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My Life As An Online Gamer

Posted by Zonk on from the sexless-virtuality dept.

The BBC is running a story featuring several interviews with hard-core online gamers. The article is in response to China's time limit restriction it plans to put into effect for MMOGs. From a very confused man interviewed in the article: " I think I am addicted. I've got to the stage where I feel that without gaming, I have nothing interesting to do. On weekdays, I game for about five to seven hours a day and in the weekends I will spend 15 hours a day gaming online. I once spent 48 hours in one go at a game. It's crazy, I know. I was at university then and full of energy. "

1 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. Avatars Offline by Satorian · · Score: 4, Informative
    There is an interesting documentary called Avatars Offline which mainly deals with Everquest but applies to all MMORPGs, where they let developers, gamers and psychologists talk about the games and it's quite interesting. Chances are that if you've been interested in MMORPGs and are still wondering about trying one you don't want to anymore after watching this.

    I know, basically every enjoyable activity (with a slight twist of mind even every non-enjoyable one) can be addictive. But there are some modificators to apply for MMORPGS:

    1. The +1 Syndrome (aka carrot-on-a-stick)
     There is always an desirable item, either in game or social terms, about to be gained by you if you just invest 'a couple of minutes'. Over and over again. And the hunters and gatherers in us love accumulating anything of value, perceived or real.

    2. Teamwork
     There was a story once, I think even on Slashdot, about the brain and some glands releasing neurotransmitters similar in structure to cocaine, which can be quite physically addictive. Hence the cooperative PvE game is so popular and the lovely term 'Evercrack' isn't too far off.

    3. Freedom of aesthetics and personality
     The distraction from personal deficits and choice of visual appeal and, within limits, personality. Only few of us are really self-confident in all aspects or ignorant or arrogant enough to not care about our deficits. Online worlds are a welcome escape. And the more immersive they are, the better the escape they provide.

    4. Community
     People having a hard time communicating and bonding in RL can take advatage of 3. and built some kind of bond online, which as substitutes for a difficult and/or flawed real life can become subjectively important to the playing person, driving them to spend even more time online. There are other factors playing into it, but I think these are among the most important ones.