WOW: Addicting Computer Game Ends Marriage

By Olua

Video games can be, well, addicting. God knows how many late nights I spent trying get out of that one dungeon, or unlock that one sword, or kept saying to myself, “Just one more level…” Still, I draw my limits on things like World of Warcraft.

In case you aren’t up on the MMORPG (that’s Massive Multi-player Online Role Playing Game) front, World of Warcraft is the most popular MMO out there, with well over six million – yes, million – players. I know people who are hopelessly addicted, people who have no social life, people who dropped out of school so that they could spend more hours playing Warcraft. So when I read about a married couple of six years that divorced because of this game, I could only say one thing.

Wow.

Jocelyn and Peter had been sweethearts since they were 13. They got married in 2002. in 2004, Jocelyn decided to buy Peter WOW for Christmas. As time passed, he got predictably more hooked. They reportedly starting having real issues in May. Issues like the fact that as soon as Peter got home from work, he got straight on the computer and didn’t get off until it was time to go to bed.

Issues like him not doing his share of work around the house or even so much as paying bills. Issues like the time when Jocelyn tried to set aside a meager 30 minutes to watch TV with her husband, and Peter couldn’t dare pry himself away from his computer.

Jocelyn moved out in September, and even though they’re split, Peter still plays WOW, even though he reportedly is weaning himself. I don’t buy it.

I refuse to play WOW. It isn’t the fact that the game upsets me, and I’m sure if I played it, I’d adore it. My issue is that I know how quickly and easily I get addicted to video games. I was bad enough with MapleStory, a free, more cartoonish version of WOW, and the only reason I quit that was because the server it uses is blocked on my campus.

The server WOW uses isn’t blocked, because so many people play it. I know quite a few people who play, and though some of them still have healthy social lives – like R. and A., two friends of mine who are a very happy couple that play WOW together – some are clearly hopelessly addicted.

I, however, will not be touching World of Warcrack. I have nothing against the people who play it, don’t get me wrong. Still, I know I’d get hooked. People who are easily addicted would be wise to stay away from any MMORPG, and may want to find safety in a game that does eventually end. As for me, I’ll stay away. I wouldn’t want to danger any of my relationships because of a video game. (And hell, my girlfriend already hates it when I play Guitar Hero; I’m pretty sure she’d drop me like a hot potato if I signed up for Warcraft.)