Poll: Are we all gaming addicts?

[Danny Ocean]

I heard this theory a while ago, but I havn't really given it much thought.

link. [http://discovermagazine.com/2007/brain/video-games/article_view?b_start:int=2]

For those of you who can't be bothered to read it, it basically states that video games release dopamine into your system (Dopamine being roughly associated as the 'reward' hormone. According to the article, it is used by the body to encourage you to 'explore new avenues for reward in your environment'). Now, we all know what hormones can do to people, and dopamine is one of those hormones which spawns addicts. There is even a drug 'dope' that focuses purely on that substance.

So, despite the hate for certain video game companies, such as EA, I think that because the games have us literally addicted, we will tolerate their alienating business policies and mediocre games, just to get our fix. They are like drug dealers. I think the more pressing question is whether or not the companies know this.

Thoughts?

 

[curlycrouton]

Very interesting point, haven't really thought about it enough to give you an answer.

 

[sammyfreak]

I played WoW for the better half of two years and never, now or then considered myself addicted. I guess that MMO's really are the peak of reward driven gaming but it the most common reason for "hardcore gaming" in the genre is the social part. People generally need other people and when you have a less then great social life they become hugely attractive. I didn't log on to get my daily fix, I logged to play with my "friends".

 

[Ronwue]

Well... then anything that gives out dopamine can get addictive if you follow that train of logic. We all need this hormone from what I can tell so we have different means of getting it released in the system. I have been told that I am a gaming addict. I usually respond to this as "give me something interesting to do and I will leave gaming out".

 

[Danny Ocean]

I played WoW for the better half of two years and never, now or then considered myself addicted. I guess that MMO's really are the peak of reward driven gaming but it the most common reason for "hardcore gaming" in the genre is the social part. People generally need other people and when you have a less then great social life they become hugely attractive. I didn't log on to get my daily fix, I logged to play with my "friends".

Is that not a reward in itself?
I played Second Life for about one and a half years, and I remember wasting hours on it doing pretty much nothing. The whole time was spent waiting for other people (or making things). I saw a documentary on the BBC about a group of computer addicted kids who were aggressive, sloth, and agitated. Are these withdrawal symptoms?

Another question could be whether or not the escapism associated with games is what spawns the addictions, rather than the direct act of interfacing with the game (flashing lights, bright noises, etc...)?

 

[Headwuend]

I wouldn't consider it as a drug, because I never experienced withdrawal or a worse health or physical condition (except maybe slightly increasing shortsightedness, but I also read and get older, so not really a point) due to gaming.

Of course there are cases where stuff like that may have occured. But anything you take to the extreme could cause addictive behavior, like sex, sports, shooting marshmallows off of passing trains... You get the point.
But it's not like almost anyone who comes into contact with games for some amount of time needs to get their regular fix from there on; unlike with real drugs like nicotine, valium, vicodin, marihuana, ecstacy and alcohol. Co-co-co-co-co-cocaiiiine! *bursts into song*

 

[CanadianWolverine]

From the link:

The genesis of this reaction may lie in the neurotransmitter dopamine. A number of studies have revealed that game playing triggers dopamine release in the brain, a finding that makes sense, given the instrumental role that dopamine plays in how the brain handles both reward and exploration.

What the article you have linked fails to go into in greater detail is that dopamine is always present in the brain and at different levels at different times for different people because of our varied chemical makeups, be it from genetic dispositions and/or enviromental factors, such as the foods we eat.

Could someone become addicted to a game? Sure, it is possible for a person to become addicted to just about any activity - heck, you could become addicted to math problems or crosswords in the sunday paper. Every activity has its enthusiasts.

Personally, I selected "Other" in your poll, because for me gaming is a hobby I enjoy in all its many iterations but it is only a past time, I have much higher priorities, like looking after my 1 year old daughter. I have a passion, not an addiction.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

I dunno, for myself. I mean, I get really addicted to certain games, but when the work piles up and I have nothing new to play, I'll often take a few days or a week off and not really feel the lack.

Right now, however, I have Virtua Fighter 4: Evo, Soul Caliber 3 and Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix to play, so I won't be seeing the sun for a while.

 

[Danny Ocean]

I guess the good part about it is that if a game isn't interesting or bores me I stop playing.

Could this be why 'hardcore' gamers have such high standards? If the game isn't non-stop jaw-dropping action or non-stop interest, it drops like a lead balloon.

 

[Bocca]

I don't consider myself as a game addict 'cause I can live without 'em, but I may be a internet addict :<

I also may be a hardcore gamer 'cause I like I wanna be THE GUY, but I never finished it tough. Hmm.. Not a hardcore gamer, but a hardcore platform gamer. I really enjoy them, even tough we live on the 20th century.

