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Sign out of the bloody game for good: http://www.wowdetox.com/

I did just over 3 years ago and don't regret it.

Yeah, 'cause in real life, people really do get sucked into their computers all of the time...

You are right they do! Plus, why else would the Onion be making news out of it?

I think that, as a friend, you should do whatever you reasonably can to help him. If I am aware of problems that my friends have, that is what I try to do, and would hope that my friends do that for me as well. Nonetheless, if the person is in denial and severely addicted, you may not be able to help much.

However, remember that you are far from alone and that there are many sources of help available for both you and your friend. This Slashdot site is one of them, but some other good ones that I am aware of are On-Line Gamers Anonymous (OLGA) at http://www.olganon.org/ , Gamer Widow at http://gamerwidow.com/ (note that despite it's name, it also has support for gamers as well), DailyStrength Video Game Addiction (VGA) support group at http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Video-Game-Addiction/support-group , and WoW Detox at http://www.wowdetox.com/ . I am a recovering video game addict myself. For me, I used counseling from a friend as well as the OLGA Website (such as informally following their 12 steps) and, to a lesser extent, the DailyStrength one.

Note that even if you cannot get your friend to directly get help himself, the first 2 sites listed above (i.e., OLGA and Gamer Widow) have sections specifically for family and friends of gamers. I am sure that you can find something already previously posted that would be useful, or can get specific help by repeating your query.

Someone should consider pointing him at http://www.wowdetox.com/.

I'm not sure at which point a hobby becomes an addiction, but I think it's safe to say this guy is a bit beyond that.

It seems obvious that the only people who think MMORPGs are addictive are the people who haven't played them.

At the very least, myself and the other 33,261 people who have posted on this website disagree with you.

http://www.wowdetox.com/

A potentially relationship-ending addiction?

A potentially relationship-ending addiction?

...just head over to http://www.wowdetox.com./ ;P

Still, people arguing over whether an addiction is "chemical" or not are missing the point. The brain is one big electrochemical device - any input can cause addiction, either by direct manipulation via chemicals, or indirect manipulation of reward systems. The difference is largely in attack vector - not in the end result. (Of course, going the chemical route often has more side effects than the indirect route)

That, however doesn't necessarily mean that chemical addictions are worse. Sure, nicotine might kill you at 65, but it won't have ruined your entire life before then. (On the contrary - cigarettes are cool, after all...)

Look at http://wowdetox.com/ and you'll see there is a problem with it.

Fuck no! We do NOT need games more addicting than Warcrack.

Links about WoW addiction:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/WOW_widow
http://soulkerfuffle.blogspot.com/2006/10/view-fro m-top.html
http://wowdetox.com/
http://wowrecovery.com/
http://deletewow.com/
One out of many particularly sad stories: http://www.wowdetox.com/view.php?number=13640

Fuck no! We do NOT need games more addicting than Warcrack.

Links about WoW addiction:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/WOW_widow
http://soulkerfuffle.blogspot.com/2006/10/view-fro m-top.html
http://wowdetox.com/
http://wowrecovery.com/
http://deletewow.com/
One out of many particularly sad stories: http://www.wowdetox.com/view.php?number=13640

So it wasn't enough that people had to build sites like WoW detox, now we need a "Second Life Detox"?

I am in World of Warcraft detox and do not want a relapse.

Amen baby!!

http://www.wowdetox.com/

http://www.wowdetox.com/ is a place where plenty people disapointed in Blizzard have expressed their reasons why.

And honestly the games suck right now. http://www.wowdetox.com/