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  • Online game Adiction

    An interesting artical about Onlien Game addiction, from a non online game bashing perspective. Article from BBC website, technology section.

    "Since our story on World of Warcraft "addiction" was broadcast, I've been contacted by a number of angry gamers - including a BBC colleague - who charge me with painting a tired, cliched picture of their pastime and say "addiction" isn't a word that can be applied to obsessive gamers.

    So here's how the story came about.

    When we started planning our treatment of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion a few days ago, it was going to cover fairly obvious angles - a global gaming phenomenon, with 11 million players from a wide age range, sets out on a new quest, which could reap its owners even greater heaps of gold than they've already accumulated.
    Then my colleague Chris Vallance from iPM forwarded me two e-mails his programme had received. They were both from teachers who were deeply worried about the impact that online games were having on some of their teenage students. Each said that they'd seen students become addicted - and that had led to some dropping out of their studies. And once those messages became a topic on the iPM blog, it was World of Warcraft that was being fingered as the main source of concern.
    I began to research the topic of Warcraft "addiction" further - and soon messages were flooding in. But the one that convinced me that this was a real story - not just a "games are evil" scare - came from the Tavistock Centre in London.
    Dr Richard Graham is a very experienced psychiatrist who has been treating troubled adolescents for many years - the very opposite of a tabloid bandwagon-jumper. But, in very measured terms, he explained that he had been seeing an increasing number of clients for whom addiction to online games - and that meant almost exclusively World of Warcraft - was a real problem.

    He described how the teenagers lived their lives almost exclusively in this virtual world, falling behind with their studies, damaging their health, and failing to engage with their peers in the real world. "One young man described vividly to me a sense that having achieved very high success in the game, when he switched off he felt downgraded." The real world, it seems, does not retain any appeal for some who feel they can achieve more in World of Warcraft.
    The young people he meets are putting in quite extraordinary hours "in-game": "Some of my clients will discuss playing for 14 or 16 hours a day without breaks and for those the consequences are very severe." And he pointed out that these were only the people who made it to his consultations - some others never turn up because they don't want to lose time that could be spent online playing the game.
    After meeting Dr Graham, I headed down to the store where hundreds were queuing for the midnight launch of "Wrath of the Lich King." There were plenty of people in their 20s and 30s - and even older - who insisted, with some justification, that this was a hobby like any other. A couple who had travelled down from Gateshead to be at the launch laughed at the idea that they were "addicted". If they chose to spend their evenings on a World of Warcraft raid - quite a social experience - rather than down the pub, how did that harm anyone? Good point.

    But there was also a clutch of teenagers, expecting to get the expansion and then stay up half the night playing it. They told me that it wouldn't affect their studies - and their parents were mostly cool about it. For the majority that's probably true, but according to one study 10-15% of players do end up getting addicted.
    Dr Graham says part of the problem is that young people now face so many demands at school that games can be an escape: "They experience a heightened sense of reality that is more stimulating than the drudgery of homework." But he stresses that it's no use being a Luddite about online games. "We need to engage with young people to think about these worlds they inhabit as that might help us create more of a dialogue with them when they are running into difficulties."
    Blizzard, the makers of World of Warcraft, say the game has been given a "rest" system, which rewards players for taking a break. Paul Sams of Blizzard says parents have also been empowered: "We've put in a robust parental control system so that parents can control how much time their kids play, and when they play and it's all managed."
    Millions of people are going to derive hours, days, even months of fun from Wrath of the Lich King. But for a few it will become a dangerously addictive world where they spend far too much of their time. And I don't think it is irresponsible to report that story."

    Note it was in the news today that the HMV Oxford Street store in London people started quing for the expansion 42 hours before it was going to be released, camping out and in full costume. sometimes people take it toooo far!!!


  • #2
    Re: Online game Adiction

    Note it was in the news today that the HMV Oxford Street store in London people started quing for the expansion 42 hours before it was going to be released, camping out and in full costume. sometimes people take it toooo far!!!
    This part doesn't really have much to do with addiction. It's the same for any major title, be it Halo or WoW.

    As for the post itself, I don't really know what to say. It's a real problem, but it's old news. It's been around for as long as MMORPGs have existed. What I'm really more interested is how much of an effect the "online" part has. It's not like people don't get addicted to offline games and non-MMO online games too.

