Video Game Addiction, a very real problem.

[darkangel11]

In college I did a research paper on video game addiction. There are similarities with other addictions as well as the same problems, the biggest issue I found was the number of people who claim it's not an addiction just because it doesn't seem like one or that they themselves are addicted and feel attacked / are in denial.

At the end of the day you can get addicted to anything and everyone reacts to stimuli in different ways. Think about it what are the differences between gambling and playing a video game.

The difference is quite big. In gambling you put some of your money at stake and you can win or lose based on your luck and sometimes skill. When you play a computer game you can but don't have to pay for ingame content. It's always your choice. You don't lose anything because some money spent on ingame items can be redeemed when you sell your account. You also don't risk any money and don't put anything at stake. You choose what you buy.
Playing a game is not gambling. It's more like spending a day in an amusement park or in a cinema. It costs you money but you're buying fun and excitement.

[Deborah Christine]

Video games are designed to make you hooked and extract as much as they can from you.  You are slaves on the world they created, wasting your consciousness away on a virtual world.  And the grinding games are the absolute worst, its just the same gameplay over and over.

Video games are designed as a means of entertainment or relaxation. Video games can be educational entertainment. Of course entertainment should not be done excessively so as not to become hedonism. Playing games regularly with enough playing time will help you release stress after a day of work or study.

[Malsetid]

It's the same as gambling. It plays with people's interest. Not all people will be addicted to video games, same way as not all will be addicted to gambling or sports. And it only becomes a problem if it affects a person's personal relationship with other people are their productivity. Proper time management and being responsible is basically the best and easiest solution if this ever becomes a problem.

[man22555]

Actually some people (like me) like to "get hooked" and play grinding games for years.
The account is constantly growing and you can see your efforts all the time.

[Mometaskers]

Joke's on them, I've never paid for any game. They ain't making anything from me! 

I do understand the issue with lootboxes, it's pretty much gambling for kids. If you already paid for a game then they should make you spend more on pay-to-win items and boost. And especially on developing brains, this could set them up later for other addictions as they grow up.

Now as for time, it's your decision whether you want to spend it on a game or not.

[clickerz]

It's the same as gambling. It plays with people's interest. Not all people will be addicted to video games, same way as not all will be addicted to gambling or sports. And it only becomes a problem if it affects a person's personal relationship with other people are their productivity. Proper time management and being responsible is basically the best and easiest solution if this ever becomes a problem.

Yes its the same imho, and its more on behavioral conduct of a person. Game addiction especially related to violence is on the rise. World Health Organization (WHO) even considered Video game addiction a mental disorder.Indeed, there are children becomes hysterical when being disturb in gaming or not allowed to play. I think its very alarming for parents and they should monitor their children, much better they spend more time doing some physical activities as a way of bonding moments with their young ones.

Video Game Addiction Becomes Official Mental Disorder in Controversial Decision by WHO

[Inkdatar]

Video game addiction is a very serious problem it’s purpose is for entertainment only. The problem with other people that become addicted to this is they cannot control to play, being sad of the time of not playing the game. It is our own doing of being addicted and we must set limits and focus on other things that will improve your abillity and other skills that we might enjoy.

[Asha8609]

So is social media, YouTube videos, movies etc. Every generation has their own kinds of traps and luxuries. Before all these there were radios. Even before there were other things. Human mind loves stimulation, even on death bed it takes fun on seeing own heart ecg graph going up and down lol.

[ahadudzaman]

Video games are really a big problem.  Although it has become a public game of entertainment, it is slowly becoming addictive.  Those of us who play video games control what we should then play.

[KingScorpio]

Video games are designed to make you hooked and extract as much as they can from you.  You are slaves on the world they created, wasting your consciousness away on a virtual world.  And the grinding games are the absolute worst, its just the same gameplay over and over.

no they are designed to be fun, if video games where designed to suck, no one would have bought them, and the industry would have never grew to the size it became today, people play video game instead of going to vacation, nature benefits massively from that as many urban and also rural people leave nature alone and dont visit it.

[xen1oph]

The point is not to prohibit something (in this case, games), but to enlighten people.
People need to wake up, because many people sleep.

[Cnut237]

Substitute 'television' for 'video games', and this is a discussion that took place half a century and more ago. The 'new thing' will always be a threat and be seen as a corrupting influence.

