because I can't pick up and play for an hour. When the pressure of revising gets too much, I have to go on the Xbox for a couple of games of FIFA or races on Forza; just something with a defined end that won't suck me in for hours on end. Every FM has done this to me for years now. Worryingly, my career save is getting longer with each iteration.

I decided that I definitely need to 'unhook' from the game for a while in the end. That way, I can properly concentrate on my academic work and give it 100% focus. Maybe a break from FM will do me some good as well.

I'm getting fed up with my current game; I've managed 5 promotions and one step from the top flight, but my board keep selling my best players and I've lost 2 successive play off finals, stuck here for 4 seasons now. Might start over with a new Liverpool save.

I've got my A-Level exams coming up soon and my revision is failing miserably due to the amount of time I spend on FM

I will have to give up FM for a while soon if I want to have a chance of getting into uni.

Not FM, as I can multi-task pretty well with it (can get up and wander off and do something etc.)

But I had to give up MMOs (specifically LOTRO) a few times due it's distracting addictive tendancies.

FM definately takes up way too much of my brains capacity.

I decided to take a step back a few months ago as my life started consisting of work then FM, every day. I know this sounds good in principal (and it was I guess ) but I needed to socialise and see my girlfriend at some point!

Having a break has enabled me to go out more, look and successfully find a new job and enjoy the early summer sun....however I returned to FM last week with renewed enthusiasm. 2 months without a game made it even better when I took it up again.

When I am captured by a save, I often find myself thinking about it when ever I get a free second. Often before I go to bed I think of what signings I will make, when I'm at the gym I think of my first 11 etc.....it's weird but brilliant.

I'm in the process of writing 2 research articles for my M.Sc. myself.. So I know how you feel

The worst part for me is that I've just started a new save and I cannot stop now!! - so as someone earlier mentioned.. I MAKE time for both.. but as we get closer to the exams I think I'm going to have to uninstall the game!

I blame FM for my appalling downfall in academic ability. I have wanted to reduce the time I spend playing it but I have zero ability to stop and I have an important month ahead with the final assignments due in. It isn't going well in the slightest

Whoever marks my 4000 word history disertation is going to be disappointed. FM should remove windowed mode, as I always can flick to it for a bit and then get lost in it.

First exam in 12 days and I missed around 50 days of the academic year through illness so to say I am not ready would be an understatement, but I just got Luton back in the Football League :|