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    • #3
      Re: Online game Adiction

      Originally posted by Armando View Post
      This part doesn't really have much to do with addiction. It's the same for any major title, be it Halo or WoW.
      Or the iPod, or concert tickets, or the Xbox, or the PS3 or ...

      Originally posted by Armando View Post
      It's a real problem
      No it's not, it's the further continuation of the destruction of the idea of personal responsibility. "It's not my fault, it's an addiction, a disease.
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      • #4
        Re: Online game Adiction

        Originally posted by Jarre View Post
        An interesting artical about Onlien Game addiction, from a non online game bashing perspective. Article from BBC website, technology section.

        "Since our story on World of Warcraft "addiction" was broadcast, I've been contacted by a number of angry gamers - including a BBC colleague - who charge me with painting a tired, cliched picture of their pastime and say "addiction" isn't a word that can be applied to obsessive gamers.
        Right from the start this article is completely and utterly biased. Just like every other article you see on the subject. For an article that's not trying to "bash" online gaming, it doesn't exactly take them long to flat out insult the gamers.
        "I have a forebrain, my ability to abstract thoughts allow for all kinds of things" - Red Mage 8-Bit theater

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        • #5
          Re: Online game Adiction

          No it's not, it's the further continuation of the destruction of the idea of personal responsibility. "It's not my fault, it's an addiction, a disease.
          And that's not a problem? I never said anything to imply it's not their fault for not having any control or sense of responsibility. Regardless of who's fault it is, though, you can't really say it's not a problem if it affects more than a handful of people.

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          • #6
            Re: Online game Adiction

            There is one thing to enjoy the game you play, and play it alot, but then there is a true addiction, or more obsession really, when the person thinks that the game matters more then anything else.
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            • #7
              Re: Online game Adiction

              I'm not an addict to FFXI, but it is true, i use it as an escape as well as many other people. It doesn't take away the stress, just makes me temporarily forget it to live my life in the virtual world, but of course i will go back and deal with my real life after i log off the game. It is a nice comfort, like how people fall back on smoking or drinking to temporarily drown out their stresses, and give them a little comfort, a little break from real life.

              Although i have to say that i hope these kids open their eyes soon, stop skipping school because of video games. Waking up and logging on, playing all day, doing nothing to benefit their real lives, no THATS a problem. I do understand though, school and studies can be tough sometimes, and these kids just want the easy way out out of their stress.

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              • #8
                Re: Online game Adiction

                Originally posted by Tek(Selphiie) View Post
                I'm not an addict to FFXI, but it is true, i use it as an escape as well as many other people. It doesn't take away the stress, just makes me temporarily forget it to live my life in the virtual world, but of course i will go back and deal with my real life after i log off the game. It is a nice comfort, like how people fall back on smoking or drinking to temporarily drown out their stresses, and give them a little comfort, a little break from real life.

                Although i have to say that i hope these kids open their eyes soon, stop skipping school because of video games. Waking up and logging on, playing all day, doing nothing to benefit their real lives, no THATS a problem. I do understand though, school and studies can be tough sometimes, and these kids just want the easy way out out of their stress.
                My guess, much of that article was over inflated fallacy being passed off as facts. Chances are more kids are skipping class and not doing their homework just because they don't want to go to class or do their homework then those who are addicted to video games. I mean hell, I *never* did my homework and I didn't even play video games as a kid. And most of those kids who cut school that I knew of, well they certainly weren't sitting in their room 24/7 pretending to be a warlock elf or whatever...they were drinking, smoking and generally screwing around. I'd like to see this "one study" that showed 10-15% of online game players became addicted because chances are, those numbers would match up to the amount of people in society who naturally have addictive personalities and latch on to anything that peaks their interests.

                Online gaming is a *hobby* for the vast majority (read: millions) of players. Not an addiction nor an obsession. And blatantly biased articles like this will never change that fact.
                "I have a forebrain, my ability to abstract thoughts allow for all kinds of things" - Red Mage 8-Bit theater

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                • #9
                  Re: Online game Adiction

                  Originally posted by Armando View Post
                  And that's not a problem? I never said anything to imply it's not their fault for not having any control or sense of responsibility. Regardless of who's fault it is, though, you can't really say it's not a problem if it affects more than a handful of people.
                  The difference is in the phrase 'it's not my fault.' Personal responsibility (and control, of which this 'addiction' is a complete lack of) means you have it coming to you when your stupidity catches up to you.

