[Saxon]

Originally Posted by TheOtis

My question is, what makes the 11.5 million of you pay $$ per month to play it? And what about it makes so many people addicted to it? Are you addicted to it?

Ah ok here is a correction for you, in that number Blizzard counts banned accounts an users, they do not IP ban any one otherwise the gold farms would have been out of business would have died out a long long time ago. The best guess estimates peg the real number of WOW players including gold farmers an other bots at around the 4 million mark at any one time. How ever if you take away the bots and trial member users you end up with a estimation of 2.6 million users.

[Keyboard Cowboy]

Originally Posted by 3.8mateoAMD

WoW, for me, was a huge contrast to most MMO's out before. (Ex. Everquest) Where everquest was seriously like clocking in for a job and impossible to get anything done, WoW is a real game. Its fairly easy for the hardcore gamer, but also caters (somewhat poorly) for the casual gamer.

Oh yeah. My sister and her MMO friends has a breif period with EQ2 and they were complaining how that you really had to keep up with every one else in order to continue leveling up and it was so easy to fall behind. At least with WoW, provided that every one was with in 10 levels of each other, it still means that the lower level players could still join in on some instances. (provided that the other playier don't mind pulling a lot more agro)

[james.wired]

Originally Posted by hikaricloud

I'm almost afraid to try it, because I'm pretty sure I would love it way too much. I don't really have the time or the money to pay to play something like that. I probably have like, 3 free trial disks that haven't touched my PC.

EXACTLY. I feel the same way, I can't afford to get hooked on a game like that because I have a weak will haha. Having a girlfriend and trying to adapt to a new country, I can't afford to lose all that by pwning dwarfs and elves. It will consume me. Talking about it makes me want to try it though.. :freak:

[3.8mateoAMD]

Originally Posted by Keyboard Cowboy

Oh yeah. My sister and her MMO friends has a breif period with EQ2 and they were complaining how that you really had to keep up with every one else in order to continue leveling up and it was so easy to fall behind. At least with WoW, provided that every one was with in 10 levels of each other, it still means that the lower level players could still join in on some instances. (provided that the other playier don't mind pulling a lot more agro)

Lol it really is rediculous. I played old school EQ for about a year and I would classify myself as a casual player. I only got to level 36...In the same time in wow playing just as casually, I got to 60. I'm proud to say I've been wow free since November 2007.

[Keyboard Cowboy]

Seriously people........ it's all about the /dance command with night elves (not matter what your sexual preferences is).

[Guttzu]

I can touch on this because I started playing (no longer do) back in November 2004. I think the main reason why people are addicted is the quick rewards you get when first starting off. You then go into major cities and see people all decked out and the whole purpose of the game then is to deck your character out. Here lies the true addictive factor that Blizz has been profiting off of for years. Rewards to Time spent playing ratio.....All bosses have a random loot table so you may go for weeks and never get a drop but you "have" to be there in the raid in order to have the chance to get it! Must....get....gear....ahhhh!!!!

I remember back in Molten Core/Black Wing Lair/AQ40/Nax40 Etc...(Pre Burning Crusade) where I would spend 5 nights a week for many hours clearing these places all to get "better gear". I wanted to have the best stuff and dominate with my character. The second they came out with add-ons and DPS meters it made the game completely different cause now people were competing with each other on "who was better dps" and it got crazy.

I played WOW off and on up until about a month ago and it finally hit me... Even if I get the best of gear and can dominate people in pvp, what the heck do I have to show for it? It is a major time leech through the means of its social aspect and never-ending pvp/arena/honor systems... I would spend hours and hours "farming honor" for 1 piece of gear. When it comes down to it, they have messed with so many things since the original release that I really don't want to take the time to learn many new boss fights...and if I did....for what.... some new gear on a little character made of pixels? No thanks not anymore blizzard, I wasted enough money...I might try Guild Wars, it's free to play so that is a plus The social aspect is huge as well because you start running instances with 24 other people 5 nights a week and you are bound to become part of a relationship. Everyone wants that better gear!!!

To people considering WoW... I would not suggest it unless you have very good control over priorities in your life and can walk away from a game at the end of the night. It is addictive and there is always something to do. I spent hours and hours a night just talking on Ventrilo and doing meaningless things in game.....IT'S NOT WORTH IT!!! TRUST ME!!! It is an easy escape from reality but face it, when you wake up in the morning reality is still there. It is easy to just log in and play for hours but in the end you still have to consider what is most important in life...YOU and YOUR LIFE!!! NOT WOW!!! I hope I got the point across lol!

[Keyboard Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Guttzu

To people considering WoW... I would not suggest it unless you have very good control over priorities in your life and can walk away from a game at the end of the night. It is addictive and there is always something to do. I spent hours and hours a night just talking on Ventrilo and doing meaningless things in game.....IT'S NOT WORTH IT!!! TRUST ME!!! It is an easy escape from reality but face it, when you wake up in the morning reality is still there. It is easy to just log in and play for hours but in the end you still have to consider what is most important in life...YOU and YOUR LIFE!!! NOT WOW!!! I hope I got the point across lol!

That could be said with just about any MMO. I remember i was like that with SWG in it's day

[Gothch1ck]

Your forgetting the most obvious thing....


Life status.

Today a lot of problems exist more then what "Teens" and "Young adults" can control, so they escape reality however they can, drugs, porn, and video games. They get addicted for the simple reason it's easy to play, it has frustrating times that instead of making you put down the controls- get you TICKED OFF and want revenge, which keeps you playing longer.

The simple fact is the game is easy, and getting easier with all the junk they add, to real gamers the only challenge is GOOD PVP fights, which get boring after a while. For casual gamers and "teens needing an escape" it's the perfect world to run to.


I played WOW for about a year. Toward the end "14 year old's" took over and ruined the game for me, cheating is one thing, talking stupid crud all the time and acting like a moron during important missions is another. Cheaters get removed... idiots don't.


Also toward the end I really wanted to make my own game, so I started on it harder.

[Keyboard Cowboy]

Funny thing happend to be once when I was playing WoW, and this just shows how addicted my sister was to playing the game. My sister created a character the server I was playing on just so use the in game private message system to set me messages about in real life matters.

I was getting private messages like "Could I borrow some DVDs" or "Would you like to come over to dinner tonight"

She stopped doing that when I pointed out "Sorry, but I don't play the game as much as you. Use real life means to contact me about real life matters"

[Stevo808]

I am currently playing the game and its actually fun since i have a guild and 2 of my friends play it. It really does take up most of my time but i don't go crazy about it if i am not playing. I got my 360 and weekends i skate so i don't consider myself a WoW addict.