Can you become Addicted to Video Games

[I_Am_Nemesis]

I was just interested about this because I heard that some people completely thro their lives away for video games, for example a guy in Japan married a video game. I was just wondering if any one here thinks that you can become addicted to video games or if they are already addicted. I play about two or 3 hours on average but i can play a game for a whole day on occaision.

[nemesiswontdie]

I thought the guy married his system (DS is I wasnt mistaken). But yeah you can be.

[Darkmoon]

You can become addicted to anything. Food, drink, sex, reading...if you have a compulsive obsession to do something, whether through a chemical high such as seen in drugs, alcohol and tobacco or because your brain fires off pleasurable hormones when you do it then you're addicted.

Games are no exception. Everquest and WoW are the ones most commonly depicted in such a light, but any game will have it's addicts. See; the people here who play anything with Resident Evil in the title regardless of quality or content.

[Member_of_STARS]

Quite simply, yes. Its a window of communication, filled with constant patting on your egos back through various provided or imagined achievements, providing escapism and complete shutting out of the world. Id say thats a pretty successful formula for an addiction.

However, I dont think games without internet connection are nearly as addictive. And thus I also think the term "addiction" may not be the most appropriate. Considering its basically a huge social network, Id rather say it becomes a substitute for real communication at certain moments.

[TheSelfishGene]

I was a huge diablo 2 junkie. Never really let it get in the way of my life though.
Sure I sat in a whole lot of biochemistry lectures and just planned out my next character item sets, rather than actually doing work, but I didn't fail any subjects. I never let it get to that point.

That said, I refuse to touch WoW. I know that I'm susceptable to the type of gameplay that it offers.
However, when Diablo III comes out, my life will probably go off the rails.

[Alexia_Ashford]

That said, I refuse to touch WoW. I know that I'm susceptable to the type of gameplay that it offers.

I've already succumbed to that. First, playing non stop for a month to get my blood elf to lvl 68, then realising I'm bored and starting an alliance Death Knight who's now at lvl 65.. D:

[I_Am_Nemesis]

Oh ive always steared clear of games like WoW lol I spend to much time playing my Xbox so god knows what WoW would do to me.

Anyway I Agree with MoS that games are much more addictive when they have online play. The competitive edge to online play couple with the ability to talk to people from all over the place is very addictive. I wonder what it will be like in 20 or 30 years time when the capabilities of gaming and online play has advanced and how many people will become addicted to that. Teenagers and children already spend most of their social lives on their games consoles and the internet so it will be scary to see what its like when the technology has had time to advance and improve.

[Mr. Ashford]

I admit, WoW does have this certain... Appeal to it. Always wanting to get to that next level before bed, upgrade my abilities, sell some gear, find shiny new gear, and before I know it I'm three quarters of the way to the next level so I have to stay up another half hour to get there. It's a vicious cycle, and being as OCD as I am I can't stop if my exp. bar is above three quarters of the way full.

Although video games in general seem to have this certain pull to it. I remember reading an article on how they're designed to appeal to that sense of OCD everyone has in them, what with their 100% completions or hidden items or whatever. I'll have to dig it up.

[Barry Burton]

like all things it depends on the person, video games are amazing and people say you can get addicted to game like modern warfare but i would say i am a games player but i go other interests.

if computer games is all you got then no wonder your gonna get addicted

[Branden_Lucero]

it depends on the games you're playing. otherwise, not really. unless you have some ocd issue or obsession. , which can cause an addiction as well. world of warcraft has been one of those games were addiction leads to even death because some players have gotten to the point where they've ignored everything around them.

[The_15th]

Only Outbreak!!!

[Bianca]

Back in high school, during my sophomore year, I was incredibly obsessed with Sims 2. Obviously, it wasn't an "addiction," because saying that would just be too dramatic, but it definitely was an unhealthy obsession. I faked sick for several days in a row just so I could keep playing. There was just something so beautiful and perfect about my Sims universe. Oh, I loved my little families. It didn't help that, at the time, I had all the expansion packs, and I could honestly sit at the computer for a good 10 hours and play the shit out of that game without a single second of boredom. Eventually, though, the fun wore off. Nowadays, I still play Sims 2 every now and then, but it tends to lose its fun after a while (thank goodness), but it's still a massive waste of time.

There's actually a really well-done film about video game addiction called Ben X. It's a Belgian film, and even though it's not strictly about video game addiction per se, it explores some really deep, meaningful reasons behind why an individual might seclude themselves from the real world in favor of a fantasy world. I know it sounds cheesy, but the movie is really quite sweet, and I found myself relating to the main character more than I expected. I think anyone who ever considered themselves a social outcast and spent their time finding momentary happiness in video games would be able to find the movie very relevant. Didn't care too much for the ending but, overall, it's worth watching.

[YamiYumes]

I'm addicted to the WoW monster. Have a level 80 Blood DK, working on a level 73 Holy Pally, a Resto Shaman, and a Belf Priest. So...yeah.

[Bertha]

I saw something on the news yesterday about a husband and wife in some Asian country convicted of murder or child neglect...something along those lines...because they were so addicted to a video game (oddly enough, one where you raise a child) that they let their 3 month old daughter die of malnourishment. Oh...and the mom is pregnant with another child.

So yes....along with what others have said: you can become addicted to video games.

[Carnivol]

Sounds an awful lot like the (US) incident some years back with the couple playing Everquest.