                  On the other hand, if it's an addiction, if it's classified as a disease, all the negative effects aren't your fault and it is then put on societies shoulders to buffer you from yourself and there is no incentive to actually deal with the cause, that being the 'addict' in this case is just stupid.

                  If it's an addiction, there will be studies upon studies. there will be support groups, there will be drug after drug prescribed. There will be specially funded courses for 'experts.' All paid for by tax dollars. After all, it's not their fault now is it, it's societies duty to make these peoples lives better.

                  It is not a problem, it is not an addiction, it is not a disease. It is stupid people choosing to do stupid things. The only problem here is removing personal responsibility from everything from the moment you are born to the moment you die. You can do any stupid thing you want and someone else will explain it away for you so you don't have to face any consequences for your actions.
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                  • #10
                    Re: Online game Adiction

                    I see where you're coming from. I never disagreed.

                    But lots of stupid people doing stupid things is still a problem. Otherwise the world would be all honky-dory.

                    So there.

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                    • #11
                      Re: Online game Adiction

                      When I started having sexual relations with the games I knew I had a problem.
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                      • #12
                        Re: Online game Adiction

                        I believe it can actually be a physical addiction. Sometimes I'll get actual withdrawals if I can't play it when I want to. I can be so angry or be full of anxiety from real life, and it all completely disappears as soon as I log on. There is a mental and physical stimulus from the game. If physical and mental stimulus aren't real enough for people, what more can people ask for?

                        Can people be addicted to water or happiness or life or love or fun? Giving gaming the term addiction means they are saying its a negative thing. I would say that gaming CAN be just as fullfilling as things in real life. Fullfilling in terms of acchievement, success, happiness, and engagment or friendship. If someone is able to experience psuedo life much more than they could real life, why is that so bad? In my opinion, its not. Therefore, its not an addiction IMHO, but a psuedo or secondary life.
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                        • #13
                          Re: Online game Adiction

                          I will definitely say that the time I most seemed like an out-and-out addict was a non-online game, I take breaks in FFXI but I played MGS4 for 28 straight hours when I got it and beat it in a sitting. I would definitely say console games can be every bit if not more addictive, especially with the lack of people coming and going and saying 'good night', reminding you that it's late and you should sleep.
                          Callysto of RamuhCaithsith - 75 RDM / BRD / COR / PLD / WAR / SCH / DRK

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                          • #14
                            Re: Online game Adiction

                            Originally posted by Callisto View Post
                            I would definitely say console games can be every bit if not more addictive, especially with the lack of people coming and going and saying 'good night', reminding you that it's late and you should sleep.
                            LOL thats true for me on the weekends. I usually fall asleep in my chair around 1:00AM on Saturdays watching anime or crafting in FFXI. Usually I would get up and go to bed at that time because somebody would come and say goodnight. Instead I fall asleep in the chair and wake up at around 4:00AM wondering why didn't I go to bed and how come I didn't finish those bolt quivers I was working on so vigoriously. I always let everybody in the LS know that if I'm not talking after 1:00AM then I'm sleep usually lol.

                            Kinda off subject....

                            I remember when me and my ex girlfriend broke up back in 04, I went to visit my brother for the summer. My brother didn't have cable at that time but he had internet so I'd use the internet and watch movies everyday with the most played movie being Matrix Reloaded. At home I was used to sleeping with the television on so there I'd just pop in Matrix Reloaded, since it would automatically restart itself after like 5 mins. I got to the place where I could wake up just in time to see my favorite part and go back to sleep. When I went back home after like 3 months I did the same thing, stay up til 3-4AM, pop in Matrix Reloaded and sleep. By the time I started getting over her I stopped watching it. I guess realized afterwards that not only was I addicted to the movie, but to her as well. My way of coping was feeling as if there was a way to "escape" what was going on. What ended up happening was in the long run, The Matrix gave me inspiration as a web programmer lol. "I knew I shouldn't have been kicking it with those spider monkeys."
                            Last edited by Durahansolo; 11-13-2008, 08:38 AM.
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                            • #15
                              Re: Online game Adiction

                              Originally posted by Tek(Selphiie) View Post
                              ...like how people fall back on smoking or drinking to temporarily drown out their stresses
                              ... also addictions

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