Im wondering what everyone else thinks about people who play video games nonstop. Do you think they actually have an addiction, like smokers and alcoholics do? Reason I ask, is I wonder about my roommate here at college. He plays World of Warcraft nonstop. At first, since this is a boring small hick town with nothing more than a Wal-Mart, that he was killing time. But this weekend was the first weekend I've stayed here (i usually go home on weekends) since he moved in at the beginning of the semester. Friday, he got back from class around 1 in the afternoon and quickly got on his computer to play World of Warcraft. If he got up from his computer, it was to go to the bathroom. I went to bed at 2 AM and he was still playing, who knows when he went to bed. Then Saturday, we both wake up around noon, and less than a minute after he woke up, I shit you not, was on his computer playing WoW. I don't believe he ate or drank a single thing all day. When I went to bed at 2:30 in the morning, he was still playing, who knows when he went to bed. But that makes 14.5 hours AT LEAST of playing WoW. Today, he woke up, and again, within a minute of getting out of bed was playing the fucking game. On weekdays, I usually hit the sack around midnight, again, he's still playing until who knows when. He never does homework, at least I've never seen him pick up a damn pen. He skips class a lot, and from what others tell me, when he goes to class, he sleeps through them because I guess he didn't get enough sleep. I don't believe he ever brushes his teeth and from what I've seen, showers once, maybe twice a week. He doesn't want to do anything with other people. When some of us go out to eat, we always ask him if he wants to go along and he never does. If some of us are going to play multiplayer Halo, he never wants to play. If me and someone else are going to Wal-Mart, we ask him to go and he never does. Sad thing is, I guarantee you he isn't the only one like this on campus. So, you guys think that gaming really is an addiciton that requires help much like alcoholism? IMO, I think its fair to say these people need some sort of help or treatment. Or are these people just really, really bored.
It depends on the person. For anyone who's addicted like your roommate to video games, I feel bad for them. Sometimes they align themselves with the characters in the game and it becomes a necessity or obsession. That's when they need help. I think the main part about video games is that they're fun. When the internet gets boring, I turn on my XBOX/PS2. They're not just time killers, they're fun time- killers, which make them an appealing thing to pick up and play. I must say, though, my brother has been playing about 5-6 hours of Halo 2 online per day for the last 2 or 3 weeks. Maybe he'll grow out of it. He certainly doesn't lose sleep or meals over it, though.
Yeah, don't get me wrong, I love playing GTA. But I know when enough is enough and don't have a problem turning the game off to do homework and to have a life away from the game.
To me, it's a time killer...although I should be training for the Sun Run instead of playing video games.
A video game "addiction" will probably wear off after a few weeks, as it did with me and Need For Speed Underground and SOCOM US Navy Seals.
When I get a new game, im usually playing that game non-stop for a couple weeks, thats the only addiction I have!
When your having fun (i.e. a party or playing sports) its only natural you want to continue having fun and you don't wanna stop but eventualy you know you have to,its basicly the same thing with a video game.
its the same way with me. when i pick up a new game i usually play it a lot over the course of a few weeks...but it gets old after a while so i just pick it up and start playing when ever. but i think that it is quite possible for a person to become completely attached to and maybe even addicted to video games.
I think that nearly any type of accessible entertainment can be addictive, and addiction of any kind is not good. But most of us have enough pull from other things in our lives to stay balenced and not get addicted. I don't know. If I were smarter I'd go on to talk about obsessive personalities, but I'm not, so...
For me it's both an addiction and a time-killer. But see, I can limit my addiction somehow. For example I go play Red Faction on my PS2 I can play that for an hour or 2 and then quit because I get bored of it. Or HL2, I can play for 2-3 hours, get bored of that. Applies to all video games, even online such as Counter Strike: Source, I can play for a few hours then get bored. Or sometimes when I'm playing PS2 I start to get sick from playing [stomach starts hurting, dont ask.] and then I know its time to stop playing. But yeah. You roommate definately has an addiction problem. If you can get onto his computer, lock it down. See how pissed he gets. Now, ask me about how my addiction to my computer, I'll deny it. :chemist: Ok, fine, ill admit I do have an addiction to my computer. >.<
I think the fact he plays an MMORPG, it's not that bad. When playing by yourself... It can get boring after awhile or it's easier to quit, but when playing with others, especially online, you usually forget how much time passes by. ...Sometimes that happens to me. But I'm not addicted.
yes, im sure it can be addicting. i know for a fact that there are ppl that are actually atticted to video games. there have been lots of ppl fired from thier jobs because of Ever Quest. it is not a problem to take lightly. sure, most ppl 'grow out of it' but there are those unlucky few who don't. the video game becomes their life, their reality. they end up wanting to stay there, w/ that, rather than going and facing the world. gaming, like most other addictions, is a way to escape. look at alcohol and pot, more ppl use those for self medication than just about anything else. i mean, it is a social thing, but how many times have some of you come home from a shitty day and just wanted to get wasted? being addicted to games, is similar to being addicted to the computer. if you look into things, there is a TON of shit that ppl get addicted to. most of which take you away, either through physical manipulation or mental. so gaming can be a serious problem. just look at Todd's friend. he may fail school, that will fuck up his life SO bad! these problems are not to be taken lightly. but, unfortunately, many ppl dont see it as a problem. im not sure how you can help your friend, all i know is that it is most likely a major problem he has to overcome.
It really depends on the person and the genre of the game. I think that MMORPGs are a waste of time and money. All you do is pay more and more money to play this game that basically takes over your life. It's not like Counter Strike where you're like, 'Hey, I'm bored, let's play some CS'. With World Of Warcraft it's like having an addiction to crack. You'll do anything to play, and eventually your highest priorities are replaced by it. Eventually it gets to the point where you put all things aside. And what do you get out of all your money spending and time wasted? Some stupid assed account with imaginary 'gold'. If you think of all the time you wasted playing on the goddamn game, you could have had a good job and lots of money. But it's turned you into a hunchback nerd who drools over Warcraft. It's sad Same goes for every other online RPG, like Everquest.
has anyone heard about that guy who lived with his mother (i think he was like 20something) and he was like addicted to everquest. hed be on there 24/7 and he had relationship with someone on the game or something. i guess they broke up and he killed himself. some people are just weird.
yeah i heard about that.. wasnt that like 5 years ago or something?? gaming can be an addiction.. ive seen it first hand.. for me its a fun "time killer".. i dont play it just to waste time.. i play games because they are fun and it uses up time in the process.. the last game i can honestly say i was addicted to was final fantasy X.. i got it on xmas it came out.. took me 50 hours to beat but i did it less than 3 days.. that was pretty hardcore yet disgusting looking back at it..
See? That's what I'm talking about. It turns you into a moron. He killed himself because his online girlfriend broke up with him... what did he not sell her the Magical Orc Axe +10 that he promised? everquestchik443 - I don't want to play videogames with you anymore coolguy2432! coolguy2432 - Nooo! My life must end now. Should I feel sorry for the guy killing himself over his video game? Because I think it's hilarious.
i just became addicted again.. metal gear solid 3 did it for me.. i beat it in 2 days and now i want more! if i had final fantasy 7.. id play that straight through the whole weekend and beat it by monday.. oh man.. im craving more!