The Swedish Media Council’s report “To live in World of Warcraft” (Att leva i World of Warcraft) by Jonas Linderoth and Ulrika Bennerstedt at the University of Gothenburg, addresses problems, conflicts and the underlying mechanisms behind playing MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game). The report confirms that MMORPGs are a different phenomenon to traditional computer and console games, and other non-interactive media such as TV or film. The report also reveals that the mechanisms behind extensive gaming are different than the ones behind gambling, for instance.

“To live in World of Warcraft” is based on interviews with ten World of Warcraft-playing teenagers and it shows that peer pressure is one of the most important factors behind extensive gaming. The teenagers’ gaming can sometime cause late nights, bad eating habits, lack of hygiene and the neglect of school work, which can be grounds for conflict within their families. The report concludes that it is crucial that adults learn more about online games - that way they will come to understand their kids' gaming experiences and it will enable them to help their kids create a healthy balanced lifestyle.

Melinda Martino, the Swedish Media Council