Once for all, there's no addiction in MMORPG, Internet or Chess.

Addiction, a term related to drugs, implies that anybody doing them would fall dependant. Not everybody is becoming a compulsive gamer by playing MMORPGs, thus this is not addiction.
Compulsive gaming is a personal problem which must be treated differently for each person. The fact that MMORPGs and Internet are available 24/7 just makes it more accessible and more obvious. If you escape your responsabilities, then you might suffer depression or have other troubles you should focus on. There's nothing in video games that is addictive. No feature. Don't try to find something that could be an excuse for not facing your personal problems. Lots of players are handling MMORPGs in a whole without being touched by the problem.



"There are some gamers who will play WoW for more than ten hours a day, skirting their responsibilities at home, school or work, he said."
I know more kids who ride their bike in the street instead of doing their homeworks and are in difficulty at school. Is there an addiction of bikes?
If you feel too much passionated when thinking of a video game, that only means you like it. Otherwise any hobby or passion would be addictive. Even if my neighbour talks about hunting with a light in the eyes, I would not, so it is not a drug.

Interesting article. When I played UO, I would play for long hours when I had time to spare. Never did my family, friends, work or school suffer because when I had to I could easily turn off my computer. UO wasn't an item/level based game at that time. I haven't played WoW but I have played other games built on the same concept and I do believe it can be evil. I do see how people can get sucked in. Again I've never played WoW but I could see a problem with someone out fighting monsters for better gear/higher level (already addicted) and not being able to quit without making a desicion to continue to play or log and lose what they are working for. Again, I've never played WoW so this is just my guess. I know in UO you can just recall home and log. No big deal. So I think UO isn't on the level that WoW is.

you just have to know when to say when.

it basically comes down to control.

Just thought it was cool to see Ultima Online mentioned in the media somewhere. Lord knows EA/Mythic is not promoting it.
Anyway, the article is hogwash. Some fat & lazy loser prolly lost his house and custody of his kids and blamed it on WoW.
Whatever........Pssst....Got whatever you need people...time codes in increments of $5. Maybe a little translocation powder for you.....huh..huh...it's OK. She'll be back....Another artie, she'll love me in the mornin'.

Now we end with the Serenity Prayer.

Sounds like something out of a 12 stepper manual.....................

last time it was in pc gamer was around 5 years ago, i think.

Sorry buddy lee. I will edit my post to say, ".....EA/Mythic is not promoting it, recently." hehe

Methinks some people are in denial.

Have you never took a day(or more) off work or school to play UO or another game? Cancelled a night out to play online? Been told by a loved one that youre not listening?

I became a addicted to games(not just online games) years and years ago and I have even took a week off sick to play UO.

“They risk their health, their family life and their lives"

That comment is so true. We have put on weight, ignored our family and social lives to play games.

At the end of the day though- I would'nt want it any other way. I lost the weight..now pay more attention to my family and my social life is still confined to games.

Thats not a bad thing compared to other peoples' lives. Like a friends' wife once confided in me.." At least he's not out taking drugs or having an affair".