When virtual worlds stop being fun
The UK's Sun newspaper carried a nasty little news story this week. According to the tabloid, a couple addicted to playing an online computer game let their real-life baby starve to death, because they got so engrossed in their virtual world that they ignored the real one. The dark irony? Their task in the online world was to raise a virtual, digital daughter.
According to reports, the parents failed to feed the child for long periods of time while they remained glued to the online game, called PRIUS. This isn't the first time that addiction to online gaming has created real-life problems, although it is perhaps one of the most tragic that I have heard about. A quick search online reveals complaints from wives whose husbands are addicted to computer games, and spend all day in front of the screen, meaning that they don't talk to each other, and spend time together, the way a couple should do.
The problem has been going on for years. Reports emerged as far back as 2002 of people who neglect their children and marriages, along with college classes, because they are engrossed in massively multiplayer online games.
It turns out that, according to some, online gaming can be as addictive an activity as smoking, drinking, or drug use. Associations have sprung up offering help to people who consider themselves addicted to online gaming.
When you think about it, the danger of being addicted to a virtual world makes perfect sense. Addiction generally happens when someone uses something as an escape from their real-life responsibilities and concerns. For decades, that generally involved getting loaded on your substance or liquor of choice. Now, thanks to the advent of new technologies, it could involve simply loading up a virtual world that you can disappear in, forgetting who you are for periods of time.
Personally, I never really saw the attraction of intricate online games, and it's not for want of trying. I've spent some time in Second Life, and played around with World of Warcraft, and Eve Online. Perhaps as I near my forties, it's just my age, but I much prefer a good book or an episode of Coronation Street to an intensive session of game playing. But, for many, online gaming is an enjoyable activity.
Where do you draw the line with online gaming? At what point do you consider yourself an addict, and when should you begin remediating what could be an unhealthy obsession with a world that exists only on a spinning hard drive somewhere?
Danny Bradbury, MSN Tech & Gadgets
Comments
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Posted by: Corey | Mar 6, 2010 12:48:24 AM
I play online games all the time, but im not addicted. usually is just a fun way to kill some time. Sure they can get addicting every now and again but ultimately for me friends/school/work come first. If somebody invites me to go do something im gonna drop the game, regardless of what may be happening in it, and go out.
Posted by: Tristam | Mar 10, 2010 4:09:46 PM
Tell me about it!!! In 2002 my son asked to subscribe to Acheron's Call an on-line rpg. I acquiest. A few days later he said Dad you have to try this. Within a few weeks I could not wait to get home everyday to play. I was remembering things and 'people' in the game just as if they were real (they were). A little over a month later I got home one Friday afternoon and started playing with a group I knew. A'while' later my daughter said "Dad, it's 2 in the morning you should go to bed." I said "Don't worry, I'll sleep in tomorrow." Then she said "Dad, it's 2 o'clock MONDAY morning!!!" The next day I came home and erased my character and cancelled the subscription. And I have never even come close to being addicted to ANYTHING in my life
Posted by: Dion | Mar 13, 2010 5:31:06 PM
Oh my God. WOW (no pun intended, read on), that's all I have to say. I'm 17, and i started playing World of Warcraft two years ago. For the first few months, I was ADDICTED, leveling my warrior and whatnot. I even put off a few days out with the guys and soccer practice so I can stay in and do my Quests. Once I realized my marks were going down, and my friends were starting to resent me, I immediately quit for a good two or so months. Eventually i got back into Azeroth (the main 'planet' WoW takes place in), but now, EVERYTHING ELSE COMES FIRST. I don't care if I'm about to kill the main boss, or if I'm about to hit level 76, I'm outta there. I now have a 6 month subscription, i barely play.......
Posted by: Danny Bradbury | Mar 14, 2010 4:27:25 AM
Tristam, Dion, good for you! There are so many more fascinating aspects to the real world, without us needing to get sucked too far into virtual ones. I'm glad you nipped it in the bud. Lessons for us all there, I think.