MMORPG: Therapy and Addiction

With the increase in the amounts of Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) available in the market brings out a whole new world of therapy. The fact that gamers can play someone else can be quite therapeutic and addicting. The escape alone into a fantasy realm can help individuals get away from the trials and tribulations of real life. One such game that has been highly addicting is World of Warcraft (WoW).

This MMORPG, like many other games, immerses the gamer into a whole new world where the gamer chooses what they look like. Whereas in the real world thousands of dollars are spent to enhance the image you have, in the game most of the base characters in the character creation scene are usually what people want to look like. Thus allowing a player to show to others what they want to look like.

Like visiting Disneyland, being able to get away from the stresses of real life, consumers are able to feel a liberation in being someone else that isn't pressured by taxes or getting to work on time. Logging on, button pressing, and mouse clicking is far safer and easier than hopping in your car and hoping no one will run into you on the way to your final destination. This stress relief can serve as a temporary and cheaper way to alleviate tension and even anxiety that many individuals feel on a daily basis.

However, the dark side of such games is the addiction. Though getting away from the real world is a great way to relieve stress, ignoring the real world can be a real danger. The dark side of gaming is the time spent in playing the game. The time spent playing the game is also time taken away from having to do more important real-life factors such as schoolwork, housework, exercise, etc.

After being addicted many gamers spend less time performing life necessary tasks such as exercise. In America obesity is an ever increasing problem and with the lack of time spent exercising individuals can keep start gaining an unhealthy amount of weight. This is life threatening and cannot be fixed simply by exercising the character played in game. By moderating the time spent in game, so the player can do their real life activities, will allow the person to stay healthy and happy.