Warcraft Game 'More Addictive Than Crack'

[efq]

The massively popular fantasy role-playing game World of Warcraft is "more addictive than crack cocaine", experts have warned.


http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2009/Feb/Week4/15231640.jpg Some 11 million play World Of Warcraft


The computer game (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/World_Warcraft), played by millions, has been dubbed "the most dangerous game on the market" by addiction therapists at Sweden (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Sweden)'s Youth Care Foundation.
A 15-year-old Swedish boy collapsed and went into convulsions after playing it for 24 hours earlier this month.
The report's author Sven Rollenhagen said: "There is not a single case of game addiction that we have worked with in which World of Warcraft (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/World_Of_Warcraft) has not played a part.
"It is the crack cocaine of the computer gaming world. Some people are literally unable to drag themselves away and will play it till they drop."
The Swedish National Institute of Public Health backed the report, adding: "Computer game addiction is becoming more widespread in Sweden and across the world.
"There is no known medical diagnosis of conditions brought on by excessive game-playing, but it is clear they have a very powerful addictive hold over many people who use them."
The boy was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with an epileptic-type seizure brought on by sleep deprivation, lack of food, and too much time in front of a screen.
The game's US makers Blizzard Entertainment (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Blizzard_Entertainment) say 11 million people worldwide play World of Warcraft (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/World_Of_Warcraft).
Psychiatrist Dr Richard Graham, of London's Tavistock Centre, said: "Some of my clients will discuss playing games for 14, 16 hours a day at times, without breaks and without attending to their physical needs.
"For those, the consequences are potentially severe."
Gutted lol, 2 of my brothers friends 22 and 23 are addicted to it.

[Immenseman]

Yeah, I better not start playing then as it's the official geek game. Calm down wow players, it's a joke.

[mangle]

My mates play it, don't see the attraction myself but hell if they want to play and their having fun then why not?

Its their life afterall.

[Immenseman]

I'd love to know how they tested this also :lol:

[Kipp]

Oh dear, I won't start playing it then :O

[Swearwolf]

ive played it for ages and im not addicted :p

[Twist]

I'd love to know how they tested this also :lol:
Stick someone on crack for 48 hours, someone on WoW for 48 hours, and tested their knowledge on certain subjects.
For the WoWer's, how much they know about the game.
For the crack addicts, how many words they can spit out/how many fingers your holding up.

Anyway this isn't suprising - it's an extremely addictive game.

[jackass]

I beg to differ.

[Virgin Mary]

Good I hope it kills off all the geeks it'll clean out the gene pool

[Ras]

My school does exchange things with a school in germany.. The family my friend lived with included a grandmother, a mother, a father, 3 sons and 1 daughter.. They ALL played ******* world of warcraft.. I never tried it, and I'm happy I havent.

[Jahova]

Wasting their lives away. When they meet the real world, they won't stand a chance.

[Neil]

Stick someone on crack for 48 hours, someone on WoW for 48 hours, and tested their knowledge on certain subjects.
For the WoWer's, how much they know about the game.
For the crack addicts, how many words they can spit out/how many fingers your holding up.

Anyway this isn't suprising - it's an extremely addictive game.

That is SO far away from what they would do, they'd just see how much someone needs each thing, addiction and knowledge are two different things, I'm not addicted and I know my fair share about WoW, I know a few people who aren't addicted to it and they know alot, if someone is addicted they'll want it more, since WoW is much easier to get hold of being addicted is far more likely than being addicted to a drug, not everyone gets addicted, it's not actually THAT good. xD

[Melsia]

This guy I used to be friends with started playing it.
I don't believe that hes left his house in over a year... its really bad.

I think that people who get addicted to it are ruining their chances of a normal or successful future. It destroys their social skills.

[RedStratocas]

i used to play starcraft when i was in middle school, that game was awesome. never saw the warcraft attraction though.

[no waiii]

omg why u hatin on my lvel 9 warrior

[Crimson]

Aha :D

It is, it is! I can say this from first hand experience. lol :)

Difference is, I do have self control and wont play it for hours upon hours without a break. I knew a boy on there who played for a week with one hour of sleep.

[Jonster]

Just to help back up the addiction side of things...



http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/gamer-juggles-over-30-warcraft-characters/1255554


Known only under the moniker "Prepared," the gamer plays a stunning 36 World of Warcraft accounts on 11 different computers...simultaneously.



http://l.yimg.com/jh/content/p/2/1255557/screen001.jpg






http://l.yimg.com/jh/content/p/2/1255557/screen002.jpg

[N-Dubz]

i dont see the appeal at all towards this game

its a bunch of ugly looking creatures running around with weapons???

[Crimson]

i dont see the appeal at all towards this game

its a bunch of ugly looking creatures running around with weapons???

Neither do I see the appeal towards Chris Brown.

He's a ugly looking creature running around hitting his girlfriend.


Ooooh, the vagueness.

[N-Dubz]

Neither do I see the appeal towards Chris Brown.

He's a ugly looking creature running around hitting his girlfriend.


Ooooh, the vagueness.


your so clever i wish id thought of that first...

[stickwitu]

talk about a pathetic post.
so sorry she offended your crappy little game.

[N-Dubz]

talk about a pathetic post.
so sorry she offended your crappy little game.

amen alex. xoxo

[Crimson]

your so clever i wish id thought of that first...

Yes you did :)

[N-Dubz]

Yes you did :)
i wasnt being sarcastic... seriously id wish id thought of that bbz!!!!

your like the most ORIGINAL person to ever walk the planet. ever.

