MMORPG developers and publishers are a lot like drug producers and dealers.

It's true. MMORPG developers are just making what the publishers want and the publisher sare just giving thier customers what they want. Just like drug producers and dealers. MMORPG's are designed to make thier customers feel good and want to keep paying more and more money. Drugs are designed to make thier customers feel good and want to keep paying more and more money. MMORPG developers and publishers are a lot like drug producers and dealers.
I wouldn't say they're giving the customers what they want. More accurately they're giving the customers what they'll become addicted to. MMO's are designed to have those addictive qualities (carrot-on-a-stick gameplay) so that you'll continue paying beyond that first month.Speaking of which, that's another similarity. Firsttimefree (first month free).Before you know it we'll see GM's on the street corners grabbing players to rough them up for switching to another game.MMORPG developers and publishers are a lot like drug producers and dealers.
All publishers try to make their customers feel good (as in have fun or enjoyment), and try to do so successfully in order to make you pay more money for their next installment ad nausiem. Sequels, prequels, spinoffs, etc. They want to hook you onto their game or series so you keep buying.Think about it like this, though: while your typical joe gamer is spending $60+ buying a new game every month, an MMO gamer is only paying $20 tops for his or her subscription a month. And most other gamers I know buy more than one new game every month...All consumer cycles are similar to drug producers and dealers, because that IS an example of a consumer cycle. What was your point again?