Gaming Addiction IRL #7

Gaming Addiction IRL #7

The very popular role playing game, Everquest is host of many people being addicted to its game. A man commited suicide at the age of 21 as his mother revealed concerns that “He couldn’t stay off it” and “You can’t just get up and walk away”. She guessed that her son had a rejection or betrayal in the game to make him so upset, trying to talk to him she felt like she made it worse by making comments like “they’re not real people”. Since her sons death the mother connected to hundreds of other people who are addicted to playing Everquest, considering sueing sony, the CEO John Smedly one of the creaters of Everquest states that it is not the games fault but the players becoming addicted even though it is just a game.

GAMING ADDICTION OFFICIAL TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R78qM-L4lg&feature=youtu.be

Seek Help If You Have Gaming Addiction

Gaming Addiction Is A Real Problem

Gaming addiction is a real problem, it is considered one of the fasted growing addictions as it is simple to access and has a become more accepted into society. Because of this many people have started or already have lost control of themselves to gaming addiction. In modern society it is not uncommon to have a few or more friends who enjoy gaming as their main source of entertainment but a growing number devolve into it being their main source in life. As demonstrated by the IRL series on this blog, people have gone to extreme lengths to maintain their gaming habits, to a point where reality becomes more of an illusion to them. Particularly in Asian countries such as China and South Korea, children and adults are rising in gaming addiction levels, but even around the world it is also.

In the end we can only say that you have gaming addiction know that it can turn bad. However no matter how terrible gaming addiction can get it can be overcome. Websites and help groups are there to help.

Help: http://www.video-game-addiction.org/

The symptoms of Game addiction

The symptoms of Game addiction

Symptoms of game addiction
There are both physical and emotional symptoms causes by game addiction










emotional symptoms include restlessness when unable to play, avoiding family and friends to play games, Always occupied with gaming activity when doing unrelated things.









Physical symptoms include fatigue, migraines, poor personal hygiene and syndromes caused from the over use of gaming necessities such as the mouse or keyboard/controller.

Gaming addiction is just like any other addiction as it has short-term and long term effects. Short term effects include hunger, fatigue which can eventually lead to long-term affects such as sleeping disorders, change in sleeping patterns and complete change of diet leading to serious health issues.

There are medication that can be giving to help with gaming addiction. The main medication used has been bupropion to treat this disorder. This type of medication changes the brain chemistry to reduce cravings for gaming similar to a nicotine patch. This has proven to be effective to game addict patients however there can be side effects.

If you experience any of these symptoms there are helplines that can assist you. This can be found from previous posts.




-Anthony
Article: http://www.psychguides.com/guides/video-game-addiction-symptoms-causes-and-effects/

The causes of game addicton #2

Gaming Addiction #2

Even though it is not recognized by the American Medical association as a diagnosable disorder, Gaming addiction can be very real for many people. According to the University of New Mexico, recent studies suggest 6 out of 15 gamers show signs of addiction. There are different effects and symptoms for different people.
Are there different types of video game addictions?
There are two major types of videos games therefore creating two major types of game addictions. Standard video games are designed to be played by a single player and have a story mode with mission. Addiction is created through the completion of the challenging missions or to create a high or higher score.
The other type of video game addiction is associated with online multiplayer games. These games are played online with other people and are especially addictive because they generally have no ending. Gamers with this type of addiction enjoy creating and temporarily becoming an online character. They often build relationships with other online players as an escape from reality. For some, this community may be the place where they feel they’re the most accepted.
What causes an addiction to video games?
There are many different causes for addiction to video games. The main reason is purely because they are designed to be that way. Video game developers, like anyone is trying to earn money and profit so to make their game spread around is to get players addicted to it. They create the game to be challenging enough to be fun but not too challenging to make the player quit. Games are made to make players feel like they can achieve more and more but usually just out of reach. This shows that gaming addiction is very similar to a more widely recognized disorder of gaming addiction.

-Anthony

Gaming Addictions in Real Life #6

Gaming Addiction in Real Life #6

Gaming addiction has been proven to be lethal over countless times, many of those times result in suicide. For example a suicide of a young 13 year old Chinese boy in Tianjin, China was troubling to many people as a young boy was lead to take his own life. The boy threw himself off a twenty-four story building, leaving notes of his addiction and his hopes meeting his gaming friends in his afterlife. He was found starving after two days and night in a computer café as he was binging on his favrioute game. The boy realised that he had been addicted and could no longer control himself this lead to his decision to take his life.

-Henry
Article: http://www.play.tm/news/5928/chinese-suicide-shows-addiction-dangers/

Gaming Addictions in Real Life #5

Gaming Addiction IRL #5

A family couple was recently faced with a lawsuit as they left their baby to starve to death just to raise and online virtual child. The parents engaged in 12 hr sessions on the online fantasy game, Prius online. As internet gaming is becoming massive around the world internet cafes became very popular as places such as South Korea offering ultra-high speed internet connections. This is not a surprise as many teenagers are at risk of becoming addicted to gaming, as many friends can join in together and meet new people since they share a common psychological space.


