It seems now no matter what someone does regularly in life they are at a risk of becoming addicted, someone drinks too often they become an alcoholic, someone eats to much they become obese and even prescribed medicine can become an addiction making a cure become an illness. In the news we hear of people dying from addictions or killing for their addiction which is a terrible state to be in, looking for money to feed their desires.
Gaming has become more popular as the years passed on, games becoming more and more realistic and in-depth making players connect with their characters, I am sure there has been a game the majority if not all gamers had a bit of an addiction too? Wither it be the story is so deep you feel yourself immersed inside of it or you feel emotionally connected to the protagonist, we as gamers spend so many hours of our free time playing these games and with MMORPGS such as World of Warcraft keeping 11 Million monthly customers subscribed both kids and adults, games take up more of our time but adding a social element to it, plus with the benefit of Blizzard releasing patches with new content or expansion packs to increase level cap the game is kept fresh offering new content for veteran players.
I managed to ask a gamer some questions about addiction and why he put a popular MMORPG before his studies at university.
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Interview with Elkapan
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Haxxident: What made you first try World of Warcraft?
Elkapan: I was drawn to the game in 2004/2005, because visually it was like nothing I had seen before, the scale of the world was epic in comparison to games I had played before, and it was the first MMORPG I had come across at that point, it offered an amount of escapism from life, and the pressure of constant studying, and as you know I was studying Computer Game Design, so I had a natural propensity for games that are well designed and have an addictive and consistent playability quality.
Haxxident: What made you play World of Warcraft instead of attending lessons?
Elkapan: Addiction and Escapism, I didn't fit in well at university, and I had more friends online on Warcraft than I did in university, but it was more addiction to the game than anything else.
Haxxident: Do you regret dropping out of university?
Elkapan: Yes. Everyday I regret I was one of the leading programmers and first in my class, but I do not blame the game, rather my girlfriend who I moved in with, the power of love, toppled the already high tower of addiction to Warcraft as it were... I was already falling behind. There is not a day that goes by I don't regret my decisions.
Haxxident: Are you still playing World of Warcraft?
Elkapan: Yes, I am when I have the money it still holds its evil grip on me, like morphine to a junky.
Haxxident: Do you think you were addicted?
Elkapan: Yes I was playing sometimes 20/25 hours stints at a time, so I was definitely addicted, at the time I knew I was addicted, I was even mocked online for the time I played, but I didn't care, was more fun than real life- and it offered a sense of security in a weird way.
Like any addiction, being addicted to gaming could make people withdrawn from their social circle and make them frustrated easily, other ramifications from gaming addiction could be obesity due to the constant sitting and lack of exercise, some developers are trying to combat this such as Nintendo with their Wii and Project Natal coming soon for Xbox 360.
What makes people become addicted? Some people just have addictive personalities and wanting to avoid certain feelings they have by letting gaming take over a major focus of their activities. Some become compulsive gamers feeling they need to play games to reach some kind of achievement. Recreational gamers may become addicted to games from beta-endorphins which is a compound in the brain which gives the feeling of being ?high? which is experienced during excitement, pain and orgasm. If becoming extreme enough all these result in the player retracting from friends and family, snacking during play (often very late at night) and exchanging real life experiences for in game activities.
Some people believe being addicted to games is better for you than being addicted to drugs or alcohol, however the addictions have many things in common such as the addict possibly losing their job due to the addiction, stealing from friends or family to purchase new DLC/games and affecting their overall health. Snacking while playing is a common thing, we have all been into a game with a big pack of Doritos on a day off just relaxing, but for the gamers who do this often they will start to gain weight and after long enough with no proper exercise (thumb exercise don?t count) eating junk food and snacking will add health problems, becoming obese and finding walks you used to enjoy becoming difficult, aches in your muscles, twitches and lack of proper nutrients.
In some rare cases the addiction like all addictions have turned into the addict murdering someone for interfering in their gaming or ignoring a young child. In the United States back in 2007 a young boy named Daniel Petric shot both his parents, killing his mother because they took away his copy of Halo 3 in the court hearing the judge said ?I firmly believe that Daniel Petric had no idea at the time he hatched this plot that if he killed his parents they would be dead forever?. So this child killed his mother for removing his addiction, being so young and naive he believed his parents would ?restart? just like the Spartan does in Halo after he dies, and people blame the game for making him believe that, but games come with age restrictions for a reason, by law he shouldn?t of been playing the game to begin with. So parents add to the addiction problem by buying games for their children on Christmas, birthdays and other special events just like how a parent would buy cigarettes for a smoking child who?s underage. With big titles like the Halo series and Call of Duty games offering massive online capabilities you can see why people become addicted, wanting to reach the top level, become ?one of the elite? and make new friends over the game. For any gamer who has played the recent massive title Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 how often is it when playing you hear someone speak who you know is not 18? Children have more free time than most adults with evenings and weekends free plus school holidays it?s easy for them to become into a repetitive pattern with such games and form an addiction with the parents help. I managed to ask such a parent some questions.
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Interview with a Mother who supplies games (Kelly)
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Haxxident: How old are your children?
Kelly: My son is 14 and I have two daughters 11 and 7.
Haxxident: How often do they play games?
Kelly: Everyday
Haxxident: How long every day?
Kelly: As soon as they come in from school they go on it, they break for dinner but only when i force them and then they go straight back on, it?s almost like it?s their social life.
Haxxident: Would you say they favour online/console company over family company?
Kelly: We do some family events, however I hate to say I feel yes they do favour games sometimes.
Haxxident: Do you buy them titles rated 15 and 18?
Kelly: No Comment
Haxxident: Do your children own 18 rated games?
Kelly: Well they do, but that?s to keep in with trend. All their friends have it, what am I supposed to do?
