by jcwitt

Created on: February 14, 2009

World of Warcraft is a great game to play in your spare time, but it is not an addictive product.

I first played World of Warcraft about a year after it came out. I was amazed by its cartoonish and non-blocky graphics, the great storylines, and the fun quests. I proceeded to play the game whenever possible for the next few years because, well, I'm a nerdy gamer guy. Its what I do in my spare time: I play games. Roleplaying, tabletop, computer, and console; I've played them all. I love the challenge and the stories, and see this as being no different than watching television, reading magazines and books, or getting into sports. Sure, its a form of escapism; but what isn't? Aren't we all guilty of wanting to escape the stress and problems of this world for just a little bit? Yes, we are, which explains why the entertainment industry is so profitable.

Of course, the problem with escapism is that some people are so fed up with the world, that they don't want to deal with it ever. This is why we have the couch potatoes, and the bookworms, and all the others. This, however, is not really an addiction; its a problem with coping. World of Warcraft, or WoW, is a great way to escape but in and of itself is not addictive. People may take the game a little too seriously at times, much like a how a "superfan" will fight a supporter of the other team. Others may call off sick for work, much like anyone else who hates their job, to play the game or really do anything else other than work. Still others will sit at home all day and do nothing but play the game, but these same people would do this if WoW didn't exist, it's just what they do; being alone is all they know. Wow, however, is not the cause of these actions, just an excuse.

When looking for something to blame it is easy to point the finger at a highly profitable company, like Blizzard, who has products that is in so many households. This is made even easier with WoW being the current fad in gaming. This, however, is the same argument that has been made for decades about other popular products. Video games in general have been put on the chopping block for inciting violence in children, the same with movies and musics. Before television it was comic books, as my grandfather pointed at to me. Before that it was whatever the current, up to date form of entertainment.

As I said earlier, I played while for a few years. I played the game a lot, because this is what I do in my spare time. After a while, I got bored with it, and stopped. I still play on occasion, but as I said earlier, it is a fun game. I, as people like to say, "got a life". I went to parties, got a girlfriend, have a decent job, and still manage to game. Of course, I'm not saying that because this is the case with me, it will be the case with everyone; but, I do know a thing or two about addiction. I've seen addiction, true addiction. Addiction to substances, to chemical reactions in the brain, to actions you take with casual acquaintances and intimate partners. I have watched skillful artists, wonderful people, and intelligent speakers became nothing but a shell of their former selves thanks to these addictions.

Though a person may be obsessed with the game, or choose to play WoW instead of get intoxicated with they're friends, this doesn't mean they are addicted. On the same note, World of Warcraft is not an addictive product. It is a way to escape, and to entertain, but the ultimate obsession comes down to the person, and not the game. This is way WoW is fun, entertaining, and challenging; but, it is a far cry from being truly addictive.

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