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World of Warcraft: the 'Cocaine of Gaming'

Fantasy game involved in nearly every case of game addiction, foundation says

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 27, 2009 4:45 PM CST
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(Newser) – World of Warcraft is the most addictive video game on the market, the Local of Sweden reports. WoW is the most popular of the online multiplayer fantasy games—by far the most addicting game genre, according to a study by the Swedish Youth Care Foundation. The Blizzard title is "the cocaine of the computer games world," the foundation's report says. In one case, a Swedish boy collapsed after playing for 20 hours nonstop.

"There is not a single case of game addiction that we have worked with in which World of Warcraft has not played a part," a foundation rep said.

This file image from the game World of Warcraft was provided by its publisher, Blizzard Entertainment.
This file image from the game "World of Warcraft" was provided by its publisher, Blizzard Entertainment.   (AP Photo/Blizzard Entertainment, file)
A screenshot from Blizzard's MMORPG, World of Warcraft.
A screenshot from Blizzard's MMORPG, World of Warcraft.   (©tangi_bertin)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
Guest
Mar 2, 2009 2:24 AM CST
what is reality? Unfortunately its collective for most....
Guest
Mar 2, 2009 2:22 AM CST
I prefer the LSDMMORPG
Doctor-Zaius
Feb 28, 2009 2:30 AM CST
I had a buddy who was a rather successful lawyer. Every 6 to 9 months he would quit his job and play the game for 6 months straight until his money ran out and he would go out and get another job. I can only imagine what would happen if they merged these games into a VR helmet and improved the graphics.

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cocaine • World of Warcraft • MMORPG • multiplayer games • crack cocaine • online gaming • video games

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