Computing and Gaming Addiction

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Yes, I have been hooked, and I understand my addiction. I've literally played computer games since I was 10, and for hours and hours on end. Regrettably, I damaged my marriage by gaming excessively the first few years of my marriage. I now limit the amount of game playing that I do. I no longer buy all the new releases. I've got 100 games on my shelf that I've not even cracked open. And although I still play, I don't play like I used to.

We gamers are pretty simple. If a game is fun... we play it. If you like fantasy, there are plenty of fantasy games. If you like puzzles, there are plenty of puzzle games. Wargamers and strategy gamers: plenty exist to choose from. Platformers, shooters, sports games... whatever you enjoy, there's an addictive game out there for you.

There are certain gameplay structures that lend themselves to addictive play, but most every game has them: "just one more level", "just one more quest", "just one more turn", "just one more area", "just one more battle". Gotta finish taking over this continent, creating this sword, clearing this dungeon, playing this season (and winning the championship), or beating this game. Shooters, sports games, strategy, puzzles, even little Flash games. They all have them.

So... it IS a lot like books, but much more intense, because you become much more immersed in the story or the gameplay. If a book will consume your leisure time until you've finished it, then that's how gaming is. I would often play a game until I had finished it. But... what of games that do not have an end? Or games that change every time you play them? That'd be like reading a book that always had a different plot and a different ending every time you picked it up, eh? THAT is what gaming addiction is like, as it relates to books.

Computer gaming is actually pretty safe, all things considered. If I had read just as much as I had gamed, the outcome would have been exactly the same. And the outcome would have been the same for this kid, had he read with the same zeal and irresponsibility as he exhibited with his gaming.

That said, books DON'T consume as many lives as gaming does. I enjoy reading, and I enjoy gaming... but gaming is much more immersive, and I would guess that that's the primary difference in why more people are addicted to gaming than reading.

Lord help us when true virtual reality hits. The problem will be exponentially worse with that, I guarantee it.

 

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lol, correct again

 

Well, hopefully in a few days my 72 night elf mohawk will be level 80.
bah wah wah wah wah

 

I was pretty addicted to WoW to a point where when i was between jobs i'd be playing 12 hours a day 7 days a week

Recently i have just got back from holiday in Italy and noticed my enthusiasm for the game was low so decided not to play it for a while (maybe never again i'm yet to decide) as to not re-fuel my interests. The thing is i know as soon as i start playing again i'll get addicted, i have even turned down the new expansion pack

I have now been clean since Friday 31st October LoL

I've been hitting the books instead, should be close to doing my 640-822 exam

Grim

 

You've did the best thing.

Playing games and getting addicted is not a good thing, I mean better is playing a game with a limit of finishing like Counter Strike or Warcraft III either DotA and to finish the game in a hour or more half an a hour. But it is still making you addicted to it. So I'd suggest you to stay tuned make a timetable for gaming or neither you will lose most of your time by playing it recently.

 

most games you can complete within 3 days of solid playing, WoW on the other hand...

Grim

 

Agreed.

No! Glorified Excel spreadsheets. Nuff said.

 

This is one of the reasons why question if gaming is an addiction. If it were and addiction then you would be playing in Italy and be driven to return to the game on your return. Maybe the only thing 'addicted gamers' need to pull them away from their favourite passtime is a distraction.

 

Agree 2x and Elder of Scrolls games are very impressive. But the one from Beth. Studios named Fallout wasn't good as Oblivion, didn't like it.

Football management games for me are like wasting time. I don't like them.

 

I played Oblivion Twice and the Knights of the nine but got boared with the shivering Isles.

 

I just went cold turkey, had the shakes, cold sweats and nightmares but they went after the first week

Grim

 

You put me to play it again. Gonna install it tomorrow and play, I'll buy Knights of Nine but not sure about Shivering Isles?!

Is there any new EOS serie in project?

 

Seriously?!

 

Michael this one was perfect. Repped.

 

Thanks for sharing.


What is "OP" guys ?

 

Original Poster. It's an acronym.

Qs

 

Quite hilarious

 

did no one else find it easier to flip the text than to keep moving their neck ?



Grim