Anyone else feeling addicted?

[gamecracker]

Hey there. I've been reading up on addiction in gaming and find that the information is really credible. I'm wondering if other people find the draw to gaming problematic? I've heard the argument on the pros of gaming but I'm finding them dubious other than that they provide an all consuming and exciting/adrenaline filled distraction. I don't think they are making my social skills better. And while my cognitive skills are given a workout on some level it's not even close to the workout of a good book or a creative activity.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm having a huge group over this weekend for a LAN party. I'm 36 and and I aspire to be more than just a temporaryly employed office worker. I act and write but find that the gaming saps my creative energy and behaves exactly like other addictions I've had first hand exposure to.

So my question is, are other people experiencing this? I'm simply curious how other people are balancing things out (if they are) or if there are other avid gamers out there who have that sneaky feeling that they too could be doing more?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[Freakaloin]

fuck u...

[Don Carlos]

games rock
If you want to stimulte your mind, read a book.

[Kn0wFuRy]

Hey there. I've been reading up on addiction in gaming and find that the information is really credible. I'm wondering if other people find the draw to gaming problematic? I've heard the argument on the pros of gaming but I'm finding them dubious other than that they provide an all consuming and exciting/adrenaline filled distraction. I don't think they are making my social skills better. And while my cognitive skills are given a workout on some level it's not even close to the workout of a good book or a creative activity.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm having a huge group over this weekend for a LAN party. I'm 36 and and I aspire to be more than just a temporaryly employed office worker. I act and write but find that the gaming saps my creative energy and behaves exactly like other addictions I've had first hand exposure to.

So my question is, are other people experiencing this? I'm simply curious how other people are balancing things out (if they are) or if there are other avid gamers out there who have that sneaky feeling that they too could be doing more?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

This is a really fascinating thing.

Most people on this forum will blow off what you have to say or be rude but there are a few of us who actually think.

I have to be the first to admit that for the past 5-6 years I have suffered from a really severe computer addiction. Not lately---reality has stepped in. But I will live with the consequences of it for years, if not always.

Thanks for the link to the interesting site--I have often wondered if anyone was doing a study on this.

:icon15: :icon14:

[4days]

*bump*

no, i don't feel addicted - but every now and again a new game comes out or i rediscover an old one, then have to force myself to stop playing it and get on with stuff.

the 'urban terror' mod for q3 was the worst, played that religiously for ages - to the point where my mates were taking the piss out of me for it. there were times when i'd skip work or sleep or going out for beers just so that i could carry on playing.

come to think of it, i didn't stop playing urban terror because it was affecting my life. i stopped because the game become shitter with every update and the community was overrun with war-crazed post-9/11 assholes. otherwise i might still be playing it

http://www.computeraddiction.com/

[glossy]

there's nothing better than sitting down in front of a good video game, cigarette in mouth with a hard drink nearby.

addicted? no...

[MKJ]

games rock
If you want to stimulte your mind, read a book.

or play more intelligent games than quake

starcraft has an extensive backstory, which is just fun to read and see all the details of it 'hidden' in the game

silent hill is -very- psychological, lots of fun

civilization is just educational, if you take time to read the civilopedia from time to time.

fun

[Doombrain]

reefsurfer

[Denz]

Yes, I'm addicted to gaming and I'm proud of it.

[saturn]

I was addicted to q3 for 2-3 years. That will never happen again since id will never create such a brilliant MP game again (and I won't have the time anyway)

[Denz]

I'm hoping Q4 will be just as good,,,, doubt it but I can hope.

[seremtan]

I can't stand playing anything for more than 1/2 hour at a time any more, which is why I gave up on RTS games (too easy to lose track of time) and now restrict myself to short bursts of UT2K4 or occasionally Q3 or SP save games from bits I like most. Too much gaming can suck out your brains. I hardly ever watch TV any more either, for the same reason. Oh, that and 99.99% of UK TV is TEH SUXXX.

[Dr_Watson]

i used to have a bad habit of playing games way too late at night, to the point of having to force myself to goto sleep... then suffer the consequences of being run down all the next day or risk sleeping through my alarm.
but speaking from the experience of someone who's had a legitimate pain killer addiction, and current smoking addiction... i can't say that i could believe gaming to be an actual addiction, except in really rare cases.
anything i've experienced from a lifetime of games is the occasional over-indulgence... i've never had a *need* to play a game... there is no long-term hunger for playing games, as there is for any other addictive substance.
gaming is like binge drinking... occasionally you go on a bender that can have reporcussions on the rest of your life... but it doesn't make you an alcoholic.

/2c