Tech | November 27, 2009 | 97 comments

'Alienated' gamer sues World of Warcraft for ruining life

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Erik Estavillo is seeking $1m (£600,000) in damages, claiming the orc-tastic roleplaying game has turned him into a blank-eyed basketcase who can no longer function in the real world (as the lawsuit itself appears to prove). Having apparently become addicted to rampaging around some made-up mountains clobbering other collections of pixels with big clobbering weapons, Estavillo is calling pusher on the WoW developers, whom he accuses of "sneaky and deceitful practices".
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97 comments // 'Alienated' gamer sues World of Warcraft for ruining life

  • liveroadkill
  • roso614
    • 0
      roso614  
    • wow this is bull. no one forced him to play. if he was becoming unstable where was his family or friends to witness this or stop the craziness before it out to far.again this is bull

    • 3 years ago
  • blood77
  • zwan008
    • 0
      zwan008  
    • HEY CREEP GET A LIFE, There are tons of stuff out there in big wide world so get off your ass go out there and enjoy life. God suing a company for one measely little thing, I bet when he get's married (IF HE DOES) then he would spend most of his time on some shitty MMRPG that has ruined half of the American population just by a click of the fingers.

    • 3 years ago
  • Morgan_Roberts
    • 0
      Morgan_Roberts  
    • ive played WoW for a whileand i still son't see how it's addicting. I'm about to quit the game but they make that frustrating....... This peron does have an addictive personality and probably bought the game because he had nothing better to do. People get addicted to these games all the time and i don't think this person should sue, it's not worth it it is his fault

    • 3 years ago
  • Euphoriatic
    • 0
      Euphoriatic  
    • Well considering the fact that WoW employees are paid to essentially get people to play, and stay playing (it's a pay2play game so they make bundles off their monthly subscriptions) it's not hard to believe that people get caught up in the fake world they come to spend so much of their time in. On the other hand, yea, the kid probably had some social issues to begin with for WoW to able to "ruin" his life. Poor kid, but it's really the last safe haven for a lot of kids today with such a powerful media saying what is right and wrong, cool and uncool. Where else are they going to go? It's not exactly the age of pen and paper anymore.

    • 3 years ago
  • Toughth
    • 0
      Toughth  
    • I would like to sue somebody for becoming 598 lbs. in 1996. But the fact of the matter is it was my fault. I ignored certain medical signs and did not notice I was not feeling certain parts of my body including my stomach. I could not tell that I was full. In 2001 they removed a brain tumur from the top of my brain stem. By this time all I was feeling was the head achs that were about to incapacitate me. It was explained the reason why I gained the weight in the first place was because of this problem.

    • 3 years ago
  • ankab
    • 0
      ankab  
    • Topscruffy so the plan is buy the freekin game, get yourself a half descent attorney & sue to take me to pension age. Hopefully I sue the pants off them. You're not just playing games. You're thinking tooooooooooo.

    • 3 years ago
  • pwnn00bz
  • Brandon_Fields
    • 0
      Brandon_Fields  
    • Fuck WoW. Blizzard needs to be sued. It ruins too many lives.

      Also, WoW is such a shitty service for the price you pay. I understand you don't have to pay it. But god damn, it's not like they don't have the money to offer decent service.

    • 3 years ago
  • jkjkl56
  • Damien_M
    • 0
      Damien_M  
    • WoW is like a massive Skinner Box. Keep doing a task over and over again and you'll eventually get rewarded while the time between rewards grows longer and longer until it takes an entire month to level. Wait a minute, that's all MMO's...

    • 3 years ago
  • ankab
    • 0
      ankab  
    • That should be easy to defend. You don't feel like working? Well just buy yourself a video game & sue them for milllions.

    • 3 years ago
  • chaos1
  • snaganalf
  • snaganalf
    • 0
      snaganalf  
    • What's sad is, he's probably dead serious in his convictions that it is the fault of the makers of WOW.

