Study finds reason for games addiction

[Buizel91]

*Yawn* "In the BBC show, entitled Addicted To Games and being aired on Monday night, investigators speak to children who believe they are addicted and hear from industry experts calling for more research into the issue."

First paragraph of the article

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20101206/thl-addictive-nature-of-gaming-probed-d831572.html

Didn't this get resolved ages ago -.- this is just stupid.

Apparently the gaming industry uses a powerful psychological device that could make some fans play compulsively...

I mean REALLY! :S

This physchological device is apparently the gaming mechanics and how some just make the player not want to leave the game, I've had that before, but i can safely say i am NOT addicted -.-

You thoughts?

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

I'm confused as to whether I'm addicted... I easily game for 50+ hours a week but I can easily stay away from pretty much all technology for a few weeks or longer.

STUDY THAT ONE, BBC PEOPLE D:

 

[Palademon]

Gaming machanics and how some just make the player not want to leave the game?

I think I've heard of those. They're called good games.
But we shouldn't need to worry, they haven't made one of those in years.

EDIT: So apparently what the industry needs to stop putting in games, is fun.

 

[FallenTraveler]

sure there are elements in games that can have you itching to play more... I've had that, but being addicted is for people with weaker will or the stupidity (and weak will) to try it (in the case of drugs and such)

I really dont think that smaller children should be playing games, and even then you should limit and look at what you allow them to play.

 

[Buizel91]

Gaming machanics and how some just make the player not want to leave the game?

I think I've heard of those. They're called good games.
But we shouldn't need to worry, they haven't made one of those in years.

Batman: AA, Just Cause 2, Bioshock?

Anyone?

I mean seriously many games out there now are really good.

 

[manythings]

You can induce psychological dependency and compulsions with the right tricks. Video game addiction exists in the same way as TV addiction, work out addiction (Bigorexia) and even addiction to buying shit.

EDIT: Also thinking it has anything to do with a "Weak will" or being stupid is fucking stupid in and of itself.

 

[Fallen-Angel Risen-Demon]

No! What the hell BBC?! What the hell?!
I have never been addicted to a game, there's a difference between enjoyment and addiction which people seem to get confused about.

 

[Palademon]

Gaming machanics and how some just make the player not want to leave the game?

I think I've heard of those. They're called good games.
But we shouldn't need to worry, they haven't made one of those in years.

Batman: AA, Just Cause 2, Bioshock?

Anyone?

I mean seriously many games out there now are really good.

I was making a joke.
Anyway, blaming the industry for making games that reward players with fun? These people are obviously retarded.

 

[Buizel91]

Gaming machanics and how some just make the player not want to leave the game?

I think I've heard of those. They're called good games.
But we shouldn't need to worry, they haven't made one of those in years.

Batman: AA, Just Cause 2, Bioshock?

Anyone?

I mean seriously many games out there now are really good.

I was making a joke.
Anyway, blaming the industry for making games that reward players with fun? These people are obviously retarded.

Oooh, sorry, my misunderstanding ^_^

please forgive me O_O *sniff*

 

[Duffeknol]

Didn't Extra Credits pretty much explain this entire thing using the Skinner Box?

 

[Quaidis]

I find gaming to be addictive because life sucks.

Games get played more as life gets harder to stand.

It's easy to see what you'd rather do with your time: face assholes and bad company, live in a rank, noisy environment, work at a dead end job, deal with a crappy girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband, travel in bad weather, find the smell of piss somewhere in your house that keeps evading you, trudge through social torture, etc etc etc, or sit down in any free time you have and immerse yourself in a world where you'll win, where you'll be a hero, save someone, get out of something thrilling alive and kicking, play against friends, beat the crap out of fighters, monsters, zombies, and evil kittens, and generally enjoy yourself.

If people think too much gaming is bad, and I'm sure it is, then they should point out more fun things to do in life and nag less at how bad the gaming is.

 

[Tsaba]

Didn't we (the Escapists, people, thingys, gaming addicts take your pick) have discussion about operant conditioning and those silly rats like a month ago? BBC, this is old news.

 

[Mechsoap]

So the game industry is evil for making their products fun and rewarding?

 

[DeASplode]

You know why people get addicted to games?

Real life sucks.

There you go. No where's my money for the study?

Spoiler

Pretty much what everyone has said really. I want to travel to distant planets, meet aliens then kill them and save the entire human race. I've never seen that line of work advertised in the Job Centre.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

But modern game design is all about coming up with ways to make games so compelling that people don't want to stop playing them.

 

[JasonBurnout16]

Quite looking forward to this tonight and seeing all the different types of Bull the BBC come up with. I can't see this study being fair as it seems there only going to focus on extreme gaming conditions and cases.

And about these "powerful psychological device that could make some fans play compulsively" - yer, that's sort of the point of a game. Just like a good book will want to have the reader continue reading, a good game will have the player want to continue gaming.

Things need to be taken in considerable amounts.

 

[Vor@Tan]

i like the way that it makes all us lot (game players) sound like freaks of nature, and that we're not "normal people"
also, have these *cough* "researchers" ever thought that the reason some of us like to play past our BedTime is because we're emersed in the story (unless it's a pointless shooter/racer/sport - like most games coming out *sigh*) - like, for say, you would do with a good book?! (how come you don't get this crap with reading too much or watching movies or music...wait, movies and music still get the sticks *tut* guess, their sick of picking on the oldies now they gotta go for the 'new' kid eh? ^.0 )
and why always asking kids/teenagers?!
why not ask one of us, an adult, someone who plays games above the age of 18!?
because when your a k/t all you wanna do is play games (either console/with yer mates/by yerself/tabletop etc.) yah know, do your own thing....
it's abit of a mott point asking children such a question when their either in/going thorugh such times in their lives
and i'm having trouble seeing playing as an addiction? i, like others here, can play for hours beyond what 'they' recommened but i can also stay away from my games for much longer then i play them (longest was a year *seriously!*)
and games are targetted at a wide diverse age range yet it's always thought of as a child's toy!? WHY!!? tabletop games weren't just for kids (and some could be 'gruesome' in their day) but they were targetted (recently) at children only.... is that how "normal people" see console games? just as a very flashy Monopoly on a tv screen? (when it's much more)

(sorry for the rant, but stupidity annoys me! ESPECIALLY when they get paid VAST AMMOUNTS of MONEY to do **** ALL!)