Full disclosure. I am a massive Harry Potter fan. I’ve read the books so much that the pages are falling out, and I’m still kind of pissed I never got my Hogwarts letter. So of course when the Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery game came out and I could get finally my wand and board the Hogwarts Express I was on it like a car bonnet.
A couple of days into the game I started to see posts online of people getting incredibly frustrated with how low the player’s energy level is and how long it takes to complete tasks.
Players have to stop and wait for four minutes for the characters timer to gain another energy point before continuing.
Larger tasks with greater rewards can take all day.
They are down right incredulous to find out it takes energy to “take a break” or “rest”.
Many are calling for the game to be altered to make the game easier to play and more realistic.
But, the thing is, the energy restrictions had barely registered for me, because that IS how I live my life. That’s how millions of us live our lives when we’re chronically ill. It’s perfectly normal for me to have to stop what I’m doing because I don’t have enough energy.
I have a condition that means my cells can’t produce energy like it should.
I can’t work, I can’t watch TV, I can only see one friend a month, and I haven’t left the house in three and a half years. There are hundreds of thousands more just like me.
As for the “resting” issue, what most people consider rest and relaxation, like watching tv or playing a game on your phone for example, is another tiring activity for sufferers.
For us, resting is lying down in a darkened room trying to do nothing but concentrate on our breathing, because it’s the only way our energy levels recoup.
What JK Rowling, Warner Brothers, and Jam City have inadvertently done is make a perfect example of what it’s like to live with a chronic illness. They're hardly the first to do so, but it seems as if they're the ones people have the greatest response to.
As frustrating as it might be for some people, I hope they don’t change it.
It might give them an idea of what it’s like to do it in real life.
Thank you for this post that gives great insight into ME. I am a HP fan too, but I haven't heard of this game (shame on me)- will have to tell my daughter! If the game is still running slow, it will suit me just fine, as I suck at games! Lowen @ livingpositivelywithdisability.com
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah, I use games to keep my brain ticking over. Because I am always so tired, it takes me ages to get through levels. When I finally win a level, I expend valuable energy 'whoop, whooping'! Came across you via ME site advertising your Roaring 20's theme. You are one positive minded young lady. Good luck to you. I do hope that you are one of those lucky to turn that corner to wellness. The world needs people like you. Good luck. X
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