      It's that entitlement mentality today's generation has. They think that they are owed everything they might desire whether they've earned it or not and that anything bad that happens in their lives is the fault and responsibility of everyone or everything else. Even if the bad things are a direct result of their own actions. Which they believe they are not responsible for either.

      Such a waste.

    • 3 years ago
  • jkjkl56
    • 0
      jkjkl56  
    • What? WoW does suck how could you get addicted to that game. Though I do believe you can become addicted to games and how they effect you. Maybe Halo and COD will hear from me if this kid wins this lawsuit... Just kidding I love those games!

    • 3 years ago
  • LordLicious
    • 0
      LordLicious  
    • From an episode of "southpark" about WOW:

      WOW CEO: "damn! I cannot access the game to help you kids because I don't have a WOW account!"

      Another WOW CEO: "are you telling me that you dont have an account on the game, why don't you have an account?"

      First CEO: "because I got a life." *serious tension*

    • 3 years ago
  • abg123
  • bigloutech
    • 0
      bigloutech  
    • Image
    • Apparently Estavillo says that he suffers from depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia and Crohn's disease. As such, he claims that these have led to his leaning on video games "heavily" for his happiness.

    • 3 years ago
  • tangibleparadox
    • 0
      tangibleparadox  
    • bigloutech:

      you know, i use video games to zone out and feel better when i've had a bad day (and for entertainment purposes in general)... but i doubt i'll be suing anyone for that. ^_^; i know how to keep a social life.

    • 3 years ago
  • Acedia
  • tangibleparadox
  • Mark701
    • 0
      Mark701  
    • This guy is a very small fish in a very big pond and he knows it. Suing MS, Sigorney Weaver, Blizzard etc., is his way of trying to be a big fish. I'd love to be the judge in one of his cases. I'd find against him then make him pick up the legal fees for the defendant. I guarantee you he'd never pull this BS again.

    • 3 years ago
  • JuJubeez
  • sugarlilly
  • Valence
  • Stradius
  • astraleia
    • 0
      astraleia  
    • Total nut case...
      It's his fault he became so obsessed with online play and forgot how to live his life in the real world, not WoW's developers fault. He should be sent to those rehabilitation camps for video game addicts or something, see if that works on him... but judging from what the article states, that he has sued Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo for console problems that apparently he feels are an attempt to his life and his sanity (big LOL) I'd say that won't do. I don't know how old he is, but dude seriously needs some psychiatric help or something of sorts!
      And here I thought my boyfriend had an addiction problem with video games... he may love them but he's still capable of separating the two (virtual life and real life). Although it gets pretty annoying sometimes and I feel the urge to slap him, lol...

    • 3 years ago
  • Toughth
  • Mudboy16
  • Maeveeo
  • joeysfun
  • desertcat
    • 0
      desertcat  
    • He should be suing his parents for ignoring in and letting his spend some much time with a game. He should of been kicked out of the house to play ball or enjoy the fresh air. This guy going to be a parasite on society for life.

    • 3 years ago
  • jac1992
    • 0
      jac1992  
    • I am actually pretty OK with Wow taking up all her time , because can you imagine a woman like this in the real world

    • 3 years ago
  • LowShred
  • Minus5scenePoints
    • 0
      Minus5scenePoints  
    • Oh, lame, lame lame! people can really be pathetic! come on now! Sue happy society.
      I love video games as much as the next product of the 80's. But, that's taking it to far. And I've played the game, WAY fucking overrated. I enjoy giving my friends who DO play it shit though.

    • 3 years ago
  • Varex_Sythe
    • 0
      Varex_Sythe  
    • It's a computer game that can simulate social interaction. Whoop de fucking do. The only people who will have their lives affected in any major or minor negative way by this game are people who have addictive personalities. And people with addictive personalities will find something to fill their addiction be it this or something else. Though this is not by any means a healthy way to fill that addiction, it is by far not the unhealthiest. If this kid manages to win then it's not going to be long until alcoholics will be suing liquor companies because the booze ruined their lives.