Gaming can indeed produce problems such as addiction, and it can manipulate people and extract money unethically through incentivising micro-transactions. It has problems and can be exploited by ruthless companies, yes. But it also offers huge benefits and opportunities. There is some evidence that it improves concentration and co-ordination, as in this study of the performance of surgeons. Multi-player games also offer the opportunity of interacting with and making friends with people around the globe. I won't go into an exhaustive list (there's a few more points here), I'm just saying there are good points as well as bad.

But the games themselves... there is a huge variety, catering for all tastes. There is some tremendous writing, some great educational and artistic content, and a lot of intellectual challenge. Compare it with the best and worst of television. But of course this is gaming, so it's all hugely interactive, too.

Not convinced? Take a look at these few links:

The Witness
Assassin's Creed Odyssey - Educational Mode
Kentucky Route Zero
The Talos Principle

...or even just play 10 minutes of Red Dead Redemption 2, and you'll experience a profound immersion in the last days of the Wild West that can't be achieved through text books or TV documentaries, or even by physically visiting tourist-choked Wild West ghost towns.

[Rafael_Carrero]

Video games are designed to make you hooked and extract as much as they can from you.  You are slaves on the world they created, wasting your consciousness away on a virtual world.  And the grinding games are the absolute worst, its just the same gameplay over and over.

Gaming addiction isn't very different from any other additions like alcoholism, drug addiction, food addiction or compulsive gambling. in fact, any possible addiction is a disorder of the brain's reward system. Some people can't consider video game addiction as a real problem because computer games are legal unlike drugs or alcohol in some countries.

[madnessteat]

Video games not only take your money and time, but also affect your health. I know it well, because I started playing ZX Spectrum. Nowadays I don't spend a minute on games. Try to limit the time your children play video games if you want them to be healthy.

[mindrust]

Video games are designed to make you hooked and extract as much as they can from you.  You are slaves on the world they created, wasting your consciousness away on a virtual world.  And the grinding games are the absolute worst, its just the same gameplay over and over.

I think it is fine as long as you are having fun.

We are all addicts to something in the end. I'd say videogames is one of the most harmless addictions out there. At least you don't harm your own body like you do it with drugs and alcohol.

You lose your time which you could spend on something productive but who cares, you are having fun and that's what counts.

Btw in some games it is possible to make shitton of real money. You just need to learn how. It is not that your work disappears even if it is in a game. There are many rich kids with unlimited credit cards who are willing to buy your hard work for real money.

When you think about it, life is just another game. If money is you are after, you just need to find the most effective farming method. If it is fun you want, you don't care about money and do whatever you want.

*I am playing wow lately and making a killing there on the AH.  

[vaultman]

I completely agree. If each of us all the time spent on entertainment (not only games) spent, for example, on bounty campaigns, we would all be $ millionaires now. But the human body is arranged differently, we all want to have fun

[coolcoinz]

I completely agree. If each of us all the time spent on entertainment (not only games) spent, for example, on bounty campaigns, we would all be $ millionaires now. But the human body is arranged differently, we all want to have fun

Sure, keep on believing that if you kept writing posts for $1 a piece all day, every day, you'd be a millionaire. Its a simple math, I'm sure you can do it and find out how much you'd have if you dedicated all your free time to bounties.

As for the games, we already have virtual reality. The next step will be virtual reality that simulates the real world and after that we'll have virtual reality where you control everything with your mind, without the need for any manual controllers. When we achieve that people will stop leaving their homes. You'll be fed through a tube and spend all day doing whatever you like doing.

[madnessteat]

Everyone chooses how to spend their free time, but remember that people of the older generation always try to limit us from video games as a little useful activity. It's better to replace video games with reading or sports. The benefits will be much greater.

[Naida_BR]

I have caught myself playing video games due to addiction.
You initially start playing video games because you will feel relaxed and you want to entertain yourself.
I really don't know how to stop this addiction as it becomes a routine after sometime and you cannot quit it.

[roberthays]

It’s certainly up for debate but too much of anything is bad for you. ‘Gaming’ is a form of entertainment just like numerous other forms of entertainment so it can be useful to switch off sometimes and do something you enjoy. But yes, I agree that too much of anything is not good for you and especially when it becomes an addiction.