Why is Gaming So Addictive?
- Paolo Medina
- Sep 15, 2019
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 19, 2019
Why are video games a common cause of addiction? According to the article of Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery, video game addiction is described as an impulse control disorder, which does not include any use of intoxicating drugs. It may be referred to as overuse or pathological use of any platform of video games. The common types of video games that people play are (MMORPGs) and (MUDs). (MMORPGs) are basically virtual-type video games wherein players interact with other players to achieve certain goals or levels, to gain higher scores or ranks in a fantasy world. On the other hand, (MUDs) are a combination of role-playing games and fighting in a social channel with limited graphics only. The most common type of video game that people mostly play are (MMORPGs) because they use this as a form of connecting with real people through the internet, as an alternative for real-life human connection. A lot of people give in this, most especially teenagers, because they seem to think that connecting with other people through the internet is much easier than actually interacting with them in real life.
Statistics show that men are more likely to become addicted to video games versus women. Nearly 1 in 10 youth gamers can be identified as pathological or addicted to video-gaming. Another study by Tech Addiction showed that people get addicted to video games because they have no pre-defined ends. The only explanation for this is that video games will never end because at some point, the developers will always think of ways on how to improve their online business which most likely means that the game that they created will keep on progressing and progressing until the player has no idea that he has invested so much hours on it already. Another factor stated by Psych Guides, is that video games have some sort of “in-game currency” where players can buy certain items with the currency that they have to look more appealing in the game that they play or simply because they want to finish something related to the game faster. Almost every game in the internet has this type of strategy to profit the developers of the game, and some can really be tempting especially if you are starting to get addicted to the game then you would want to increase your level or rank in the game. The developers accomplish this by making a game just challenging enough to keep you coming back for more but not so hard that the player eventually gives up. In other words, they are not only committing addiction to video-gaming, but also to gambling.
In order for one to avoid this, they must know their limitations and when they must stop from playing because it may affect their bodies badly, and it can harm, not only their eyes because of the nonstop investment of their time to the game, but also their brains and it may refrain them from focusing on other important things and this should be done accordingly before it is too late for that person.
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