How real is video game addiction?

[kyrax12]

Some of the posts I have been reading here are just insane.

How can married men with responsibilities be addicted to video games. That is almost unheard of to me.

The only people that I know or heard of that are addicted to video games are people that don't have a lot of responsibilities.

 

[OverVolt]

I think screens are addictive. I don't think computers became mainstream I just think they made more addictive screens. Apple is like a modern day 1900's Cocaine-a-cola or Robitussin heroin edition for that pesky cough. I'm thinking in terms of blue light being stimulating.

I think videogames that are skinner boxes are doubly addictive. It actually irritates me these days that the awarding of points is guiding gameplay. There is what I would think is fun to do, and then there is what gets you the most points (also fun, kinda). But generally everyone is playing in a manner that awards you the most points, emergent gameplay be damned. This is why its so amazing a game like minecraft without any +100 score popups became so popular.

 

[Remobz]

If WoW and my almost flunking out of college in first year are any indication, ya, it's real. Surprisingly, I got over it before almost flunking because I got bored of the game.

I had zero desire in playing that game. Fantasy games like that never did and never will interest me.

My minor addiction was to sim type games and Tribes 1. Tribes 2 sucked mostly.

Give me Red Baron 3D multiplayer and Tribes 1 over WoW any day of the week.

 

[OverVolt]

Depends on the game as well. MMO style games are designed specifically to facilitate a pseudo addiction, regardless of if you're actually having fun. Grinding is work, not fun btw.

I play almost exclusively single player games as they're easier to break from for daily tasks, and are typically more fun than work.

Yup exactly single player can be paused, which is huge because you can still get business done. Doesn't matter if its talking to someone, swapping loads of laundry, cooking your lunch tomorrow, whatever. Single player is a great way to relax and still get chores done.

Anywho considering that MMO's are designed to be addictive I would say videogame addiction is pretty real and under-discussed. It doesn't affect girls as much as men and could definitely be playing a role in the college gender gap.

 

[Craig234]

Uh, no. This is fucking stupid!

I'm going to sue you because your game is addicting.

Thanks for supporting my statement about the typical response of uninformed people.

Or, you could learn something before you post.

 

[sdifox]

I must have lost 1.0 gpa to netrek in my universe days...

 

[CPA]

I was recently addicted to an online mobile game in the vein of Clash of Clans. It was called Clash of Lord 2, or as another player called it Cash of Lords 2. I easily spent over $1,000 in in-game purchases over the course of probably 8 months. Mind you, I was always one of those players who shook their heads at pay-to-win players. I didn't begrudge them, but I never understood the need to pay that much to win. Well, CoL2 took hold of me in a way that no other game has in my 25+ years of gaming.

About six months in, I was getting up earlier, so I could play more in the morning. My workouts suffered, and I was constantly rushing to get ready for work. Fortunately, I didn't miss work, but that was more likely because I could access my game on my Kindle Fire or Android phone and not suffer from lack of "progress". The hours I put into it delayed a bathroom remodel I had been working on. I didn't really touch it throughout those eight months. No time.

About half-way through my eight months, I started dreaming about the game...regularly.

I would spend over an hour in the morning before work to play, then 2-3 hours after work. When I figured that I couldn't keep up with the higher ranked players with only 3-4 hours per day, I upped it by playing 2 more hours on the bus to and from work, then started playing during work. I didn't just play on my lunch break, I was playing during working hours. All this so I could break into the Top 10 for a couple weeks.

I'm not sure what triggered it, but about 2 weeks ago, I upped and quit playing. I think I realized that the results I was getting did not justify the costs. Plus, I couldn't imagine how to catch up with the very top players. So, fortunately, I had a realization that it was time to quit.

Note, I have not deleted the game from either my Kindle Fire nor my cellphone...

 

[inf1nity]

It is very real. Playing video games with real-life like graphics effects your brain similar to pornography. It makes you feel good, emitting a kind of "Woah" feeling from you. People can become addicted to that sensation.