Haxxident: Do you ever hear your children swear in anger over a in game action?
Kelly: Yes, but I have made them aware this is not acceptable.
Haxxident: How do you punish them, If at all?
Kelly: A stern word usually works.
Haxxident: Would you never consider taking the console away from them.
Kelly:I have done once, it was easier and less hassle to let him keep it.
Haxxident: Why do you buy games for them that they are not old enough to play?
Kelly: Again because its what their games play, its what happens now a days they go out and speak to each other about games in my opinion. Its only a game what harm can it do.
Haxxident: Do you think their addicted?
Kelly: No, because it?s not like smoking and not like drinking, their still interacting with other people. I don?t feel they have secluded themselves in society.
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Interview with a Mother who doesnt supply games (Jess)
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Haxxident: How old are your children?
Jess: I have a 12 year old son and a 15 year old girl.
Haxxident: What activities at home do you give your children?
Jess: As soon as they get in from school they complete homework, I then try and have family meal together at the table and then socialize while watching television, the occasional board game.
Haxxident: So do you let your child watch 15-18 rated movies?
Jess: My 12 year old does not watch 15+ rated movies, however my 15 year old does as I feel she is mature for her age.
Haxxident: Do you feel older rated movies are less suggestive to violence and sexuality than video games?
Jess: I think children take games more serious than watching a film, games have changed so much since I was a child, and you hear about all those stabbings
Haxxident: Would you let them play any gaming console? If not, what about Nintendo?s DS which can be educational?
Jess: Yes I would in moderation.
Haxxident: What is a moderate amount to you?
Jess: Say 4-5 hours per week.
Haxxident: Do you think parents who leave their children to play 15+ hours on games a week are bad parents?
Jess: Yes, how do they expect their children to have a family life when all they do is sit on a computer all day its anti social.
Haxxident: Would you still say consoles are anti social with Xbox Live and Playstation Network giving gamers a network?
Jess: What?s that *Explained Xbox Live and PS network* Yes i would think its anti social their not exactly speaking to their friends.
Haxxident: Do you think underage gaming adds to the youth violence in today?s Britain?
Jess: Over time yes, it could do yes. I would not let my 12 year old play those violent games, i don?t know what effect it would have on him. Hes still very young and still making up his mind about society.
Haxxident: Would have an issue if you found out your 12 year old son was playing 18 rates video games at a friends?
Jess: I would discuss it with his parents, because I would like to know what effect it was having on their son if anything, I don?t want my children to lose their social life with their family.
Haxxident: One final question, do you think children can become addicted to gaming?
Jess: I believe overuse of gaming can become addictive, Thank you for your time.
An episode of South Park called Make Love, Not Warcraft is a funny example of gaming addiction in the form of World of Warcraft, the four main characters Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman begin ?grinding? a term used in most games as a form of levelling up, to become one of the strongest characters, many scenes show other kids outside playing while the four are in the computer lab playing Warcraft as time goes on, they become stronger in game while becoming larger out of game.
Games like World of Warcraft and other MMORPGs require a lot of play time to reach the maximum level which can make compulsive gamers of people aged 12+ as the age requirement in the UK is. Besides the health problems with MMORPGs there is a money problem, all the major online titles require a monthly subscription of between £8-£15 per month which adds up to £95+ a year which doesn?t sound like but some people are happy to spend real money on in-game currency. During a playtime of World of Warcraft I entered a major city and was immediately spammed with messages of ?Cheap Gold? with a web link for me to go on and buy Gold for the game with real money, Which rises the problem of debt within games. If someone spends the majority of their time in the World of Warcraft or any other MMOPRG they may want more in game money to buy that elite bit of kit they want or to buy a new skill etc the list is endless so they feel since they don?t go out as much it?s ok to spend money on in game currency but is it worth spending real money on fake money?
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Interview with Elkapan
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Haxxident: Do you pay for a subscription for Warcraft over any other bills you have?
Elkapan: Sometimes. In my head I?m thinking its only £10 and i wouldnt notice it in the long run.
Haxxident: If you only had £50 a month, would Warcraft be an expense?
Elkapan: Yes, as I said before I would be thinking its only £10 and that would leave me £40 for other bills.
Haxxident: Do you use Credit Cards or borrow money from other people to pay for the game time? if so who and how often?
Elkapan: I have borrowed money from my dad to pay for the subscription and told him I was going to use it for food, I don?t have a credit card because of my credit rating but I would use one if I had one.
Haxxident: When you ask your dad for money for ?food? do you feel bad you lied to him?
Elkapan: No. Because in a way Im not lying Im feeding my Warcraft hunger.
Haxxident: How much a year do you earn and how much is spent on gaming?
Elkapan: I claim benefits so about £4000 a year and I would think £120 just on Warcraft and that?s it since I download old PC games and dont own any new consoles.
The root of most peoples addictions could be from problems in other areas of their life, depression, loneliness etc games offer a way to be someone else, go on epic adventures and get the girl. Making people have the satisfaction and confidence in the game that they might not be able to get in daily life, being able to bring down a global threat single handed or even being the star player for your favourite team, games offer a glimpse at being something other than yourself which some gamers find overpowering and cant help falling deeper and deeper into the fantasy.
Video Gaming Addiction has been proposed to being included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) which is the standard criteria for mental disorders and addiction but there has not been enough evidence that Gaming Addiction is a disorder. Gaming Addiction is an illness, people change their normal behaviour to get a gaming fix, reluctant to socialize, forget personal hygiene and lack of sleep. And like all addicts they will need the same help and support as drug addicts would, being able to admit the addiction is always the first step and once that step has been made reaching the top will unlock the greatest achievement you can get, yourself.