-Henry
Article: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/28/south.korea.virtual.baby/

Prevention and correction on the global scale

Prevention and Correction of Gaming

To combat the growing addiction to gaming many governments have began seeking ways to prevent or avert addiction from either occurring or spreading. The countries and their contemporary solutions are as listed:

• China- Programs to rehabilitate addicted victims. The government forces the attendance of those seeking rehabilitation. 

• United States: - Computer gaming addicts anonymous formed online, which include a 12 step program and daily meetings.

• United States – reSTART: resident treatment centre for “pathological computer use” established in Washington. 

• United States- Gaming Addiction (company name) established

• Canada – Computer addiction services show that 80% of addictions are categorized as “gaming addictions”

• Australia: Video Game Addiction Treatment Clinic (www.videogameaddictiontreatment.com.au) established

• Korea: Age limitations and government intervention

Straying from the actions of government, game providers and gaming hardware providers are now taking preventative and correction warnings with their products. The Nintendo Wii has been laden with on screen warnings to remind gamers to regularly take a break, and go outside. Games, like the Battlefield series, now include warnings regarding inappropriate lighting, posture and taking breaks from gaming sessions.

These are methods, attempting to secure the future of society as normal human beings without the fear of at least one type of addiction. 

-Luke

Gaming Addiction in Real Life #4

Gaming Addiction in Real Life #4

In 2014, a couple in Anaheim, US was jailed by authorities for two felony counts of child abuse, two misdemeanor counts of false imprisonment, one misdemeanor count of contributing to delinquency of a minor, and sentencing enhancements for great bodily injury. This comes after the two failed to properly take care of their two young daughters. Their addiction to the video game World of Warcraft had caused them to  neglect the needs of the children, as the mobile park home they inhabited was considered to be both unsanitary and uninhabitable. The home was found with little nessesities for basic living standards, with food either scarce or spoilt.

The two girls ages 10 and 5, were unable to leave their home for any reason. The children were found in a state in which "dirt crusted on their feet, matted hair, damaged teeth beyond repair, and malnourished".

The two parents have now been sentenced to prison, with 5 years for the husband and three years and four months for the wife.

This is just another reason why gaming addiction, may cause harm to others.


-Alex

Article: http://ktla.com/2014/08/12/couple-obsessed-with-world-of-warcraft-sentenced-to-prison-for-child-neglect/

Harmful Effects From Gaming Addiction

Negative Effects of Gaming Addiction

As many people can acknowledge, gaming addiction can effect people in certain aspects. In this case I am looking towards the negative in this part.

The first negative impact of video games is the influence it can have on people, especially younger generations. Many video games nowadays tend to suit a more mature audience, as many hardcore gamers with money are reaching a age where it has become more suitable for them. However many do not take into account the easy accessibility for children to gain violent games. At young ages children are more likely to be influence than any other demographic, so when violence and destruction become part of their addiction it can cause some issues. From being raised in an era of violence, children find more joy in violent acts, an unceasing idea.


Isolation is also a major concern for video addicts. Many video games have elements of either single or multi-player campaigns. These games may be played alone or cooperatively. However these does not translate well to actual social skills. Games are sources of entertainment that limit peoples communication with each other. Gaming addiction makes it worse as time in other activities such as doing homework, reading, sports, and interacting with the family and friends declines the more a person is addicted.


Values can be complex or misleading. In some games moral and righteousness are explored others violence and questionable choices. Different video games give this. Because of this values become very difficult to comprehend as the mind overloads in what to think what is right, what is wrong and what is needed to be done.
In some cases, gamers can also have issues in maintaining the right perspective of what is reality and what is fantasy. This is rare and often is only due to an individual having a pre-existing mental disorder, but can possibly cause harm to others.

Finally the last big negativity in gaming. The community. In most cases a gaming community may help a person become better at a game, with better strategies, items or codes to support the games experience. But in a rapidly rising rate, many people have gain a bullying type persona, in other words 'trolls' or 'ragers'. These people have no knowledge of support the experience of a community but rather degrades it with negative comments and attitudes causing real emotional and mental stress to others. Gaming communities such as this always have people such as this, and have ruined and hurt many people.

-Alex
Article: http://www.raisesmartkid.com/3-to-6-years-old/4-articles/34-the-good-and-bad-effects-of-video-games

Gaming Addiction in Real Life #3

Gaming Addiction in Real Life #3

Lets take a lighter tone on IRL gaming. Gaming addiction can lead to many striving to be the best or become a legend in their community. This is one example, "Man breaks record for longest gaming session, clocks 135 hours". One man on a gaming mission, attempted and accomplished an astounding record of 135 hours played straight. This means little to no sleep, minimal food, restricted toilet times and so many other limitations. In the end while recorded and watched this man was able to play Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 for the worlds longest gaming session. 

The man Kaya, a Sydney sales manager, "playing the game on Tuesday 13 November at the office of his employer 4Cabling. Since then he's been battling to beat the world record established by a Canadian duo in March 2012". Addiction may be a bad habit, but in this case its both a bad habit and an accomplishment.

Article: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-11/19/videogame-marathon