Ever played a video game that had stunning visuals, for the third or fourth time and wondered why you don't feel the same excitement at that visual that you felt the first time? It happens because because you get used to that, so it no longer excites you. Then people start seeking out more things that can stimulate their brains pleasure centres, which becomes an addiction.

http://www.kxly.com/news/north-idah...ldren-to-world-of-warcraft-addiction/22550764

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/internet-addict-tells-how-world-2098704

 

[KeithTalent]

People can be "addicted" to anything. Pick anything that exists and I'm sure you will find someone who claims to be addicted to it.

KT

 

[Zor Prime]

At least with MMO addiction I'd say there's 3 stages.

1. First off, you get into the game and are wildly entranced by the world it offers, who or what you get to be, the gameplay mechanics and improving yourself in the game be it loot, etc.

2. You've been playing for a long time now, perhaps even years at this point, and you don't always want to even log in. The game has become a job of its own. But you do, because you have friends, and you really do like playing with your friends.

3. You dream of this damn game. Literally. You become aware that you're squandering real life sitting in front of your monitor, but, you're #1 at (whatever 'thing' in game) and must keep getting ph4t l3wtz to keep it that way. You're proud of your virtual-achievement but when you look at your play-time total you think what the fuck am I doing?

Something eventually breaks you out of the cycle. There's been several reasons in this thread.

I spent more than a full year of my life behind a keyboard playing EQ. I had fun. I held my jobs, and all that. Didn't get divorced. But to say I didn't miss out on things is extremely naive, and I know it.

 

[inf1nity]

People can be "addicted" to anything. Pick anything that exists and I'm sure you will find someone who claims to be addicted to it.

KT

I'm addicted to your posts. :wub:

 

[Leopardos]

The only addicting game in history = WoW

But not anymore, it got boring now...

 

[purbeast0]

yes op, lets further take personal responsibility away from people and blame someone else. great idea...

 

[SlitheryDee]

Some of the posts I have been reading here are just insane.

How can married men with responsibilities be addicted to video games. That is almost unheard of to me.

The only people that I know or heard of that are addicted to video games are people that don't have a lot of responsibilities.

How can married men with responsibilities drink every day to the point that they lose everything and their families won't stay with them anymore? How can they gamble all their savings away to the same result? No addiction makes logical sense, but they exist. That's what addiction is; the continuance of and preoccupation with any substance or activity despite negative consequences and even ignoring one's own better judgement telling them to stop. If it obeyed logic then no one would have a problem with it because every addict reaches the point where they really wish they could just stop what they are doing, and then they keep doing it anyway. It's a sickness of the brain that has very little to do with will power, love of family, or awareness of responsibilities in the end.

 

[sdifox]

I was recently addicted to an online mobile game in the vein of Clash of Clans. It was called Clash of Lord 2, or as another player called it Cash of Lords 2. I easily spent over $1,000 in in-game purchases over the course of probably 8 months. Mind you, I was always one of those players who shook their heads at pay-to-win players. I didn't begrudge them, but I never understood the need to pay that much to win. Well, CoL2 took hold of me in a way that no other game has in my 25+ years of gaming.

About six months in, I was getting up earlier, so I could play more in the morning. My workouts suffered, and I was constantly rushing to get ready for work. Fortunately, I didn't miss work, but that was more likely because I could access my game on my Kindle Fire or Android phone and not suffer from lack of "progress". The hours I put into it delayed a bathroom remodel I had been working on. I didn't really touch it throughout those eight months. No time.

About half-way through my eight months, I started dreaming about the game...regularly.

I would spend over an hour in the morning before work to play, then 2-3 hours after work. When I figured that I couldn't keep up with the higher ranked players with only 3-4 hours per day, I upped it by playing 2 more hours on the bus to and from work, then started playing during work. I didn't just play on my lunch break, I was playing during working hours. All this so I could break into the Top 10 for a couple weeks.

