Addictive nature of Video Games
By Distrx
@Distrx (120)
Australia
May 24, 2010 2:01am CST
As a gamer, the risk of addiction to video games is a very high possibility. Due to the tendency of addictive content to be present within the games, it is often very hard to stop playing them. The video game industry encourages addiction as it means a far larger profit for them if the user likes what they are playing.
However, becoming addicted to video games can lead to severe repercussions and the quality of life can be less. I for one know that becoming addicted to video games interfered with my schooling terribly and if I was not playing these games at the time; better grades would have been far easy to achieve.
I am interested to hear any stories you have about becoming addicted to video games or the views you hold on this subject?
Has anyone got tips to share to prevent addiction to video games?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@Jaluke (676)
• United States
24 May 10
When I was in middle school I got REALLY into a video game to where I was staying up extremely late. It only very rarely affected my grades. That I was still able to keep on a pretty decent level. During the summers it was the worse, but luckily then it couldn't affect my school performance at all. It's really hard not to though. Everyone loves doing something different. For some of us, it's gaming.
@Distrx (120)
• Australia
24 May 10
I'm glad to hear that it had no adverse effect on your schooling. Staying up extremely late playing video games is something I got caught up in as well, going to school extremely tired is no fun at all!
What video game was it by the way? One of the worst for addiction seems to be World of Warcraft as well as a lot of the other MMORPG games that are becoming more and more popular with thousands or even millions of subscribers!
@dhezrn (98)
• Philippines
24 May 10
I think that MMORPG games are really addicting. I am a gamer but I try to control myself as much as I can. I have heard of people failing in school, not being able to graduate, etc just because they got hooked to gaming online. Somehow, I think it really depends on the person on how he could control this urge to play. I feel that if you make gaming a reward for you after you've done your homework/job, then it would be better, at least you have accomplished something. Try to control the urge by doing something else, or better yet, do school stuff first before playing. Set your number of hours per day and don't exceed it. :)
@Distrx (120)
• Australia
25 May 10
Yes, MMORPG games are one of the most addicting games due to the style of the game. You are always challenged to get better equipment, level up further and so on. It's quite a competitive nature as well that appeals to a lot of players and gets them hooked.
Setting it as a reward is a nice idea. I was never able to successfully implement that in my earlier years of schooling but since this is my last year I have committed to completely stopping playing online games. I have successfully pulled this off so far and I have WAY more time for schoolwork now! :D
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
28 May 10
I never really played video games back when I was in school. I remember getting the PS2 or maybe it was the PS, in any case, I used to play a basketball game on that. The systems before it, like the NES OR SNES, I hardly ever played.
I think that games are addicting in nature now because of their graphics, extended game play, multiplayer modes, and even ways to play with people online. So many are coming out, and some even in sequels, that any avid gamer is going to become even more glued to the television or computer screens.
Your right, it can cause grades to go down, but it can also cause money shortages when an avid gamer goes to buy a video game with money they don't really have.
I admit it, my husband and I are avid gamers but when we buy games we buy them in bulk, and most recently it's through amazon with a gift card we've retrieved from somewhere.
@Distrx (120)
• Australia
28 May 10
Haha, I remember the good old days when I used to play my PS1 and Super Nintendo. Ah, those were the days! :D
Yes, multiplayer online play seems to be the culprit for increasing addiction rates, the more interactivity with other users the funner it seems to be in some cases.
Some of the MMO games really leech a fair bit of money out of the user over time. Off the top of my head, WoW was more then $15 dollars every month. It may seem like very little, but overtime it definitely does add up! It's almost like having a totally new bill to play.
I have never bought games in bulk before, I might have to try it. I can imagine you would get very nice discounts. I have also started to buy games online through a program called Steam, I find it far more convenient then buying hard copies of the games.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
28 May 10
I am a member of a game called Adventure Quest, I've not upgraded. i think it's only five dollars to upgrade, but over time it will become more. I think they get ya real good on the upgrades for online games. I was going to mention this before, but I wasn't sure what region you are in. Go to cheapassgamer.com, they have video game deals for different stores.
Wal*mart.com has a game bundle deal, and amazon you can get some games and a gift card so it's like you're buying one game with another game free... I think you have to wait to use the gift card until after you have bought the other game and received it...
on Amazon, if you earn gc's online you can add the total of the gc to a part of the site, and that way you can keep saving them up.
Other then that, there is a local game store here that hubby and I go to, the old owner would always give us a good deal... not sure about the new guy as we've not been to the store since the owner's changed hands.
@amko1of1 (69)
• United States
24 May 10
my opinion on this is that addiction to video games, if such thing exists is not an actual addiction to games, it is an addiction to the feelings you get while playing them. When I was in high school I played a game called Entropia Universe. I met a lot of people playing this game that were from around the world and became friends with them. After a while the only reason that I would even get onto the game was for the interaction with people that I had learned to care about. Eventually I added them onto skype and could interact with them without being on the game alot, and now I only play the game on occasion, so as it turned out I wasnt addicted to the game, I was addicted to the friendship that I was getting from the game. Other people might be addicted to the escape from reality that you get with most games, but that can also be obtained through movies as well. Video games get a bad rep way too much and it really isnt their fault, its the human psyche that is to blame, they are just making money providing entertainment to the masses
@Distrx (120)
• Australia
25 May 10
That is a really interesting view on it. I never considered it that way. I can't say I ever made any real connections with players in-game but it was most likely due to the community that was inherent within the game. Most of the clans were all real life friends getting together.
I definitely can relate to the escapism that you mentioned however. And I agree with the bad rep, their is a lot of hate in the media about video games and now parents perceive it as a bad influence when generally, it is the kids themselves with the problem. Not the video game causing it.
@dav20b (507)
• United States
26 May 10
I never had problems with my video game playing getting in the way of my schooling since I always had to do my home work before I could play.I know online games can be addictive but the games do not force you to play them and you can choose to only play a set amount of time or not.
@Distrx (120)
• Australia
26 May 10
That is good to hear. Performing schoolwork and other important activities before playing is the best method to avoid the interference of games with real life in my opinion.
That is true that the games do not force you to play them, however, the nature of addictive products is that they provide an incentive for the user to come back and play. Once the user is hooked, they find it very hard to resist, just like smokers.
