Objects of Desire: A Reading of the Reward System in World of Warcraft

This article by Lasse Juel Larsen, published in the 2012 volume of the journal Eludamos, examines the reward system of World of Warcraft through a philosophical lens. Its central thesis is that WoW's structure of epic items, which are continually devalued as newer and stronger equipment is introduced, effectively harnesses the paradoxical nature of desire to sustain player engagement. The author draws on Charles Sanders Peirce's notion of infinite semiosis, Jacques Derrida's concept of différance, and Sigmund Freud's pleasure principle to argue that players are caught in an endless deferral in which fulfillment is achieved but never felt as complete.

The analysis proceeds through a narrated autobiographical scene from the classic version of the game, set in a high-end raid against the boss Nefarian, which frames the discussion of how guild-based distribution systems and the scarcity of epic gear generate meaning and social status. The author treats these rewards as "objects of desire" that function both as game-mechanical modifiers and as interpretive signs signaling identity, skill, and social standing to other players. Because epic items lose value with each content update, the reward chain has no stable endpoint, and the author concludes that this design produces a "denial of reward even as it is obtained."

The article's scope is conceptual rather than empirical. It does not rely on surveys, player samples, or quantitative data; its method is close textual reading of game design and of a single personal experience, supported by theoretical reasoning. The primary focus is the endgame equipment economy of the pre-expansion era of WoW, although the author argues the analysis extends to the game's broader progression structure, including character levels, skills, and faction reputation, which the author links to Nick Yee's concept of a "virtual Skinner box."