Gaming is big business but it has its downside. People have died from gaming and the world is recognizing that game addiction is serious and spreading fast. Mental health professionals opine that gaming can destroy lives, keep students from focusing on learning, workers from working, and women from their duties. There are instances where gamers have not left home for years.

Games like EverQuest, Dark Age of Camelot, and others are popularly referred to as heroinware. And symptoms of addiction according to Computer Addiction Services at McLean Hospital are: obsession with the game; inability to stop; neglect of family and work; lying to hide activity; problems with studies and work; health problems, muscular as well as vision related; neglect of personal hygiene; as well as sleep disturbances.

The games provide social interaction to lonely people, gamers gain acknowledgement as well as power denied elsewhere due to their gaming expertise, and the game weaves a spell on the mind-one gets so absorbed by the virtual realities that it is hard to get away.

The addiction is so real that it requires intensive therapy. Treatment programs include: behavioral therapy, anti-depressants, as well as prescription drugs.

Not all agree that gaming is addictive. MIT's Games-to-Teach project manager opines that games sharpen critical thinking, improve social skills, and increase empathy. Many others do agree that games inspire imagination, creativity, and team work.

However, the problem is real and countries world over are taking measures. China has set up a clinic in Beijing for net-frazzled addicts to be treated with sports, acupuncture, and medication. The inmates according to the clinic's director have: depression, nervousness, fear, interaction problems, panic, agitation, shaking and numb hands, as well as sleep disorders. Gaming is a serious problem in Korea --- 1-2% of South Korea's online gamers are addicts. The government is taking steps and requesting game developers to create advisory patches to alert gamers to the impeding dangers.

A hard core gamer is one who is completely absorbed by his online fantasy, he isolates himself from family and friends, lets everyday activities fall by the wayside, spends over 16-20 hours a day playing the game and games at work, at home, and while on the road. Gaming becomes his whole life, a thirst that is never quenched.

Treatment is long and hard and like other addictions the first stage is the most difficult, getting the gamer to acknowledge that he or she has a problem. Addicts find it extremely painful to "kill" the characters of the game and to erase /destroy the software. Most are unable to "keep away" and return to the game addictively. Studies indicate that hard core players are often neurotic, shy, have emotional as well as behavioral issues, and problems in the home environment.

To overcome the addiction, the player must consider and analyze the issues underlying the game-it is the question of power, social standing, respect, and emotions.

Gaming is set to become a global epidemic and needs immediate attention as well as solutions.

Author Bio
Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888FreeOnlineGames.com, the premier website to play thousands of free online games including arcade games, action games, card games, flash games, strategy games, puzzle games and more. He also freelances for http://www.1888SoftwareDownloads.com.



Does anyone agree????????????????

i TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHEN I STARTED MUYLTIPLAYER GAMING, I WAS TOTALLY ADDICTED TO IT!!!!, BUT NOW I HAVE CONTROLLED MYSELF A BIT!!!!!LOL

My reply is in red

Gaming is big business but it has its downside. People have died from gaming and the world is recognizing that game addiction is serious and spreading fast. Mental health professionals opine that gaming can destroy lives, keep students from focusing on learning, workers from working, and women from their duties. There are instances where gamers have not left home for years.

Untrue. Thousands of gamers run stable lives both online and offline. Those who play online games without break are usually ones who have no sense of self control, the same thing that makes people drink too heavily and use drugs, etc.

Games like EverQuest, Dark Age of Camelot, and others are popularly referred to as heroinware. And symptoms of addiction according to Computer Addiction Services at McLean Hospital are: obsession with the game; inability to stop; neglect of family and work; lying to hide activity; problems with studies and work; health problems, muscular as well as vision related; neglect of personal hygiene; as well as sleep disturbances.

As I stated before, lack of self control. Although the statement on Everquest (aka Evercrack) is true, most cases of "online addiction" is usually caused by lack of friends/family who try to intervene.

The games provide social interaction to lonely people, gamers gain acknowledgement as well as power denied elsewhere due to their gaming expertise, and the game weaves a spell on the mind-one gets so absorbed by the virtual realities that it is hard to get away.

This is somewhat true, but the same can be said for athletes.

The addiction is so real that it requires intensive therapy. Treatment programs include: behavioral therapy, anti-depressants, as well as prescription drugs.

I've never read of a case that required medication or therapy of any kind, so I doubt this fact.

Not all agree that gaming is addictive. MIT's Games-to-Teach project manager opines that games sharpen critical thinking, improve social skills, and increase empathy. Many others do agree that games inspire imagination, creativity, and team work.

However, the problem is real and countries world over are taking measures. China has set up a clinic in Beijing for net-frazzled addicts to be treated with sports, acupuncture, and medication. The inmates according to the clinic's director have: depression, nervousness, fear, interaction problems, panic, agitation, shaking and numb hands, as well as sleep disorders. Gaming is a serious problem in Korea --- 1-2% of South Korea's online gamers are addicts. The government is taking steps and requesting game developers to create advisory patches to alert gamers to the impeding dangers.

Gaming is also a very popular sport in China, as shown by national televised tournaments of games such as Starcraft, Counter-Strike, etc.

