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.
Showing posts with label Cause. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cause. Show all posts
Wednesday, 27 May 2015
Monday, 25 May 2015
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.
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
Thursday, 21 May 2015
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/
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/
Monday, 18 May 2015
Gaming and Media
Gaming and Media
Games are well known as a primary source of entertainment. This is clear. But what has also been emerging as a branch of gaming, are gaming personalities. These personalities are online gamers who stream their content onto youtube or twitch for entertainment. In its basic form, the videos uploaded are video games played by people in entertaining or interesting ways. And I know what your thinking, why would people watch other people play video games instead of playing them themselves. Well, its because it brings a new level of entertainment into the mix. By playing the game and adding personality and a unique perspective to the game, younger audiences are encapsulated by the wacky yet fun videos.
Its a simple idea that has exploded into a wide phenomenon. Youtube has been overrun by gaming content with from a humongous library of being played and uploaded faster than any other content. This form of entertainment has only started around 5-6 years ago but now dominates the online entertainment. And I'm sure that you and most other people have notices. As of this year more than 30% of the top 100 Youtube channels are gaming related and even the most subscribed channel with over 30 million followers, stands on top at number one. Now if you have every been on Youtube, you know who this Swedish man is. Pewdiepie. A average man, who has spread the ideology that gaming is fun and can be shown in funny ways.-Alex
Mobile Games
The Easy Access of Games: Mobile Games
The availability of
games has been a major cause of the addiction to gaming. This is due to the
ideology of having a source of entertainment where ever, whenever you go. But
how is this possible. The answer to that is simple. Mobile games. The market
for mobile games is on the rise.
Mobile game have spread into society like a plague, as people from all generations, all cultures and nationalities begin to shift towards new technology (in this case smart phones). Smart phones now days have almost become a necessity in day to day life. Smart phones have become an addiction of their own. With this addiction hides another. No one can deny that, no matter how much we don't want to having been addicted to a certain mobile game at some point. Whether it be Candy Crush, Angry Birds, Flappy Birds or Clash of Clans, we have all at some point had become obsessed. But why? That answer is simple. Because it's easy too. With mobile games the ideology of gaming has completely changed. Instead having to go home to play on a console, people can just open an app on their phones where ever they are. The limitation of "place" disappears. Games also are place in the open sort of way, where the market can be limitless. Mums, dads, children. No matter who you or they or we are, as long as a smart phone is available we can access it.
Games also require less
to satisfy people. Most mobile games relinquish the need for deep story or
innovative game play. This is obvious. However instead they oversimplify their
games mechanics. And do you know what, we love it! Though this simplicity no one
can feel alienated. No need to bring though or skill but mindless fun or time wasting.
This is the formula of modern day mobile games. Easy game =fun=addiction=money.
The expense is also taken away and then brought right back. It is easy to see why people are so keen on mobile games, as it is clear the wallet has a mind of its own. Mobile games first appear to be free but hidden beneath hides every businesses intentions. Money. Free to play games are common on smart phone, with extra charges only added with additional "content" or "continues". These are cheap ways to make money but addiction to these games have made millions. For example King the developers of the internationally recognised game Candy Crush have made over $1.5 billion in revenue. The not so child friendly animation, has also shown this in their episode Freemium Gaming, parodying the nature of gaming addiction and mobile games.
Simple, fun and addictive. The motto of every
Mobile game have spread into society like a plague, as people from all generations, all cultures and nationalities begin to shift towards new technology (in this case smart phones). Smart phones now days have almost become a necessity in day to day life. Smart phones have become an addiction of their own. With this addiction hides another. No one can deny that, no matter how much we don't want to having been addicted to a certain mobile game at some point. Whether it be Candy Crush, Angry Birds, Flappy Birds or Clash of Clans, we have all at some point had become obsessed. But why? That answer is simple. Because it's easy too. With mobile games the ideology of gaming has completely changed. Instead having to go home to play on a console, people can just open an app on their phones where ever they are. The limitation of "place" disappears. Games also are place in the open sort of way, where the market can be limitless. Mums, dads, children. No matter who you or they or we are, as long as a smart phone is available we can access it.
Games also require less
to satisfy people. Most mobile games relinquish the need for deep story or
innovative game play. This is obvious. However instead they oversimplify their
games mechanics. And do you know what, we love it! Though this simplicity no one
can feel alienated. No need to bring though or skill but mindless fun or time wasting.
This is the formula of modern day mobile games. Easy game =fun=addiction=money.
The expense is also taken away and then brought right back. It is easy to see why people are so keen on mobile games, as it is clear the wallet has a mind of its own. Mobile games first appear to be free but hidden beneath hides every businesses intentions. Money. Free to play games are common on smart phone, with extra charges only added with additional "content" or "continues". These are cheap ways to make money but addiction to these games have made millions. For example King the developers of the internationally recognised game Candy Crush have made over $1.5 billion in revenue. The not so child friendly animation, has also shown this in their episode Freemium Gaming, parodying the nature of gaming addiction and mobile games.