      The kid made a choice, he could have turned off the machine at any point, but he chose not to. Addicted or not, it is that simple.

    • 3 years ago
  • sugarlilly
    • 0
      sugarlilly  
    • Varex_Sythe:

      there have been no conclusive studies showing "addictive personalities" exist. in my opinion the possibility of "addictive personality" is just a lie the 12-step AA corporation propagated. mere propaganda. just got my BA in psyc & soc, i promise man.

    • 3 years ago
  • jubal
    • 0
      jubal  
    • Varex_Sythe:

      If the part about suing alcohol companies were true, then that would have happened a long long time ago. Alcohol was prohibited once remember? It has been quite controversial at different times for different reasons. But its as old as time.

    • 3 years ago
  • Pam_Randall
    • 0
      Pam_Randall  
    • look you retards wow will not distroy your life like this i've been playing wow for a little over a year and im still just as screwed up as the day i first logged on so what i am saying is that the game didnt screw him up he was probably so screwed up to start with this just gave him an excuse and you idiots that put it down have you played it then SHUT THE HELL UP THEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • 3 years ago
  • tangibleparadox
  • VegaNerDiva
  • freecorbinj
  • Mudboy16
  • Valence
  • AtomUniverse1
  • asherp
    • 0
      asherp  
    • Dumb. I don't blame companies for firing their employees on the grounds that they are WoW players. It's a waste of time, electricity, and so much more.

      Read a fucking book for crissake.

    • 3 years ago
  • Pam_Randall
  • asherp
  • Crenshaw_Brothers
  • bailey78
  • stoofy
  • jubal
  • flyingkick
    • 0
      flyingkick  
    • jubal:

      Well, he's also trying to subpoena Winona Rider and the lead singer of Depeche Mode to appear in court and explain the concept of 'alienation' to the judge, so that might explain a little.

    • 3 years ago
  • Nancyf
    • 0
      Nancyf  
    • OMG! How sad. There are sooo many Satanists in America today they should all be jailed. At least the satanists who owns prisons could be making money off the same kind of people as THEM!

    • 3 years ago
  • Kyle_Crenshaw
  • Nancyf
    • 0
      Nancyf  
    • Nancyf:

      Are u saying ur a Satanist? If you worship Satan don't say a fricking word to me! I have a right to boundaries and FREE SPEECH! Satanism is HATE against Christians and the GOD they belong to! And hurting people physically and mentally is a CRIME.

    • 3 years ago
  • Sumkrazyguy55
    • 0
      Sumkrazyguy55  
    • Nancyf:

      Wtf are you talking about?! Satanists probably take up .001% of the population, just like any minority cult. You can only arrest someone if they commit a crime. Religious persecution is unconstitutional no matter how fucked up their beliefs are. I would be immune thought because I don't even have a religon

    • 3 years ago
  • EtVoila
    • 0
      EtVoila  
    • Nancyf:

      Wow Nancy.

      Hey everybody, watch out! Here comes another random nutcase that resorts to using capital letters to get their poorly thought out point across.

    • 3 years ago
  • Nettle
    • 0
      Nettle  
    • Nancyf:

      Well, what kind of Satanism are you talking about, Nancy? Theistic Satanism or Atheistic/Agnostic/Deistic Satanism? I've read up on all of them and none of them have any rules that order their members to hate Christians. Your hatred seems a little fear driven.

    • 3 years ago
  • JonRaymond
  • freecorbinj
  • mik661
    • 0
      mik661  
    • Nancyf:

      wtf are you thinking? I predict that Nancy's definition of a satanist is anyone that doesn't belong to her particular church (and anyone else her pastor points out).