A hard core gamer is one who is completely absorbed by his online fantasy, he isolates himself from family and friends, lets everyday activities fall by the wayside, spends over 16-20 hours a day playing the game and games at work, at home, and while on the road. Gaming becomes his whole life, a thirst that is never quenched.

Untrue. "Hardcore" Gamers are those whom play a large amout of games, yes. But it does not mean they waste their lives away. Most Gaming magazine writers are what you would call "Hardcore gamers" and they still do their job fine. Isolation almost never happens unless thye happen to be living alone, but many families use games as a bonding technique.

Treatment is long and hard and like other addictions the first stage is the most difficult, getting the gamer to acknowledge that he or she has a problem. Addicts find it extremely painful to "kill" the characters of the game and to erase /destroy the software. Most are unable to "keep away" and return to the game addictively. Studies indicate that hard core players are often neurotic, shy, have emotional as well as behavioral issues, and problems in the home environment.

Untrue. Studies at MIT, and other various schools have shown that indeed, playing video games has an effect on the brain, but it is always temporary. This is also true to the "violent video games make violent people" remarks.

To overcome the addiction, the player must consider and analyze the issues underlying the game-it is the question of power, social standing, respect, and emotions.

Gaming is set to become a global epidemic and needs immediate attention as well as solutions.

Author Bio
Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888FreeOnlineGames.com, the premier website to play thousands of free online games including arcade games, action games, card games, flash games, strategy games, puzzle games and more. He also freelances for http://www.1888SoftwareDownloads.com.


I am an avid gamer, and what some would call an "Addict". I play games all day, when I'm not doing homework or with friends. Most of my friends play video games as well. They are a great educational tool for schools, and because of that I'm more educated and mature than most teenagers. The gamers who find themselves "addicted" almost always have a problem with dependency. It's not the games at fault, it's self control. Though I have read my fair share of "ZOMG CHINESE GIRL PLAYS WORLD OF WARCRAFT THREE DAYS STRAIGHT AND DIES" and such, usually it is someone who had previous mental issues with dependency.

Dude, you are so right about self control; cause initially people like something, they try it and then eventually get addictted to is, without realising that they are actually addicted; but put it this way: Most of the time we dont realise that we are addicted; its like eating chocolate, you eat it and dont think you are adddicted to it, but apparently chocolate is an addictive substance, as for the players who dies playing games, it might be mainly hoaks or a popularity stunt.

My reply is in green

Dude, its becasue you are menatally strong and able to control your tempatations compared to many others; i think after reading your remarks, i must agree with you on some of the things, but i still disagree on some, but its personnel opinion in a way. So what games do you play, i might give you a match sometime "BOOM HEADSHOT" lol

This post was last modified: 02-23-2008 03:17 AM by peter_anderson.

But dude, dont you think there is a positive correlation between "HARDCORE GAMERS" and them being lonely, becasue they are giving up their lives becasue of gaming?

Many hardcore gamers have families, like Brian Crecente, a journalist for a gaming magazine and family man. I haven't played any online games since about december, cause my grades dropped and I need money for other things anyway. I've been sticking to console games.

But dude, dont you think there is a positive correlation between "HARDCORE GAMERS" and them being lonely, becasue they are giving up their lives becasue of gaming?

Many hardcore gamers have families, like Brian Crecente, a journalist for a gaming magazine and family man. I haven't played any online games since about december, cause my grades dropped and I need money for other things anyway. I've been sticking to console games.

i guess i can see where you are comming from now mate, i guess i never looked at it from that perspective, but dude one more thing, not everyone becomes a pro do they?

ht5, seriously man, u wont give up will u?lol

Bulletr0k Wrote:

But dude, dont you think there is a positive correlation between "HARDCORE GAMERS" and them being lonely, becasue they are giving up their lives becasue of gaming?

Many hardcore gamers have families, like Brian Crecente, a journalist for a gaming magazine and family man. I haven't played any online games since about december, cause my grades dropped and I need money for other things anyway. I've been sticking to console games.

i guess i can see where you are comming from now mate, i guess i never looked at it from that perspective, but dude one more thing, not everyone becomes a pro do they?

Of course not. The Pro league gamers spend almost ALL of their spare time doing what they're good at. There's even some cyberathletes who play Halo 1/2/3 for a living, and they have strict training, just like other athletes. And Guitar Hero pros have third arms. or a pet spider.

ht5 Wrote:

Bulletr0k Wrote:

But dude, dont you think there is a positive correlation between "HARDCORE GAMERS" and them being lonely, becasue they are giving up their lives becasue of gaming?

Many hardcore gamers have families, like Brian Crecente, a journalist for a gaming magazine and family man. I haven't played any online games since about december, cause my grades dropped and I need money for other things anyway. I've been sticking to console games.

i guess i can see where you are comming from now mate, i guess i never looked at it from that perspective, but dude one more thing, not everyone becomes a pro do they?

Of course not. The Pro league gamers spend almost ALL of their spare time doing what they're good at. There's even some cyberathletes who play Halo 1/2/3 for a living, and they have strict training, just like other athletes. And Guitar Hero pros have third arms. or a pet spider.

I guess we are moving towards a cyber gaming age sooon!!! It will be soo cool if we have halo at the olympics, lol