How to convince a controlling mother to let me play an online game?

OK, so you may or may not know that Final Fantasy XIV comes out at the end of September. I've never been part of online gaming (never played WoW or anything like that) but I really want to play this, as I'm a massive Final Fantasy fan and missed out on XI.



My mother says she doesn't like the idea of me paying every month, and is convinced it is a "scam" or "money being wasted".



Which I would take as valid argument points, if it wasn't my money I am paying for it with, and also the fact that I'm 18 in September makes me skeptical as to why my mother is this controlling over what I can and can't spend my own money on.



I've already explained how it fits into my finances, and she says she will "talk to her boyfriend" about it, probablymeaning she'll try to discourage him from saying yes.



Apart from the fact that I'm not a "hardcore" gamer and don't spend my entire life playing games, I don't know what arguments I can give. I'm paying for it, and I'm mature enough to not let it take over my life.



So, do you have any ideas on what things I could say to persuade her?



Many thanks.How to convince a controlling mother to let me play an online game?
"Would you rather me be playing this game or out doing drugs 24/7"?

works like a charm.
Even though you SOUND like a very level-headed type, if you still live at home, you have got to gird your loins and prepare for the "My House, MY Rules" argument, from which, I fear, there is NO recourse.

Good luck, and try not to say anything you'll live to regret.How to convince a controlling mother to let me play an online game?
Tell her that its just a game and that you will only play an 30 min a day. That way she knows your not going to just play the game all night. 30 min...it works like a charm
ask ur grandma / granpa works every timeHow to convince a controlling mother to let me play an online game?
Backhand her. Man up. if you want to pay $ for some wow game, then you do it.
Your 18 and shes not letting you play online? WTF? If you pay with your credit card im sure she will let you.
You've gotten good answers so far, I'll just add a few notes to them.



Since you are nearly 18 and it will be YOUR money you spend, you do have a few resources available to you that others in your situation might not.



1) Remind her, gently! that since you are nearly out on your own already you will be having to make these decisions by yourself soon enough. Suggest that this might be a good place for you to start getting some real world experiences with these types of choices, and while you are still at home is a good place to start because she will be right there if you need any advice. (In other words, appeal to her motherly side.)

2) Let her be aware that this is money you will be budgeting from other entertainment purchases. You aren't simply going to be pulling this monthly fee from out of the air, you will be sacrificing a movie night, or another game purchase, or whatever else you have up your sleeve to draw from.

3) Really I must suggest you find a way to pay for this that is not a monthly subscription. I know many others will not agree with me here, but I personally like to have a bit more control over my own funds than any automatic payment will give me. Specially with regards to any entertainment item. Often these things will take a check, or a paypal payment, or a money order one month at a time. Yes that means you will have to THINK about paying it every month, but that is the point. It gives you the opportunity to really evaluate if you are still getting your money's worth out of the purchase, which is 100% better than checking over your finances 6 months later only to realize you've been paying on this game you haven't even been looking at for months now. If the game turns out to be that important to you I promise you will find a way to pay for it every month, if it isn't better to find out sooner than later.



Good luck!
Firstly, it's certainly not a scam. XBL subscription fees go to Microsoft to provide regular maintenance for their servers and offer the best online experience. Game subscriptions (if the next Final Fantasy game has them?) go to the developer as multiplayer games need to be constantly developed for to cater to all the player's needs.



Furthermore, it's definitely not a waste of money. The single player elements of Final Fantasy certainly aren't short but there's no point paying 拢35 for a weeks worth of gameplay, is there? Make the 拢35 last, and all the other games you've bought.



I certainly don't understand why you're not in complete control of your finances but these things are definitely not scams and will make the money you spend worth-while.
"I'm mature enough to not let it take over my life". So say's the 9 million wow players. The problem with mmorpg games is you can not be good at them unless you invest a crap load of time in them. So if you are not going to invest time in them, then don't bother playing them.



And you do not want to invest that much time in them, so stick with other games you can play for an hour or so and walk away from.



MMORP games are not healthy, and everyone means well when they play them. It will consume your life, and you will regret playing them. Just stay away from them.