WoW, the ‘cocaine of computer games’
p2pnet news view | Games:- Computer gaming addiction is reaching “pandemic” proportions everywhere, says Sweden’s Youth Care Foundation (Stiftelsen UngdomsvÃ¥rd).
And World of Warcraft is the, “cocaine of the computer games world”, it says.
“This is a huge hidden problem in a lot of countries and it doesn`t get the same kind of attention because it takes place largely behind closed doors rather than out in public,” says the foundation’s Sven Rollenhagen, according to The Local.
Following a February report,”We were bombarded with calls and emails from around the world from people who thought they or someone they knew might be addicted,” says Rollenhagen in the post.
“I`m worried we`re going to end up with a lost generation,” he says.
“Generally we`re talking about boys and young men who end up playing games so much that other aspects of their lives like family, work, school, relationships all fall by the wayside.”
Now, says The Local, Rollenhagen is developing a Centre of Computer Game Addiction, “an international network of professionals and organizations devoted to bringing attention to what he believes is a major public health issue”.
The foundation now has versions of its website, Game Over Stockholm (www.spelfritt.se), in English, German, and French, and Rollenhagen hopes to arrange a gathering of experts on the issue in Stockholm later this autumn, says the story, adding he hopes to see the spread of gaming addiction curbed to avoid what he calls the “incredible waste of resources” that comes with it.
“These are smart guys, highly intelligent, capable of being anything — doctors, engineers, whatever,” he says.
“But they find themselves tempted by computer games and end up just wasting time in front of a screen.”
The Local – Gaming addiction poses ‘pandemic’ threat: expert, September 16, 2009
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September 16th, 2009 at 9:26 am
WOW *sniff* *sniff* *snort* WOW MAN!
September 16th, 2009 at 10:13 am
I am a player and a gamer (have been all my life), I think that this is more about the rise of geek gaming culture then any set addiction. How about that for a scant $15 a month (the cost of going out to a movie) you get more then 2 hours of maybe entertainment.
People who have problems, sometimes have addictions, that doesn’t mean that everyone who plays WoW has an addiction to it. It is a game and a huge social phenomenon thus attracts a larger then average audience, and while some might be addicted to it, I would imagine that the majority are not.
-âThese are smart guys, highly intelligent, capable of being anything â doctors, engineers, whatever. But they find themselves tempted by computer games and end up just wasting time in front of a screen,” — as opposed to what, all that time we used to spend in front of the TV or the Radio. People will always seek out forms of entertainment, I know I like to be entertained.
That article smells like fear mongering to me, but then again I obviously cannot see past my own addiction.
September 16th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Only the one who tasted life knows what he looses.
I was addicted too and am addicted in certain ways right now. Problem is, that we have to change the outside world to truly live the lives we wanna live. But hell yeah, I wont watch my life go down the road away from me, lets catch up and stand up for ourselves!
September 16th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
That article smells like fear mongering to me…
Well my future son in law…lets see…he goes to work…(after waking up with plenty of time to play wow)
Comes home from work…..right to the pc and wow…..don’t matter if my daughter wants to do anything or not…!
He tells me…man I wanna see this and that movie…so I get them…. Wanna know how many he has watched out of about 50 movies….maybe 2!
And thats just my future son in law….
Everyone else I know that plays it…same thing…they don’t know when to stop and smell real life.
Have I ever played it…no….don’t intend to…
Am I a gamer…not really …every now and then I like to play house of the dead.
Been about 6 months since I have launched it.
Do I watch a lot of TV…yep..but then I am disabled and sit at home most of the time…but….on good days…stay in and watch..nope outside…living !
Son in law is young and healthy….at least for now…lets see how he is in about 5 years sitting at the wow game all day and half the night…disabled or not….I am almost in better shape than he is now.
Is it addicting…to quite a few..yes…to all no….!
September 16th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
It’s ridiculous, what people will say about the behavior of others to try to change them.
I play WoW for hours a day, but am not addicted.
I am simply having fun.
No need to put a spin on this.
If anyone tries to take my fun away, they had better replace it with something MORE FUN!
September 16th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
In respone to Eric,
This is a puritan world. You are to work, and not enjoy things that are fun. You are a slave and nothing but a slave!
Although, I don’t play WoW. What annoys me is that the older generation which would spend as much time watching TV a week as the younger generation would spend playing video games, but the older generation claims they are not addicted to the TV, and claims that youth are addicted to video games.
People for some sad pathetic reason feel a need to force others to be like them.
September 17th, 2009 at 5:14 am
Sorry guys, have to disagree. 150,000 players globaly (weekly) versus 30,000,000 for just one Facebook game?
I think it’s someone at WoW trying to get their numbers up by saying – omg, we are addictive……
Farmville has over 15 million daily users and over 32 million monthly players.
Of course, non adveture/realm type gamers seem to have a short finite lifesapn – about 5 months maximum.
Just thought I’d put my ten cents worth in.