Addiction is a topic that applies to in-game lore and the experiences of players in the real world.
In World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade[]
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Inlinegfx/img_link_data.json' not found.
The Burning Crusade expansion introduced the blood elves along with their addiction to demon or fel magics. The blood elf victims of this addiction are called the wretched. Since blood elves are in many ways just high elves of a different political faction, high elves also can succumb to this type of addiction.
A specific type of fel addiction is to felblood or the blood of demons, elves that suffer from this are called felblood elves.
You will see the wretched throughout blood elf lands including the Isle of Quel'Danas and high elf wretched at a few outposts like Quel'lithien Lodge in the Eastern Plaguelands.
In the real world[]
Addiction to World of Warcraft and other online games is an early, but growing area of psychological research, and should be a concern for dedicated players. WoW can be a healthy and enjoyable form of entertainment, but it can also lead to unhealthy obsession, and adversely affect a player's relationships with family and friends, and performance at work and school.
"Internet gaming addiction can be defined as a compulsive behavior which interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and one's school or work environment. For the gaming addict, the game becomes a compulsive habit that completely dominates the addict's life. Gaming addicts make the Internet a priority more important than family, friends, and work. The game becomes the organizing principle of addicts' lives. They are willing to sacrifice what they cherish most in order to preserve and continue their unhealthy behavior."
- Dr. Kimberly Young of the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery.
Note: There is a large amount of media hype surrounding this issue, and what may look like dangerous compulsion to one person, is merely another's preferred pastime. Most of the issues discussed in this article and related articles are not specific to World of Warcraft.
Possible symptoms of addiction[]
Behavioral[]
- Playing associated with strong feelings of guilt and pleasure
- Significant hours spent playing, interfering with work, social, and family life
- Lying about game use
- Can't control one's playing
Physical[]
- Deteriorating fitness/weight gain
- Repetitive strain injury/carpal tunnel
- Neck and back pain
- Headaches
- Poor/irregular eating habits
- Neglect of personal hygiene
External links[]
- Support groups
- Related reading
- News

