Video Game Addiction: A Modern Pandemic?

"Whenever video games and addiction are discussed in the same sentence, images of sweaty acne-ridden teenagers hunkered over cluttered desks shrouded in darkness come to mind. However, it may be that the problem runs far deeper, and across a far greater audience then previously thought. In fact, some of us may be addicted ourselves, without even realising. So what is video game addiction, why is it a problem, and why analyse it now in today’s technologically dependant society?" - OnlySP

[JBSleek]

A valid argument and an interesting read. Addiction can be in the form of anything and not good and video game addictions shouldn't be overlooked by any means. But let's not put people who play video games at the front when things go wrong because we should always blame people and look to help them.

I see video gaming as a major stress reliever in many cases and a way to leave the clutches of reality when it gets too stressful and you just need some time to unwind and play a game.

[SilentNegotiator]

We have to make sure that gamers don't get grouped in with the addicted gamers any more than people that enjoy chocolate with people that eat themselves obese.

The gamer image has never been good in the media and has only gotten minorly better over the year.

[miyamoto]

For me video games is a form of edutainment just like reading a book or watching a movie or watching sports like baseball or boxing

except your are in control of how the story unfolds

[aLiEnViSiToR]

^^ This !!! But not all see games as this sadly :[

Gamer4Life and i'm better for it.

[legendof117]

I love video games. Absolutely love the world I'm thrust into into whatever game I play.

But, seriously life is more important than video games and if you have those priorities interchanged then you need help.

Life is all a balancing act. Honestly, I choose to be addicted to them over drugs, alcohol, food etc.

[wallis]

People can get addicted to anything, everything needs to be taken into moderation... so on and so forth. Honestly, there's a pathology to addiction that goes way beyond the substance so it's pretty arbitrary to make distinctions based on the thing people are dependent upon. I can understand why games are in many senses addictive but I'd hardly call it a pandemic - it's like you sit and play a game for so long you feel the need to shit yourself and let your muscles atrophy... I just don't have much to say to someone in that position other than "sheeeeeeeeiiiiit".

[thebudgetgamer]

Something that is habitual is not the same as something that's addicting.

Not being able to stop chewing pens is a bad habbit.
Not being able to not do heroin is an addiction.

[Canary]

The gaming industry has spent a great deal of money, time and effort -specifically- seeking out new ways to make gaming addictive. And they have succeeded.

And not just in the ways you'd expect.

Any time you make a decision that you would define as "impulse," without thinking things through... that's a result of you addiction.

Spend $60 on a game the day-of-release without reading any reviews? Sure, maybe you're an ill-informed consumer; maybe it's a symptom of addiction?

Ever buy a half-dozen games off Steam during a sale, only to turn around a year later and realize you never played a one? Or, worse, go into Steam to buy a game without realizing you already owned it? Yeah: a symptom of addiction.

Ever thought to yourself, "just one more mission/level/race/etc., and then I'll quit," repeatedly during a single gaming session? Yeah: a symptom of addiction.

...

There's a lot of debate about to what degree media influences behavior, particularly when it comes to violence. Video games get a lot of scrutiny and are often scapegoated, but I think it's important to realize that maybe games SHOULD get more attention on this front. Sure, movies, television and literature can be just as violent--and moreso--but gaming is really the -only- entertainment medium out there that is A) participatory and B) intentionally designed to be addictive.

The whole mess is a subject that deserves legitimate scientific inquiry, not the hot-air and buffoonery all-too common in the news media, political discourse, and the gaming community itself.

[tubers]

Fair enough.

[1upgamer99]

I used to do that allot, Oh just one more level. I remember getting Link to the Past and played for like 15 hours straight. Till I had to go to work, and then Got home from work and played for I don't even know how much longer. Till I beat the game. There have been games I have doe that with since then, but that is one that sticks out in my mind. I kept telling myself "your almost have every heart piece" one more dungeon etc. I don't do that so much now, cause I have to much to do.

[aLucidMind]

"Spend $60 on a game the day-of-release without reading any reviews? Sure, maybe you're an ill-informed consumer; maybe it's a symptom of addiction?"

It's also possible that the person might have enough experience with that developer's/producer's product to buy it day-one. Example, I've played the last nine games Rockstar has released and have loved them all; never been disappointed beyond minor things. Buying one of their next games that interests me day-one can be seen more as a logical and understandable decision rather than a sign of addiction.

[Theangrybogan]

HEY! I can stop whenever I want to <scratches face>

Seriously tho, any activity performed too much will be bad for u. Even awesome ones like gaming.

[1upgamer99]

I love gaming, but am no addict. I have a friend who gets off work and games for 7hrs straight (Warcraft, no thanks) sleeps a little and goes to work. On his days off its all about that damn game. Here are links to some deaths from "marathon" gaming. http://www.foxnews.com/heal...
http://www.foxnews.com/heal...
I play around 12 hours a week give or take, when I get a new game up to 20 hours a week. I would play more, but I have things to do.

[markmiller77e]

That makes an ideal case for installing some kind of parental control app that prohibits kids from watching unwanted stuff. I already have one installed called Qustodio and I use it to block bad content as also watch who my son talks to on Facebook. It shows me the profile pictures of accounts that he interacts with. With measures such as these, I hope I can keep him away from such nasty stuff. You can Google for it.