I'm not sure what triggered it, but about 2 weeks ago, I upped and quit playing. I think I realized that the results I was getting did not justify the costs. Plus, I couldn't imagine how to catch up with the very top players. So, fortunately, I had a realization that it was time to quit.

Note, I have not deleted the game from either my Kindle Fire nor my cellphone...

I can proudly say I did not pay a cent to all the freemium games I played. Be it clash of lords 2, lotto online or mechwarrior online

 

[Mai72]

I was recently addicted to an online mobile game in the vein of Clash of Clans. It was called Clash of Lord 2, or as another player called it Cash of Lords 2. I easily spent over $1,000 in in-game purchases over the course of probably 8 months. Mind you, I was always one of those players who shook their heads at pay-to-win players. I didn't begrudge them, but I never understood the need to pay that much to win. Well, CoL2 took hold of me in a way that no other game has in my 25+ years of gaming.

About six months in, I was getting up earlier, so I could play more in the morning. My workouts suffered, and I was constantly rushing to get ready for work. Fortunately, I didn't miss work, but that was more likely because I could access my game on my Kindle Fire or Android phone and not suffer from lack of "progress". The hours I put into it delayed a bathroom remodel I had been working on. I didn't really touch it throughout those eight months. No time.

About half-way through my eight months, I started dreaming about the game...regularly.

I would spend over an hour in the morning before work to play, then 2-3 hours after work. When I figured that I couldn't keep up with the higher ranked players with only 3-4 hours per day, I upped it by playing 2 more hours on the bus to and from work, then started playing during work. I didn't just play on my lunch break, I was playing during working hours. All this so I could break into the Top 10 for a couple weeks.

I'm not sure what triggered it, but about 2 weeks ago, I upped and quit playing. I think I realized that the results I was getting did not justify the costs. Plus, I couldn't imagine how to catch up with the very top players. So, fortunately, I had a realization that it was time to quit.

Note, I have not deleted the game from either my Kindle Fire nor my cellphone...

Even if you delete the game from your smartphone it will still be saved on the game's cloud. Did you sync the game with your Google account?

I had kind of the same issue playing Sims Free Play. Must have spent about $100 purchasing life points. I had enough and I deleted the game from EA's server.

I was playing Boom Beach for a while. I was spending money and wasting time on that game. I deleted the game from my phone, but I can't delete the game from their server. I can always pick up the game and start where I left off. I haven't done that yet, but I do get the urge to play from time to time.

 

[njdevilsfan87]

A computer and the internet are far more addictive than video games themselves, imo.

 

[Mai72]

When I play a lot of video games I go thru a few phases.

1. Desire to Play
- The urge to play will always build over time. I might visit You Tube to watch let's play videos. I will visit Steam and download my games.

2. Excitement
-During this phase I'm playing the games I've downloaded, and I'm usually playing for hours.

3. Regret
-During this phase I tell myself that I'm wasting my time playing video games. I tell myself that I should be reading more, or that I should be listening to my self help audio books.

4. Hope
-I've deleted the games from my system with the hope that I will get it together.

Rinse and Repeat.

I might stop gaming for a few months, but I always seem to go back to my games. I've bought a Xbox 360 from Best Buy only to return it. I've then gone back 2 weeks later to buy another Xbox 360. I did the same with Sony PSP and PlayStation 3.

 

[inf1nity]

The '/' comes before the 'i', not after.

 

[SlitheryDee]

The '/' comes before the 'i', not after.

Whatever could you mean? :ninja:

 

[Remobz]

When I play a lot of video games I go thru a few phases.

1. Desire to Play
- The urge to play will always build over time. I might visit You Tube to watch let's play videos. I will visit Steam and download my games.

2. Excitement
-During this phase I'm playing the games I've downloaded, and I'm usually playing for hours.

3. Regret
-During this phase I tell myself that I'm wasting my time playing video games. I tell myself that I should be reading more, or that I should be listening to my self help audio books.

