BBC Documentary to Investigate Videogame Addiction

Logan Westbrook

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Feb 21, 2008
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BBC Documentary to Investigate Videogame Addiction

Games contain psychological trickery, says documentary, but only a few are at risk of becoming addicts.

The next episode of the BBC documentary program Panorama examines the problem of videogame addiction, and some details about the show have leaked out ahead of time, giving a glimpse into how we can expect gaming to be presented to an audience that is likely unfamiliar with the pastime.

The documentary makers have talked to a number of experts about the problem, and some of their comments have appeared online. Adrian Hon, chief creative officer of media company SixtoStart [http://www.sixtostart.com/], thinks that people are unaware of just how powerful the techniques used to keep people playing games are, and that it's something that game makers will have to consider as games reach more and more people.

Professor Mark Griffiths, of Nottingham Trent University's International Gaming Research Unit, agrees that videogames contain some very potent psychological tricks, but adds that it's only people who are predisposed or otherwise vulnerable to becoming addicted that are in any real danger. Griffiths thinks that for most people, playing videogames will be a very positive part of their lives.

The documentary features at least one videogame addict - teenager Joe Staley, who spent all his time playing Call of Duty without ever actually getting out of bed - but hopefully it will make it clear that he is an exception, rather than the rule. It's impossible to know the overall tone of the piece until it's actually been shown, but the expert quotes suggest that the BBC is taking a fairly even-handed approach to the subject. The core message seems to be that videogames themselves aren't bad, as long as they aren't played to excess, and you can say the same thing about almost any hobby you can name.

Panorama: Addicted to Games goes out on BBC 1 on Monday 6th December at 8:30PM GMT.

Source: Press Association [http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5igkC7zh008zuxiL7ta6ydSqmDJHQ?docId=N0449051291565266473A ] via MCV [http://www.mcvuk.com/news/42117/Panorama-claims-games-trick-players]





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Dec 14, 2009
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Already read up on this and I believe Extra Credits mentioned it. The 'addictive aspect' is the same thing that gamblers suffer from. Blame the cheap mechanic, not the game.
 

miniwak93

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Jul 9, 2009
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Daystar Clarion said:
Already read up on this and I believe Extra Credits mentioned it. The 'addictive aspect' is the same thing that gamblers suffer from. Blame the cheap mechanic, not the game.
agreeded. I shall be watching this tonight. Let's just hope the uk goverment don't try to pull a similar stunt to what california has done.
 

Jesus Phish

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Jan 28, 2010
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Thanks for the heads up. I'll definatly watch this tonight as it's an interesting topic and one I believe to be true to a degree.

Although probably not nearly as addictive as something like smoking, video games and other forms of entertainment can cause some addiction.
 

Cpt_Oblivious

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Jan 7, 2009
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miniwak said:
Daystar Clarion said:
Already read up on this and I believe Extra Credits mentioned it. The 'addictive aspect' is the same thing that gamblers suffer from. Blame the cheap mechanic, not the game.
agreeded. I shall be watching this tonight. Let's just hope the uk goverment don't try to pull a similar stunt to california has.
They won't, they know they're not doing too well right now and want to stay in power.

I will be watching this episode, though I'm not expecting much. Panorama isn't known for being unbiased.
 

Verlander

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Apr 22, 2010
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Pararaptor said:
Daystar Clarion said:
Already read up on this and I believe Extra Credits mentioned it. The 'addictive aspect' is the same thing that gamblers suffer from. Blame the cheap mechanic, not the game.
... just like you'd blame the gambling machines, but not the casino?
Well, yeah. I mean, I don't know about other countries, but anywhere can have a gambling machine in the UK with the appropriate license. The machines themselves are designed to attract people and be addictive, with a carefully worked out pay out ratio. Pubs don't get people drunk, people drinking in pubs get people drunk
 

Syntax Error

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Sep 7, 2008
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Sadly, this Joe Staley will become the posterchild of anti-videogame campaigns everywhere. I'm calling it!
 

lee1287

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Apr 7, 2009
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Say tyhe same thing i said on FIFA forums.

"RUSSIA? FUCKING RUSSIA? BRIBES! ALL BRIBES!!"

ahem, i mean. If the person has an addictive personality, then they wil become addicted. Simple really.
 

Jandau

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Dec 19, 2008
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So, we're going to let the whole "games make kids violent" thing lie still for a while and get back to beating dead horse called "addiction"? Alright, if it makes them happy...
 
Feb 13, 2008
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Panorama is "usually" pretty fair about these things. Of the journalists I am more likely to trust, they're usually not sensationalist.
 

WolfLordAndy

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Sep 19, 2008
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I'll be watching this tonight as I'm going to be looking at my final year project in how Videogame rating system (as done by the BBFC and PEGI) and how way they convey information to the public.

It also has a preview clip about a WoW addict who refused to go to school and got violent when they turned off his internet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_9254000/9254946.stm

My current feelings on the subject are that yes, games are designed to be fun and in being fun become addictive pasttimes, its down to how the person is put together from birth and has been brought up that effect whether they have an addictive personality or not. Game-addicts could just as well have been addicts to drugs, sex, gambling, racing, theft, books, sport, or whatever else if they had found them at the right time in their life instead of computer games.
 

Simalacrum

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Apr 17, 2008
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should be ineteresting... I generally hate it when people scare monger about videogames, but at the same time I do enjoy Panorama and support what they do... I'll definitely see what they have to say about the subject
 

HentMas

The Loneliest Jedi
Apr 17, 2009
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if its done well, it will do more good than bad, that way people can form an inteligent oppinion, not just jumpo on watever faux news is saying

i remember "V" did the same with the "interview" they showed of a guy for and a guy against the "Visitors" so i find the idea compelling.
 

zidine100

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Mar 19, 2009
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sure games are addicting, but so is tv and every other form of entertainment, for example theres people who watch tv all day, people who read book all day, people who listen to music all day, come on now have you read a book and not been able too put it down until you finished, there you go, or have you watched a tv series because you want to know what happens? there you go again, ill admit this rant is a bit preemptive but come on were talking about the bbc here, we all know its going to be trash.
 

PeePantz

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Sep 23, 2010
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Syntax Error said:
Sadly, this Joe Staley will become the posterchild of anti-videogame campaigns everywhere. I'm calling it!
Oh, I hope so. At least for pure entertainment value. I can see a whole sea of memes coming out with Joe Staley. Things about his k/d ratio (I hope it's poor) or something stupid like "Joe no quick scope".
Also for some reason, in my mind, he looks like he has cancer. Just laying in bed with a blue blanket pulled up, playing COD all day, coughing "fag" into his mic all day.

Does anyone know if BBC America will have this?