Online gaming addiction

Where would we be without the internet? It’s become a vital part of our lives, improving communication and convenience. You can yak away to as many friends as you like. And going shopping is as easy as logging onto your Mac or PC. It just makes life easier!

That’s some of the good stuff, but it’s not all fun and games. There’s a dark side too. The internet can be addictive and many people are getting ‘stuck in the net’ and finding it hard to escape.

What is online gaming?

Online games are played on the computer and made possible by the internet. Multi-player games (World of Warcraft, Counter-strike, EverQuest) are the most popular, because players can interact with each other. Research shows that around 70% of young people aged nine to nineteen years old have played online games.

Why do we love it?

Welcome to a whole new world, where anything is possible. Here in cyber-space, time and distance are non-issues, and cultural barriers are broken down. Players from around the world can meet each other in unreal places. There’s a strong sense of community: friends are made...and enemies are thrashed just as quickly.

You can be whoever you want to be. A timid teenager by day, but a fearsome warrior by night! Or why not become an Elven princess, and sweep that dishy warrior off his feet? Smiting evil is only a few mouse clicks away in Cyber Universe. L33t* huh? But don’t be fooled, it’s not that easy. Gaming requires talent. Research (at Brunel University) also shows that players can gain vital social and cultural skills, which will come in handy later in life.

What is online gaming addiction?

This is where it lags*. Online gaming addiction is the most common form of internet addiction. It happens when gamers spend hours online, resulting in them neglecting important areas of their lives, including their health, education, work and/or family. An addict generally spends over four hours at a time gaming and will most likely become pissed off when this isn’t possible.

Many people are familiar with smoking, alcohol and gambling addictions, but gaming addiction isn’t widely known. Mental health professionals are now likely to agree that this addiction exists, yet there is no official diagnosis.

Gaming addiction has no criteria of its own. Instead, the guidelines used to identify problem gamblers are used. Some of these are: preoccupation (always thinking about the activity), lying (about the amount of time spent) and loss of control (failing to cut back time).

Who does it affect?

‘Gamaholics’ are found in different age, cultural and social groups, but teenagers (especially males) seem to be the most affected. Professionals at The Smith & Jones Addiction Clinic believe that 20% of all gamers can become addicted to gaming.
However, some studies suggest that less people are addicted than we think. A number of professionals argue that gaming and gambling addictions are not exactly the same, so different criteria should be used in diagnosis. This could make the numbers misleading.

What are the causes?

Addictions of any kind occur when one action becomes the central focus of a person’s life. Like many other addictions, low self esteem, depression, problems in the home environment and poor social skills are common causes of gaming addiction. Relying too heavily on games to provide relief and distraction from the ‘real world’ is another one, especially when fantasy comes into play. Quitting is no easy task. The social and competitive nature of gaming (i.e. who can own the most noobs*) also makes it hard to step away.

What are the effects?

Of course there are many people who know how to play in moderation. Gaming becomes a problem only when it takes control. College student ‘Dennis’ says ‘the game almost ruined my life’, summing up the dangerous effects of too much gaming.

These can include:

• Self-neglect: poor posture, back problems and health issues (such as busted wrists and dry eyes). It’s also not uncommon for addicts to avoid eating, washing or sleeping for days on end! One addict claims: ‘I couldn't go to the toilet because then I would have to leave ... I would take an empty bottle and pee in it’
• Poor work performance: spending so much time fighting clan wars affects the performance of many players when it comes to education and work.
• Strain on relationships: break–ups can result from players choosing gaming over their partners and families. One form of support offered to the neglected ‘widows’ of game addicts is www.gamerwidow.com (with over 1800 members). This shows how gaming addictions can be a huge deal for family and friends.
• Death: although it’s extreme and rare, gaming addiction has been blamed for a number of deaths. One example is when an infant died because his father was too busy gaming to care for him. Some people believe there should definitely be a warning on the box in stores. However, gaming companies claim that it’s up to the players to be responsible.

What’s being done about it?

A rehab gaming clinic (The Smith & Jones GAMESTERDAM clinic) has opened in Amsterdam. It is the first treatment centre in the world for obsessive gamers. Treatment includes ‘gamaholics’ camping, so patients can experience a thrill in other activities. In China, new laws have been introduced to restrict teenagers from playing too much. The internet also has heaps of organisations (like http://www.netaddiction.com/) which provide information for recovery.

*l33t — elite/awesome
* lag — when the game quality stuffs up
*own — dominate
*noobs — inexperienced players

How do I know this?

Becker, D 2002, ‘When Games Stop Being Fun’, CNET, 12 April, http://news.com.com/2100-1040-881673.html  

Bradford, D & Crowe, N 2006, How gaming is all work and no play, BBC, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4774534.stm  

Centre for Internet Addiction Recovery 2006, Online Gaming Addiction, Centre for Internet Addiction Recovery, http://www.netaddiction.com/resources/online_gaming.htm

Centre for Internet Addiction Recovery 2006, What is Internet addiction, Centre for Internet Addiction Recovery, http://www.netaddiction.com/whatis.htm

Gamerwidow.com, 2007, Gamerwidow.com Forum Index, Gamerwidow, http://www.gamerwidow.com/phpbb/index.php

Helpguide.org, 2007, Gambling Addiction: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment, http://www.helpguide.org/mental/gambling_addiction.htm  

Kuchera, B. 2007, ‘Actual videogame addiction clouded by lack of reliable diagnostic methods’, Ars Technica, 26 March, http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2007/03/26/actual-videogame-addiction-clouded-by-lack-of-reliable-diagnostic-methods  

Motluck, A. 2005, ‘Gaming Fanatics show hallmarks of drug addiction’, New Scientist, 16 November, http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8327

Smith & Jones, 2007, Problem Gaming Treatment, http://www.smithandjones.nl/  

The Sydney Morning Herald, 2007, ‘I am a video game junkie: boy, 14, The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 June’, http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/i-really-am-addicted-to-video-games/2007/06/28/1182624036453.html  

The Sydney Morning Herald, 2006, ‘Internet addiction can harm lives, marriages’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 22 May, http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking/internet-addiction-can-harm-lives-marriages/2006/05/22/1148150154045.html 

The Sydney Morning Herald, 2007, ‘Is game addiction a mental disorder?’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 22 June, http://www.smh.com.au/news/games/hooked-on-games/2007/06/22/1182019344317.html