World of Warcraft – Why is it so addictive and who is at risk

World of Warcraft – Why is it so addictive and who is at risk? A few key points – Prevalence of addiction to WoW – Reasons why it is addictive: — appears to the masses (no high end graphic card or gaming skills needed to enjoy playing)

World of Warcraft – Why is it so addictive and who is at risk?

A few key points
– Prevalence of addiction to WoW
– Reasons why it is addictive:
— appears to the masses (no high end graphic card or gaming skills needed to enjoy playing)
— Character development (player creates avatar to experience adventures, character develops in skills etc over time)
— reward system
— Real time strategy
— Social pressure
Who is at risk for an addiction?

More details;

I actually started playing WoW in 2007 to study this specific question as a wanna-be game developer. Here is what I have found:

It is very easy to become addicted to WoW. I myself became so addicted I valued my WoW friends over my family. When this realization hit me I quit for two years. But I came back. Why?

WoW is a SOCIAL NETWORK on a global scale. It also used to be a place where the elderly, the handicapped and even children, on Shandris, were welcomed warmly. We were exploring a SOCIAL WORLD. And we were doing socially responsible things. We were so happy when WoW had been recognized by scientists as an key to stopping Alzheimer’s and the only existing platform where wheelchair-bound people (motorized chairs were not common at that point) could walk again, eventually run like a child and eventually FLY. Can you imagine the joy these people felt for the first time in their lives? It was awesome.

The other main factor was that WoW is a MOVIE. They pay particular attention to music, such as grandiose music in raids. You should pay particular attention to the crafts of people needed to make a movie. There are dozens of crafts. Hollywood is an ecosystem that pays a lot of people to do niche things. ANd they understand the commercial values of the arts. The stars of WoW is REAL PEOPLE, not “movie stars”. And you are a part of an epic movie.