[Jord]

i played it didnt get addicted

[Moh]

When I played it, the only thing which kept me on was the subscription, not wanting to let it go to waste ^_^

[Crimson]

i wasnt being sarcastic... seriously id wish id thought of that bbz!!!!

your like the most ORIGINAL person to ever walk the planet. ever.

Thnx. <3

[Danzilla]

Played it and was never addicted. Quit long ago though

[Casual]

yeah i've played it and still do but not much anymore, people who spend hours upon hours on it have no self control.. its not hard to drop the addiction

[bo$$]

Just to help back up the addiction side of things...



http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/gamer-juggles-over-30-warcraft-characters/1255554





http://l.yimg.com/jh/content/p/2/1255557/screen001.jpg






http://l.yimg.com/jh/content/p/2/1255557/screen002.jpg



DA ****!?!??! That is horrible.

[Casual]

Just to help back up the addiction side of things...



http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/gamer-juggles-over-30-warcraft-characters/1255554





http://l.yimg.com/jh/content/p/2/1255557/screen001.jpg






http://l.yimg.com/jh/content/p/2/1255557/screen002.jpg



but just think how much money that guy could make once they are all really good? thats not exactly bad money..

[flatface]

Never have played it, never will. Not my thing :P

[Crimson]

but just think how much money that guy could make once they are all really good? thats not exactly bad money..

What? As in ebay them? :S

[brandon]

I'm clean no worries

[Casual]

What? As in ebay them? :S

Yeah or to specific sites, some go for $1000+

[Crimson]

:O

Hez rich.

[Jonster]

but just think how much money that guy could make once they are all really good? thats not exactly bad money..

Which is true, and I actually believe this is what he does. But given the topic is based around addiction, thee 11 computers split screen really does sum up as to how addicted some people are.




I mean given that he spends around $6,000 on subscriptions a lone, well, he'd need to sell a hell of a lot of accounts in order to regain that money.

It would appear that average account sells for £150 ($214) - this is for a high level account, so lets say it takes him 6 months to get each account a level of around 60+ (assuming he would power level...if you can so do that.)

So, from these 36 accounts he would make around $7704, only around $1500 profit. Take away electricity costs, food, drinks - anything, and you're left with little profit, if any.

Not really a great way to make money if you ask me.

[Nemo]

Which is true, and I actually believe this is what he does. But given the topic is based around addiction, thee 11 computers split screen really does sum up as to how addicted some people are.




I mean given that he spends around $6,000 on subscriptions a lone, well, he'd need to sell a hell of a lot of accounts in order to regain that money.

It would appear that average account sells for £150 ($214) - this is for a high level account, so lets say it takes him 6 months to get each account a level of around 60+ (assuming he would power level...if you can so do that.)

So, from these 36 accounts he would make around $7704, only around $1500 profit. Take away electricity costs, food, drinks - anything, and you're left with little profit, if any.

Not really a great way to make money if you ask me.
I doubt it'd take 6 months, could easily do it in the first month, especially if he recuirted each one then he could get a 60 in less than 2 days (if he completely no lifed it)

[Four]

Surely if Blizzard can make a game thats addictive, and brings people back to play more, and buy membership subscriptions.

There laughing all the way to the bank? :)

[Suspective]

I know three people who are actually totallly addicted to it.

I could never live on a computer game :P

[efq]

I tried it once (and a private server) and I hated it mainly because of the crap tutorial. Now i'm a crazy guy for gaming, I've played probably the best games out but I figured WoW sounded so good yet it was crap.

[Crimson]

I tried it once (and a private server) and I hated it mainly because of the crap tutorial. Now i'm a crazy guy for gaming, I've played probably the best games out but I figured WoW sounded so good yet it was crap.

Cause it was a private server. lol :)

[Swinkid]

its only addicting to certain people.

I play, but spend more time with my girlfriend and actually have a life rather than being at a computer screen.

[Suspective]

It is very addictive

[jackass]

I've never even played it and never will.

[Niall!]

Team Fortress 2 is far more addicting than this ****.

[Loser]

I've played it before and I don't play it now. There's no addiction problems for me, now to try out crack.

[le harry]

I quit around 3 years ago but when I played I was addicted yeah, I was in like 9 so I didn't have studies or anything to worry about back then. I'm sure if I played again i'd monitor myself, it's a good game though.

[Scouse]

maybe they should start to introduce time limits to the game, say like every account can only be on for about 3 hours a day? might help..
never played the game so dont know if that would actually work.

[Casual]

maybe they should start to introduce time limits to the game, say like every account can only be on for about 3 hours a day? might help..
never played the game so dont know if that would actually work.

That would probably annoy a lot of the players

[Sameer!]

OH LMAO,

I've ordered World of Warcraft Rath of the leech king... coming in a few days... and paying for it monthly...

I aint gonna get that addicted lol.

[Crimson]

maybe they should start to introduce time limits to the game, say like every account can only be on for about 3 hours a day? might help..
never played the game so dont know if that would actually work.

It would be ideal for alot of people to be honest.

There is actually a feature that is available to parents (if they even know about it) that allows them to have curfews on the game - the play 'disconnects' at the time that the curfew is set and arn't able to play on it until the next day.

However, if it was set to be enforced the company would loose millions of paying customers, so it's unlikely to happen.

That would also be ideal for everything else really - limit obese people's eating, limit murderers killing :P etc etc.

[Axel]

The media giving the worst examples of people who play this game, trying to throw them off it... the same can be said for alot of things. Ye, 1 kid played for 24 hours straight and had a fit, that's some sad **** with no self control. 1 in 11 million.