Simple, fun and addictive. The motto of every
-Alex
Scientific Reasons
Science and Gaming
Research has shown that distinct areas of the brains sub-regions are connected to attentional and sensorimotor networks. Evidence based on Action Video Games (AVG's) facilitates attentional and sensorimotor functions, one study examined the relation between AVG experience and the plasticity of subregions and the functional networks that are related to attentional and sensorimotor functions.AVG playing requires a high level of attention and hand-eye coordination as research has shown that experienced AVG players have better attentional and sensorimotor functions than amateurs. For example, compared to amateurs, AVG experts exhibited improved selective attention on tasks of flanker compatibility, enumeration, useful field of view, and attentional blink; furthermore. Furthermore, AVG playing enhanced the spatial distribution of attention and attentional capture, cognitive control and emotional regulation.
Image is significant to article 2
Article: http://media.utoronto.ca/media-releases/university-of-toronto-study-finds-action-video-games-bolster-sensorimotor-skills/
http://www.nature.com/srep/2015/150402/srep09763/full/srep09763.html
-Henry
Saturday, 16 May 2015
Competitiveness of Gaming
Competitiveness
The game I currently and only play is dota 2. This is a game on steam developed by valve, probably every gamer has heard about this company. The reason I decided to mention this particular game is because it currently holds yearly international tournaments called "The International" (TI) which also holds the records for the biggest prize pool in esport history. Total prize pool of TI 2014 was over $10 million US with the team placed at first place winning around $5mil.
With each year, The International increases its prize pool by a significant amount which puts a huge affect on Dota 2 professionals and normal players. Most players play for fun but a minority who has the skill to go pro has its eyes set on the prize of $5mil. With esports like dota 2 growing so large it can and will cause some sort of gaming addiction due to players training up to 12 hours a day just to improve their skills to be able to compete at the international. This also entices normal players who think they have skill to pursue the goal to win "TI". As games grow in modern society it will attract all different types of gamers to play more and dropping their studies as it mainly focuses on 16-25 year old. Soon this will be acceptable in society and will cause major gaming addictions.
This is an example of what the gaming industry is becoming. A community. It demonstrates the evolution and possibility of gamers, whom are dedicated to their games. It also shows how this dedication can turn into a frenzy and drive people. As we can see, a competitiveness in the gaming industry has also amplified the attractiveness of gaming addiction. It provides a community that embraces them.
Article: http://www.pcgamer.com/dota-2s-compendium-raises-10-million-for-the-international-prize-pool/
-Anthony
Wednesday, 13 May 2015
The cause of Gaming Addiction
The Cause of Gaming Addiction
It is clear that with the rise in gaming culture in society many people have found some trouble limiting their usage of games, to a point were they show symptoms of addiction. Gaming addiction. But why does this occur?
Gaming addiction can be simply explained as the
uncontrollable need and want to amerce ones self in games. This can be shown in
a singular cause. Dopamine. Dopamine is
described as a chemical that is released by the mind when feeling joy,
pleasure, or excitement. This chemical release can allow people to feel these
feelings with tasks that people either physically or mentally enjoy. Gaming is
no exception of this as people truly emit happiness and other emotions when
playing video games. This is obvious. However, dopamine is a chemical most people
crave without knowing it, as to satisfy the need they must continue with acts
that may rise dopamine levels. These acts have been commonly been seen through
alcohol, sex, gambling and games. By constantly increasing these actions either
by themselves or together, a common pattern is formed to preserve the need for “happiness”,
this pattern then forms itself into daily habits till it becomes an addiction.
Gaming is particularly one large source for dopamine release, as it offers fast and easy options for the public. What this means is that in life dopamine releases are harder to obtain as sex, physical activities (like scoring a goal) or solving challenging problems are significantly harder to obtain. Thus gaming is introduced. Gaming provides a straight forward route to joy. Experiences such as gaining levels, socialising with online communities or receiving rare items have shown to have similar levels of happiness to real life activities. Because of this a reclusive nature has appeared in society, particularly in the younger generations. Gaming has become an addiction. As the news article "Online gaming addiction simliar to alcoholism, gaming industry should pay for treatment", states gaming has become a rival to do these issues.Clearly, the idea of gaming addiction is derived from the need to satisfy ones self. To do this people must gain a release of dopamine from what they find the most pleasurable. In the case of modern society, its gaming.
Article:
http://www.news.com.au/technology/home-entertainment/online-gaming-addiction-simliar-to-alcoholism-gaming-industry-should-pay-for-treatment-says-new-s-korea-proposal/story-e6frfrt9-1226781124458
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