 

[sammyfreak]

I played WoW for the better half of two years and never, now or then considered myself addicted. I guess that MMO's really are the peak of reward driven gaming but it the most common reason for "hardcore gaming" in the genre is the social part. People generally need other people and when you have a less then great social life they become hugely attractive. I didn't log on to get my daily fix, I logged to play with my "friends".

Is that not a reward in itself?
I played Second Life for about one and a half years, and I remember wasting hours on it doing pretty much nothing. The whole time was spent waiting for other people (or making things). I saw a documentary on the BBC about a group of computer addicted kids who were aggressive, sloth, and agitated. Are these withdrawal symptoms?

Another question could be whether or not the escapism associated with games is what spawns the addictions, rather than the direct act of interfacing with the game (flashing lights, bright noises, etc...)?

Humans have inherent needs beyond the basic food, shelter, water and heat; and one of those needs is social interaction. So yes humans are addicted to each other technically, but in the same way we are addicted to food or water.

 

[fix-the-spade]

In a word, yes.
20+ hours a week on games is enough to class as addiction to me.
But then I spend almost as much time riding bicycles, so it all balances out, sort of...

With regards tolerating EA, no. As their business practice has become increasingly right wing, I've found myself turning to Steam more and more. To the point where probably 98% of all my gaming takes place via Steam, even though it is DRM it at the very least feels helpful rather than a big stone wall between me and my enjoyment.

 

[wewontdie11]

I wouldn't consider myself a gaming addict as I probably spend more time on here discussing games than I do actually playing the things. If anything I'm a forum addict.

I do have a few friends that I would say were addicted to MMOs though. At one point one of them would flat out refuse any kind of social contact because he was too busy doing instances with his lvl 70 elf or something, and he screwed up his sleeping patterns so that he was only getting 4 hours a day from like 5 till 9.

 

[Gotham Soul]

In a social aspect, I find video gaming impossible to be addicted to, mostly because the media and more specifically the general public isn't willing to admit that if one can be addicted to video games (as proven chemically by endorphins and the dopamine system and such), one can be considered addicted to anything. One guy could be addicted to stamp collecting. Another guy could be addicted to Airfix models.

But you ask the average person, are those addictions? Of course it's not an addiction. Nobody would ever claim those things could be addictions. Those things are hobbies! But in that case, video gaming can be a hobby? Ask the same average person, video games can't be a hobby! That's just something those evil Satan kids do in the basement!

Well the last time I checked, video games can be a hobby because video gaming is my "pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation".

So I have now proven that in an average human society, it is impossible to be addicted to video games with a possible exception of MMORPGs.

 

[TMAN10112]

I wouldn't consider myself a gaming addict. I like to play games when I have a clear schedule, unfortunatly I havn't had enough free time or money latly to really play games in long periods of time like I want to. Suprisingly i'v actualy spent more time out in the woods then I have playing games.

 

[Caliostro]

This isn't new. Anything that causes pleasure is liable to cause addiction. Food, sex, video games, sports, masturbation, shopping...


On the other hand you're asking on an online community that revolves almost entirely around games, if we're gaming addicts... Kinda feels like going to an AA meeting and asking if the people there are alcoholics.

 

[bad rider]

Woah, after reading this I can now go around saying, i don't need drugs to get high, i get high off gaming....

 

[Sir_Montague]

Worst part is, I know that the longer I go without playing a videogame, the more I crave to play one... But if I was truly addicted (and I have been playing for the greater part of my life) I wouldn't be able to randomly take months at a time off from playing a single videogame.

 

[Danny Ocean]

This isn't new. Anything that causes pleasure is liable to cause addiction. Food, sex, video games, sports, masturbation, shopping...


On the other hand you're asking on an online community that revolves almost entirely around games, if we're gaming addicts... Kinda feels like going to an AA meeting and asking if the people there are alcoholics.

I heard this theory a while ago, but I havn't really given it much thought.

I wouldn't consider myself a gaming addict.

 

[Syntax Error]

Could this be why 'hardcore' gamers have such high standards? If the game isn't non-stop jaw-dropping action or non-stop interest, it drops like a lead balloon.

Isn't this a sort of anti-theory against addiction? Last time I checked, addicts were never selective.

I don't consider myself an addict... Anymore. Now I play games more for the social aspect (playing with friends, who may or may not be addicts). But the thing is that I could sometimes "force" myself to not play games so that I can focus on something more productive (like learning how to Joomla! at this moment).