A Shot of XP: A Look Into Videogame Addiction
- Dean Willms
- Dec 4, 2019
- 7 min read
When you hear a person is “addicted” to a game, we tend to think that person just really likes that particular game. A lot of people never actually make the connection that a person can actually be addicted to videogames and are unaware of all the negative symptoms that arise from this obsessive habit. Videogame addiction has been a topic of study since the first arcade cabinet was released to the public in the 70’s, but has only recently been recognized as a serious, real-life condition in the medical community. So, what does videogame addiction look like? Is it really just an exaggerated term to describe someone who play games a little too much or is it ailment that can cripple lives?
What is a “Videogame Addiction?”
People who are classified as videogame addicts are those who feel a compulsive need or desire to play games all the time. This obsession with games can cause people to develop unhealthy habits such as, severe weight gain, a lack of social interaction developing antisocial behavior, health problems such as diabetes, along with a complete disconnect with friends, family, and other loved ones. This addiction can even be the cause of death, due to malnutrition and heart problems such as strokes and heart attacks through relentlessly hours of gaming for nights on end.
Being addicted to videogames is not anything unlike being addicted to anything else. Videogames set off a bunch of dopamine, which are the pleasure receptors in the brain that makes us feel great whenever we accomplish something or experience pleasure. When we get mass amounts of dopamine we tend to chase after that feeling because, naturally, we want to feel good all the time.
Playing a game makes you feel powerful because you do things in a game that you can’t replicate in real life. It constantly feeds excitement and pleasure to the brain. Videogame addicts spend countless hours in front of their computer screen to continue to get this high they get from playing in a virtual world.
How Does Someone Become a Videogame Addict?
Videogames are one of the most engaging forms of entertainment out there because it constantly draws our attention and it’s the only media outlet that really makes you feel immersed in a new world. Many people use games as a coping mechanism to deal with stress and anxiety or as an escape from the problems going on in their life. While, playing games to relax and wind down isn’t bad, it’s when people constantly use games as an escape where it starts to become a serious problem.
In the gaming world, players have a lot of freedom of choice to develop themselves in their game character or avatar, especially in role playing games.Many games have the option for players to create their own character, from their aesthetic looks to their playing style, players have full freedom when it comes to developing their character and how they interact with the world their based in.
This mass amount control drastically juxtaposes the realities in life. In the real world, the amount of freedom of choice and opportunities presented to you are far less than what you can find in the virtual world. You can’t slay orcs or fly around in an open world like you can in a game. People who suffer through depression, abusive parents, and a deprived social life and lack of fulfillment in their lives feel bound down by these obstructive limitations that life has put on them.
However, in the virtual world of games the only limitation is code and code can be approached, interpreted, and even manipulated in countless ways. There’s really no limitations when comes down to a player and the game (At least nothing that will weigh them down as life typically does), so people run to games to find solace, excitement, and even meaning all through their virtual avatar and the fictional world that they control they view through the window of their computer screen.
With this second life that is so much better than the real life they currently live, it’s no wonder they spend every waking hour being consumed by games in their bedrooms with their hands tightly wound around their controller.
This obsession of living out this virtual world can become so real to people who suffer from this addiction that they treat in-game accomplishments as more important than real-life milestones. Some people will be more excited being one of the top speedrunners in a game than graduating high school. Others will view completing quests and leveling up their character more important than their responsibilities at work or spending time with their family, leading them to getting fired or become completely estranged from their loved ones.
They view the game as their top priority and source of fulfillment more than anything else in the world. It’s when players can’t distinguish a task completed in a videogame to a real-life accomplishment, where videogame addiction really starts to take hold.
Its gets to the point where the only pleasure or excitement that people can find are in the games that they play because regular life just doesn’t do it for them anymore. It’s like taking heroin, except instead of drugs, videogame addicts inject characters, worlds, and xp into their system. And just like drugs or alcohol, there’s a tolerance level for everyone. In order to feel that same fire, people have to play more games for longer periods of time, until games inevitably become a life support system for them.
How to Know if You or Someone Else has a
Videogame Addiction?
With videogames becoming more and more commonplace in households and the rise of gaming-related professions, such game streamers and YouTubers, it can sometimes be hard to tell who has a problem and who just likes to play games. Well with all types of addictions, there's a few symptoms that are apparent in videogame addicts that can serve as red flags towards a serious problem.
Excessive time playing games (over 20 - 30 hours a week).
Unhealthy eating habits such as, aggressive weight gain and consumption of excessive junk food or energy drinks.
A lack of social interaction outside of talking to online players in games.
Becoming depressed or angry during periods when you’re not playing
Other aspects of your life begin to suffer because of your gaming such as, work, social, and family life.
Continuing to play despite realizing the problems that come from it.
How to Treat Videogame Addiction
If you or someone else has a videogame addiction or want to curb your playing time to avoid being seriously addicted, there are a few practical steps you can take to keep yourself in check.
Seek Counseling: Just like any addiction out there, if you feel like your life is being completely consumed by videogames you should seek a professional therapist or counselor to help. You should never underestimate or feel ashamed for seeking professional help. It’s the first step to acknowledging you have a problem. IT’s often the hardest step, but you’ll be making a ton of progress towards recovery by just seeking help.
Limit your playtime: Set yourself limits and boundaries for the amount of time your allowed to play videogames. For instance, you can force yourself to play only an hour or two a day or however much you feel is necessary. If you’re having a hard time committing yourself to this, don’t be afraid to ask for a friend or loved one’s help. Many game systems nowadays have parenting controls you can access to limit the systems availability of play for certain amounts of time. Have someone you trust be the administrator for the parent controls on your dedicated system. That way your system will automatically restrict your gameplay, forcing you to step away.
Pursue other Hobbies or Interest in Life: With this extra time, devote yourself to focusing on new, more life-giving activities. Take up learning a new skill like drawing or playing the guitar. Go outside and take a walk to get some exercise and be active. Spend more time with your friends and family or go out and meet some new people to feed your social interaction. Commit yourself to other fulfilling activities and games will seem far less important and make withdrawal periods easier.
Are Games a Bad Thing?
A couple weeks ago, I wrote a blog post talking about all the positive benefits you can get when you regularly play games and I still stand by what I said. However, just like a lot of good things in life, too much of a good thing can turn into a bad habit. Whether you’re trying to recover from a videogame addiction or just cut down on compulsive gaming, one thing I want to stress is that games are not a bad thing.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love games. I love playing them. Learning about them. I even went to school to study them and I can affirm the great benefits and potential games have in our day to day lives. But, as I mentioned before, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing and for some that good thing is videogames. Other times it’s drinking, social media, or even religion. Everyone has their own set or problems and vices that they contend with.
Some people might make the connection that videogames causes addictions in people and should be avoided because people tend to make black and white conclusions like that. But really, a game is just code on a screen and doesn’t force anybody to shift their priorities or adopt bad habits in their life. Moderation is the key to avoiding all types of addictions, videogames or otherwise.
Someone who is a videogame addict might just need help limiting their time. In other cases, they have to completely cut themselves off from games all together for good. It’s different for everyone. It can be a hobby or an addiction, but it all depends on the person and how they use it.
Check out this video below that explores the first hand experiences of past videogame addicts to learn more.
Have you or anyone else you know suffered through videogame addiction before? What are your thoughts? Comment below and I look forward to seeing you next time!
Dean Willms
Gamer. Designer. Friend
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