Gaming Addiction: Fact or Fiction?

An innocent Google search led me to a surprising (and worrying) discovery this week. If you do a search for ‘addiction’, the second result (ranking above the definition of substance dependence and even the NHS help pages on the physical and psychological disorder) is the Wikipedia entry for ‘video game addiction.’ Now, there are a lot of complex algorithms involved in calculating search result listings on Google which I won’t even pretend to understand, but I think we can safely assume that this placement of video game addiction so highly on the list can at least be attributed in part to the recent media circus and subsequent social paranoia on this rather murky subject.

It’s a touchy topic and one that is becoming increasingly featured in mainstream media. Many somewhat ill-informed and ill-researched newspaper articles and TV programmes have emerged that would have us all believe that we should unplug our consoles immediately and chuck them out the nearest window lest our fragile minds be irrevocably warped. The fact that this subject is broached more than any other in relation to gaming is giving the industry (and gamers) something of a bad rep out there in the big bad world. But is it all conjecture? Can people truly become ‘addicted’ to videogames? Are they potentially dangerous to our children? When does a harmless hobby turn into a harmful obsession? Will I ever stop asking questions?

Personally, I don’t think this is a black and white issue and I certainly don’t think it’s as simple as a few sensationalist journalists would have us believe. It’s undeniably true there are people out there who allow their love of games to infringe on their real-life responsibilities and activities and this is where having some fun and experiencing a bit of escapism turns into something much darker. But calling this a symptom of ‘videogame addiction’ infuriates me. It just seems too easy; absolving the so-called addicts (and indeed their parents) of any responsibility or blame. ‘Little Timmy’s addicted to those games; he can’t help himself; there’s nothing I can do.’ It calls to mind those people who eat McDonald’s every day for a year and then accuse the fast food chain of making them fat. Nobody forced you to return day after day; you made a conscious decision and now must live with the consequences.

Of course a child, if left unsupervised and given half the chance, will play on their console until late into the night. It’s up to parents to enforce sensible boundaries and encourage children to take a healthy approach to their leisure time, same as they should coach their children in making the right choices when it comes to food or their education or their safety. It comes down to common sense. In a way, everything is potentially ‘addictive’ – certain people can get obsessed by the simplest or the most bizarre things, from chocolate to Chihuahuas. We should be aware that for a very small number of us, unhealthy gaming habits are a genuine concern and a legitimate problem. But isn’t it possible that, should videogames never have existed, these people would have found something else to get carried away with? Is it really the game’s fault? A thousand other people could play the same game and never have the same reaction.

It’s a difficult question to concisely answer; I just wish the mainstream media would keep things in perspective. Without sounding like a brat, why should a small minority spoil the fun for the rest of us responsible gamers? We’re not all glued to our PCs and consoles 24/7. We have differing interests and other activities we enjoy in our free time. Would it be so hard, in between telling us all we’re easily led and potentially imbalanced, to report on the upsides of gaming once in a while? The increasing and encouraging social aspects? The potential for educational games? The compelling stories? The good, clean fun?

And sure, maybe I’m biased;  I work with games after all and my love for them is no secret,  I’ve been a gamer (almost) all my life. But I know plenty of people who dedicate many hours a week to gaming and I would not class a single one of them as an ‘addict.’

What about you guys? Am I right? Wrong? Do you have any stories of ‘addicted’ gamers? Tell me your thoughts! Take this to the Ginx forums or Facebook page and let’s get the conversation going.

Phew, that was a rather heavy topic this week. More fun and frolics next time, promise ;)