Does gaming addiction exist?

[StillDav]

Hi Everyone,

I’m conducting a study as part of my MSc into understanding gaming behaviour from the point-of-view of gamers.

Your opinions, ideas and stories would be helpful on the following topics;

• Does gaming addiction exist?
• How would you describe your own gaming behaviour?

Anything else you would like to add that would help to get a discussion started.

Thank you for your help. :D

[thedeparted]

Yes it does exist very much so in fact. Which is why some people play certain games for 12-15 hours a day ignore social and end up in trouble with work. I myself dont play much.

[paecmaker]

Gaming addiction exist. But actually you can get addicted to almost anything.

[thedeparted]

Like addicted to watching movies/tv shows like me :P

[paecmaker]

Like addicted to watching movies/tv shows like me :P

amongst other :p

[Hyper_Reality]

Gaming addiction is completely real. Go on youtube and you can find loads of videos of peoples' lives ruined because of their WOW addiction. I myself was addicted to WOW. I would play all day every day until my computer crashed a year back, making it unable to handle the game.

[Jayhmmz]

There can be addictions developed for a lot of things, not just gaming. But gaming is one of those activities that is so easily to be addicted to, more specifically addicted to a game. As aforementioned, WoW is one of the most notable games to which people get addicted.

It's all about how much escapism a game offers the gamer, and how much mental strength one has. If one with weak mental strength plays a game that offers a massive sense of immersion and escapism, then that person will be hooked to that game, quite easily. You get my drift.

I like to think that I have a strong head, and I manage to keep my priorities in order. I was a WoW player myself a few years back, for about 3 or 4 years, not necessarily for consecutive months. I used to massively enjoy playing, but on a day where I wasn't going out, I'd still only play about 6 hours, spread over like 2 sessions. And I wouldn't necessarily play every day of the week. But in total, I played quite a bit, but not to the level that people would see as addiction.

[takezokensai]

Yeah, it probably does exist, but most people don't have it. Most people that are addicted play more than 10 hours almost daily.

[mark79]

I'm sure it does. It's the next stage after gaming obsession.

[TheGateKeeper]

If you think gaming addiction does not exist, check this out:

Man dies playing Diablo 3 (http://easydiablo3.com/post/2012/06/14/Man-dies-playing-Diablo-3.aspx)

Unbelievable

[Jaykub]

Yes, I played call of duty for 17 hours Thursday, until I had to go see my girlfriend.

[DJ@NTG]

In short it absolutely exists. You can be addicted to anything really.

[gamermini]

read my post on your other question :)

[Mordry]

It is real. I'm not but still it exists.

I have moments where you can speak of "addiction", the last time was with Skyward Sword and The Last Story but I have one thing I always do before I get into games like this (and especially for Mario and Zelda I KNOW that I'll play it a long, long time) and that is: Tell all your friends and every social contact that you are not avaible for like 1-4 days. Still I have a golden rule I'll never break: Real-Life first (friends, work and stuff), Gaming can wait.