4. Hope
-I've deleted the games from my system with the hope that I will get it together.

Rinse and Repeat.

I might stop gaming for a few months, but I always seem to go back to my games. I've bought a Xbox 360 from Best Buy only to return it. I've then gone back 2 weeks later to buy another Xbox 360. I did the same with Sony PSP and PlayStation 3.

Interesting indeed....

 

[SMOGZINN]

So, yes, it is real, and the issues you are about are legitimate, and the dispute is not about that, where it's usually argued by the uninformed, but about what should be done.
...
There's always going to be a debate between the 'most aren't hurt' versus the 'thousands are hurt' issue. We allow dangerous things from deep sea diving to car racing and all kinds of activities that are dangerous in the name of 'fun' or thrill. One difference here, is that just as cigarettes had nicotine added to create addiction, the game designs often use designs directly designed for the same reason - addiction - for the same reason - profits.

Anything fun can be addicting, people will always look for escapism. It it my belief that those people that can not handle reality find escapism no matter how many restrictions we put on it, todays video game addiction is just one more thing in the pile of things people will do to avoid harsh truths they don't want to face, the addiction stays the same only the tools used to get there has changed.

So the question is, do we really want to blame video game companies for make thing game so fun that some peopel will want to escape into that world instead of dealing with this one? We are litterally talking about telling companies that they can't let us have TOO much fun.

 

[Jaepheth]

Anything that's fun or makes you feel good can be addictive depending on your own biology/susceptibility to addiction. However, videogames/non drugs don't form a chemical dependency that can kill you if you go into withdrawal.

 

[Craig234]

Anything fun can be addicting, people will always look for escapism. It it my belief that those people that can not handle reality find escapism no matter how many restrictions we put on it, todays video game addiction is just one more thing in the pile of things people will do to avoid harsh truths they don't want to face, the addiction stays the same only the tools used to get there has changed.

So the question is, do we really want to blame video game companies for make thing game so fun that some peopel will want to escape into that world instead of dealing with this one? We are litterally talking about telling companies that they can't let us have TOO much fun.

The problem here - and you are not the only person to have it - is you not reading what I wrote carefully enough.

So I'll try to say it again. This topic I'm raising isn't 'fun'. There is the 'fun' you mention, and it's generally not 'addiction', the things you say about that are fine.

You don't likely understand the science of the random reward mechanic I mentioned, which has a lot of science going back over several decades.

That susceptibility can be exploited and is exploited in ways that addict many people in ways much more than the 'fun' issue.

As I said, I've heard there were psychologists hired to use that science in the design. It's intentional, like adding nicotine to cigarettes. You can talk all day about 'some people just like to smoke', but if you don't understand the role of nicotine and addiction, you can't say much useful about the topic.

There are different types of 'addictive' qualities - some weak, some strong.

I mentioned one strong one - the 'random reward' replicated thousands of times, the design meant to get people to spend huge amounts of time, because it profits the publisher.

There's a lot more to it - there are social dynamics, and other things. It's not something for people who are not familiar with it to just dismiss as 'just another fun thing to do'.

I repeat the suggestion if you want to get a little idea to go read 'EQ Widows' posts.

We do know that gambling addiction is a very real thing - and that casinos are designed to exploit it.

People who don't understand gambling addiction tend to say things like 'sure some people like to gamble too much, and they should just not gamble as much'.

They think it's what they can relate to - the temptation to 'bet big' they resist, and just assume the addict wrongly decided to do it.

There's been more research on the issue you can find, if you would like to find out more about it, instead of just making assumptions.

 

[DigDog]

game addiction does not exist; please stop trying to propagate this sack of bs as fact. addiction is a chemical change in the brain. liking "fun" and missing it is not addiction, because you can take the videogame off your mind with a nice sandwich (or why not, a different videogame) but you can't do the same for cocaine.