Video Game Addiction Support Group
Game addiction is a form of psychological addiction related to a compulsive use of computer and video games. People suffering from this form of addiction may experience intense cravings to play the game and may also suffer symptoms of withdrawal when they stop playing the game. Meet with friendly, supportive people sharing their experiences with Video Game Addiction.
This is going to be long but if you read the whole thing i hope it will help you understand why myself and others like me get addicted to video games and how you can potentially help yourself or them through it.
First off i would greatly encourage anyone who is seeking info on the subject of game addiction to first watch these two video's on youtube. They will help bring a bit more context to what I will talk about later in this post.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5RSngCFpsc
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_qlumZ5K4I
For the sake of argument i do not consider video games "addictive" because addiction refers to a the altering of brain chemistry something games are not known to do. So i will call it game compulsion but for the sake of arguing i will refer to both.
I want to first talk about why i started playing video games heavily. I was/am afraid of failure of failing in life or at anything. i do not like defeat failure or anything along those lines. so in video games it gave a place where i could fail but not be punished or feel as if i had actually failed.
I have high anxiety and depression but while im playing a game i do not feel as if these traits hold me back. instead i can become what i always dream of or who i wish i was. video games opened up possibilities and engaged me in ways school or anything else could.
to compound this my depression turned into suicidal thoughts but i hanged on hope because lucas arts was releasing a new amazing star wars game in a few months and it would be a shame to end my life before i had the chance to play it. so i created a way for myself to want to live but not for the best of reasons. my parents never knew that but i found better more meaningful things to live for later on.
then came EVE Online, the first game i could say i was truly addicted to. part of the problem is it's a pay to play, so it encourages you to play cause you are paying for it. the universe of EVE seemed endless and i started to slack off in school. i wasn't studying and i would always go over to my friends house on the weekend just so we could play EVE together and not have to worry about communication while playing.
I stopped caring about anything in the real world because i did not want to face its challenges, the only thing i wanted was the next best space ship in EVE.
I eventually came to realize how i could of used my time more wisely, by still studying and yet still able to get small tastes of EVE. this realization would come to late and I had to quit EVE because so much time and money was used on it that i just had to say goodbye otherwise i might never get anywhere in life. I spent an entire year of doing the same routine where EVE was the center of the world to me.
Now i still play video games and never plan to completely quit playing but i only do so im smaller doses. I now read books, have a job, plan on going to school and start working out again. I can now live in the real world on because i had to reject the personalities i created in the artificial one and realize the real world me is better and capable of achieving whatever i set myself to.
I just have to apply myself to the real world as I did in EVE and countless other games. but you can only get so far without help and unfortunately my parents dont get it and dont want to try so it has only held me back.
First off i would greatly encourage anyone who is seeking info on the subject of game addiction to first watch these two video's on youtube. They will help bring a bit more context to what I will talk about later in this post.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5RSngCFpsc
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_qlumZ5K4I
For the sake of argument i do not consider video games "addictive" because addiction refers to a the altering of brain chemistry something games are not known to do. So i will call it game compulsion but for the sake of arguing i will refer to both.
I want to first talk about why i started playing video games heavily. I was/am afraid of failure of failing in life or at anything. i do not like defeat failure or anything along those lines. so in video games it gave a place where i could fail but not be punished or feel as if i had actually failed.
I have high anxiety and depression but while im playing a game i do not feel as if these traits hold me back. instead i can become what i always dream of or who i wish i was. video games opened up possibilities and engaged me in ways school or anything else could.
to compound this my depression turned into suicidal thoughts but i hanged on hope because lucas arts was releasing a new amazing star wars game in a few months and it would be a shame to end my life before i had the chance to play it. so i created a way for myself to want to live but not for the best of reasons. my parents never knew that but i found better more meaningful things to live for later on.
then came EVE Online, the first game i could say i was truly addicted to. part of the problem is it's a pay to play, so it encourages you to play cause you are paying for it. the universe of EVE seemed endless and i started to slack off in school. i wasn't studying and i would always go over to my friends house on the weekend just so we could play EVE together and not have to worry about communication while playing.
I stopped caring about anything in the real world because i did not want to face its challenges, the only thing i wanted was the next best space ship in EVE.
I eventually came to realize how i could of used my time more wisely, by still studying and yet still able to get small tastes of EVE. this realization would come to late and I had to quit EVE because so much time and money was used on it that i just had to say goodbye otherwise i might never get anywhere in life. I spent an entire year of doing the same routine where EVE was the center of the world to me.
Now i still play video games and never plan to completely quit playing but i only do so im smaller doses. I now read books, have a job, plan on going to school and start working out again. I can now live in the real world on because i had to reject the personalities i created in the artificial one and realize the real world me is better and capable of achieving whatever i set myself to.
I just have to apply myself to the real world as I did in EVE and countless other games. but you can only get so far without help and unfortunately my parents dont get it and dont want to try so it has only held me back.
Question - Do you think genre plays a big role in level of addiction?
Can one switch from say, MMO's to RPG's? I don't personally have a video game addiction, but I sometimes wonder if it has something to do with the fact that I've never really allowed myself to get involved in MMO's . They seemed like a huge responsibility. Honestly, my friends who play MMORPG's have more raids and guild meetings for WoW/EVE than I have for work (and I have a lot of meetings!)
I feel that MMO's are just about inherently written to provide you with a long list of responsibilities and duties, not just for yourself, but those that others must rely on you for. They force you to play a specific role , which is relied upon. Early on, you want to look good in the eyes of your new online friend group, so you get as big and badass as you can.. then you're depended upon..You're the ONLY one they know and trust enough to do raids with in that role.
I feel that thats a trap.. is that just me?
Starcraft/Dota/League for instance (some of the games I play now), I can leave for a week and no one notices I'm gone except that they haven't talked to me. I didn't miss any "special content" that wont be there when I get back.. didn't miss out on a badass mount, and certainly didn't let anyone down.
What's your opinion on that topic/subject?
Thanks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWtvrPTbQ_c
does a good job of explaining the basics and why its a problem, because more game are using this method to get the play to play compulsively.
MMO's especially EVE, want you to train yourself to do these tasks and then like mentioned above the player receives his/her reward after putting in all the hours. It's very sad to see the people who put so much effort into these sorts of things when the reward, in my opinion, is hardly worth the effort. So yes you are right MMO's for the most part try to trap you into playing them. That does not mean it's all bad, just have to know when to walk away.
The other games you mention don't require a players to be constantly active so for the most part they don't use a skinner box to get players to play compulsively. Or at least not to the extent same degree MMO's require to keep there player base steady.
Also those games do have a end phase or a point in which the game ends and you can choose to play another round or quit the game, something MMO's do not have. You are constantly engaged to some degree even if you character in a MMO isn't doing anything.
Video game addiction is REAL and Dangerous. And just like I can go to a bar and have one drink....an alcoholic can not just have one. Like I can take pain medication and when I am not in need of it anymore stop..a drug addict can not. And how I can take or leave playing a video game and only do so if there is really nothing else to do (like spending time with loved ones, chores, going for a hike) a gaming addict can not take it or leave it! And the excuses and reasons why they should get to play are endless (even making up excuses). Because soon the chemistry of the brain changes and there is another personality.....THE ADDICT!