Massively multiplayer online role playing games, or MMORPG’s for short, can be quite addicting. Unlike other video games which entertain the player until it is beat, MMORPG’s are virtually never-ending and are based on character progression; such as leveling up or obtaining new armor/weapons. One such game is World of Warcraft, which has over 11 million subscribers worldwide; far above than that of its competitors. CNN states that one very addicting aspect of MMORPG’s is that, “Hundreds of thousands could be logged in at any one time, allowing players the chance to find someone of similar interests.” (Sieberg 1) The in-game chat of World of Warcraft allows players to instantly communicate with entire cities filled with other players as well as “whisper” your online friends. Video games are addicting as is, but the social aspect provided by World of Warcraft adds another fun, interesting, and addicting aspect to the game. Players are encouraged to play in groups to achieve a common goal; such as dungeons which require a team of dedicated players to defeat monsters. It has also been estimated that about 40% of WoW players have admitted to being addicted to the game (Ahn & Randall 2). There is some speculation to labeling excessive World of Warcraft playing as an addiction, as players who play simply prefer the different social medium and spend more time socializing in-game (Ahn & Randall 2-3). Yet there are various websites dedicated to helping others end World of Warcraft addiction, such as WoW Detox. Actual testimonials of players appear on WoW Detox of tragic stories, relapses, and cravings, all possible aspects brought on by addiction [3]. In conclusion, World of Warcraft possesses addicting qualities, and a wide range of players admit to being addicted to it, but there is no solid proof as to if excessive MMORPG play is an actual addiction by definition.

Works Cited

Ahn, Joe, and George Randall. "Computer Game Addiction." (2007).

Sieberg, Daniel. "CNN.com - Confessions from an online world - Jun 24, 2005." CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. 25 Mar. 2009 .

WoW Detox - The Detox center for your World of Warcraft Addiction! 25 Mar. 2009 .