    • 3 years ago
  • StrangE2U
    • 0
      StrangE2U  
    • Nancyf:

      Well, I was going to try and throw my 2 cent funny comment in about this pathetic story... But the random, goddy weirdness of Nancyf's comment has just thrown me for a loop.

      Who left the crazy door open again?

      (I'm looking at you Nettle, your fat girl anime post has opened up a whole new can of weird for me)

    • 3 years ago
  • jubal
    • 0
      jubal  
    • Nancyf:

      Satanists have every right to the free exercise of their religion, just like anybody else does. Satanists are interesting people from a sociological point of view.

    • 3 years ago
  • Nancyf
    • 0
      Nancyf  
    • Nancyf:

      Well, I see you guys are worshipping Satan too. Not surprising. Satanism is NOT a religion but a harmful master to work for. Satanists are not much different than terrorists EXCEPT they use lies and psychological cruelty against people. Would u talk to Jesus like this? Dumb question, yes you WOULD! May u and ur demons be bound, gagged and thrown into the abyss; I command in Jesus's NAME!

    • 3 years ago
  • EtVoila
  • jubal
  • jubal
  • jubal
  • EmperorThan
  • royulery
    • 0
      royulery  
    • tobacco got sued so he's got a chance but what a waste.
      i'd like to sue the catholic church for a number of failed relations and a bad back from always turning around to make sure a priest wasn't sneaking up on me arse.

    • 3 years ago
  • Argon18
  • freecorbinj
  • jubal
  • gringoninjo
  • Nettle
  • tangibleparadox
  • mixmaster
    • 0
      mixmaster  
    • like it or not wii playstation, xbox are evil plots planted by the wicked nerds to take over the minds of the cool ones you do not stand a chance,, revenge of the nerds is here forget 2012

    • 3 years ago
  • CalgarC
  • Debrinconcita
    • 0
      Debrinconcita  
    • Then we could all sue for being fat, cause they advertised food, and we bought it, it's their fault were gaining weight? You cannot blame any company for your perceptions. It up to you to play or not to play? He's a Loser!

    • 3 years ago
  • Argon18
    • 0
      Argon18  
    • Debrinconcita:

      Or like suing the Casino's for letting you gamble all your money away when it was your choice to to place the bets.

      There is such a thing as self-discipline after all, but that person apparently forgot that no one was forcing him to play the game

    • 3 years ago
  • JonRaymond
    • 0
      JonRaymond  
    • Debrinconcita:

      Actually the case for getting fat seems reasonable. Everywhere you go there is nothing but bad fattening food, unless you are rich enough to shop at WholeFoods all the time. But even then, it's not always convenient.

      In government run health insurance countries, there is an incentive to keep people healthy, because those who fall ill burden the government and everyone else (Actually they do here too, but it's just not as apparent). So those countries have active programs to keep people healthy.

      if insurance companies were subsidized by the government (as some do) with breaks for the number of people who are healthy, or penalties for those who aren't, they would have a motive to keep people healthy. If the insurance industry had their profit at stake you can bet there would be a sudden resurgence of healthy foods everywhere.

    • 3 years ago
  • esserius
    • 0
      esserius  
    • Debrinconcita:

      There have actually already been several successful federal cases against food companies for the problems of obesity. With something like food, which you have to eat in order to survive, the lack of quality food is a problem America has largely not addressed. The food companies are partially to blame for not promoting food that's both healthy and accessible to the busy consumer.

    • 3 years ago
  • devo64
  • tommytripper
    • 0
      tommytripper  
    • cannot be man enough to deal with his own addictions... has to be someone else fault....

      and by the way WOW sucks... pick a better damn game to get addicted to...

    • 3 years ago
  • Pam_Randall
  • maxjunk
  • ReganMann
  • TopScruffy
  • Argon18
    • 0
      Argon18  
    • That's like trying to sue Playboy for giving you Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. You'd have as much luck with that case also.

    • 3 years ago
  • wellhunggimp
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