S9- Game Addiction

The vibrancy of thrilling worlds and experiences video games provide render them very compelling mediums. When created right, they often produce a desire in the player to continue the game, gaining levels, unlocking new areas and discovering the next segment of story. However, once this drive becomes all that the player enjoys and disregards their life in favour of the virtual world, it is labeled as a game addiction.

Expressed by Tod Essig, on Forbes.com, '“Video game addict” works as metaphor because it captures the out-of-controlness and abject misery of the experience. But as diagnosis it over-simplifies, prematurely closing off further inquiry and mis-directing clinical interventions'.

Whether video games are addictive or not is up to the player. They may compel them to continue but an addiction is created by the player choosing the game over other elements in their life. It is their responsibility to balance their life and game time.

The reasons that drove the these such 'addicted' players need to be addressed before the games themselves are labeled as the cause of the addiction. This will improve the affected players' lives and enable them to game in a much healthier way.