On Nov. 23, 2004, I skipped class for the first time ever so I could get “World of Warcraft” the moment it hit shelves.

I love Blizzard games and eagerly await “Starcraft II” and “Diablo III,” however, I’m passing on the latest “WoW” expansion pack, “Wrath of the Lich King.”

Early reports say the latest “WoW” expansion pack sold 2.8 million copies within 24 hours of release. With 11 million active accounts and countless inactive accounts, however, 2.8 million copies is only a quarter of the total install base.

I’m not the only one skipping out on the latest expansion pack. The addition of another continent, raising the level cap to 80 and the inclusion of a new “hero class” is not enough to bring me back to a game I started playing four years ago. I doubt I’m the only one that wants to dedicate time to other games.

I racked up about 800 hours of total game time in WoW over the course of the two and a half years I played the game on and off. Anyone who hasn’t played the game would consider 800 hours an unhealthy obsession, while the majority of the 11 million WoW players would barely consider me above “n00b” status.

I like to compare playing the game to marriage. You can look at other games on the side and even get to know them, but you can’t get deeply involved with them. I’m just not a “one game” kind of guy.

“WoW” and I had an amazing time, but our time together rightfully ended a year and a half ago. I’ve played so many other quality games since then, and it’s just not worth the effort to start up again.

I’ve actually reactivated my “WoW” account on three occasions for a period of 2-3 months each time. “Lich King,” however, just isn’t enough to bring me back. All my friends who actively play the game absolutely love it, but they’ll eat up any new “WoW” content they can get.

I often feel like they’re the equivalent to that couple that is just a little too into each other. You still like hanging around both of them, just not at the same time.

Maybe one summer when I’m devoid of any new quality games, I may go back to “WoW.” Until then, I can’t wait to meet the next game Blizzard will introduce me to.