Is ‘Addictiveness’ a Good Quality in a Game?

XPSTAR: After several strenuous hours of grinding, I acquire that final ruby required to upgrade my bow. Performing a gleeful little dance of sweet, sweet victorious victory (with no pants on, as is my custom), I hasten to the armorer, offer my materials/monies, and the new weapon is at my disposal.

[sway_z]

Judging by the article, it's a slow day for content on N4G today.

To answer the question, if it means you keep coming back to the game, then YES.

[admiralvic]

Without a doubt, it only becomes a problem when you start avoiding your life to keep gaming.

[GraveLord]

That's a whole different issue entirely.

If a game isn't addicting, that means it isn't rewarding. If the game isn't rewarding, its not fun. If its not fun, its boring.

[3-4-5]

How many of the best games you've ever played have been games you couldn't stop thinking about or playing ?

of the top 100 games of all time, I'd be willing to bet 100 of them are addicting.

[Zha1tan]

Its not an addiction if you enjoy it and it has been settled that there is no such thing as video game addiction.

[admiralvic]

Eh, if gambling can be an addiction, then so can gaming. I don't know where that research came from, but there will always be people with more addictive personalities than others and that would cause things to happen.

[Mkai28]

Lets see, Not washing and wearing the same clothes for sometime. If you call out from your job to play video games. Avoiding hunger pains, peeing in bottles. Not associating with people/family but only on the game. Losing spouse, love one because of a game. These are addictions, so I don't think addiction is a good thing.

[Utalkin2me]

Exactly!! I had a friend that lost his house, wife and friends over Everquest. And he didn't realize until it was way to late.

[WildArmed]

I honestly say it's an issue more with the person than the game. They need help.

It's like saying blame alcohol for alcoholics, blame drugs for drug abuse.

Addiction isn't something a game forces on you. A game being able to hold your interest over a period of time is always a plus.

[yaz288]

Online maybe, sp no

[ACEMANWISE]

The only game I've ever heard of that ruined lives was World of Warcraft.

I'd like to find out what caused such an addiction. I'd imagine that part of it had to do with realtime elements, group coordination, and time consuming gameplay in order to make progress.

[uuaschbaer]

"In either case, is ‘addiction’ a good thing? We’ll take a look in part two."

Screw you too.

[Hicken]

It's a good quality when the addictiveness is there because of other good quality things. When the gameplay or story is so good you can't wait to play it again, then yes, it's a good thing.

But if it's just a mindless game that addicts you BECAUSE of its mindlessness, then it's bad. A lot of popular games are like that, particularly the casual stuff. I don't think that's good for gamers, or the industry.