4 ms·

The author's point seems to be that yes, video games are addictive, but there's usually an underlying condition like anxiety or depression. I think the truth i

The author's point seems to be that yes, video games are addictive, but there's usually an underlying condition like anxiety or depression. I think the truth is probably in the middle. Video games, screen, sugar, etc. are all inherently addictive and the addictive nature is probably exacerbated by emotional distress. I spent much of my teenage years playing hours of video games like the author. I think it was a combination of the dopamine rush of winning and seeing my rating go up and a way to suppress feelings of loneliness.

cstrat 8y ago
I was pretty obsessed with video games when I was younger. I'd probably have to admit that to a degree I still am now as an adult. For me I think its because I am a very competitive person. To the point where I am the annoying friend who takes things too far. Online gaming was a way where I could exercise that competitive nature. I was never the best at physical sports but found I was pretty good at online gaming.
LoSboccacc 8y ago
Author is talking about 1980s games. He’s missing an important point: new games are specifically designed to be far more addictive and harder to put down, especially those mobile incrementals. Sure the situation is still faceted as today as back then, but now gaming, gamification and connected gaming loops (when short and long loop overlaps so a game is never in a “completed” state, see game dev from kayrosoft) are far more pervasive. I’m a gamer, I can play long hours and I’m not addicted. But. Those new breed of mobile games scares the hell out of me. I designed some game I played some of those. They are actively addictive not because they are interesting but because they tie into your psicology with boxes keys rewards daily bonuses etc.
- cstrat 8y ago
  Yeah you're spot on about the new games. They are like poker machines.
  - jerkstate 8y ago
    Not really sure if that's new - in the 1980s, you paid for video games 25c at a time.
    - LoSboccacc 8y ago
      Yeah but the hardest they went to get another 25c was the 3 2 1 continue countdown. And you got quarters out of mom pocket, it’s really hard to visualize spending when it comes from your parents credit card.
      - dogma1138 8y ago
        Arcades also had prizes whether it was through tickets or through venue promotion where getting into the top score menu would grant you a prize. Arcades also often held competitions to further push how many people would play games to practice. In fact gaming for a good period of time intentionally swayed off the patterns Arcade Games used to employ to hook you in and keep you playing both due to technical limitation and different design philosophy.
- Nullabillity 8y ago
  > He’s missing an important point: new games are specifically designed to be far more addictive and harder to put down, especially those mobile incrementals. Arcade games were the original microtransactions.
  - rtpg 8y ago
    One thing you didn't have was the rat race involved in many modern multiplayer games. When you want to be competitive and the top people are all playing all the time, you have no choice but to also play all the time. Doubly so when you have some sort of XP/loot system and some notion of resource consumption
    - dogma1138 8y ago
      Arcade games had top scores and even prizes.
      - jexah 8y ago
        This completely misses the point. In arcade games you can take a day off, come back the next day, and be just as likely to be "the best". In modern online mobile games, if you wanna be at the top and you take a day off, you might as well just give up. This is what was being referred to.
        watwut 8y ago
        The primary difference however seem to be that in arcade you competed against dozen local kids most of whom did not cared at all, so it was easy to stay on top and feel like you are best of best. Internet makes you compete against whole world, so there is unlimited supply of people who dedicate their whole life to this particular competition. Necessary, you have to settle for not being best or dedicate whole life too. And if this is your motivation, then anything competitive online will consume you - whether game or fiction writing.
- Swizec 8y ago
  My problem with most new games is that they’re so overgamified that I just get frustrated and stop playing. It’s too obvious and in your face. So I stick to social media where my slot machine is sufficiently unpredictable.

cstrat 8y ago

I was pretty obsessed with video games when I was younger. I'd probably have to admit that to a degree I still am now as an adult. For me I think its because I am a very competitive person. To the point where I am the annoying friend who takes things too far. Online gaming was a way where I could exercise that competitive nature. I was never the best at physical sports but found I was pretty good at online gaming.

LoSboccacc 8y ago

Author is talking about 1980s games. He’s missing an important point: new games are specifically designed to be far more addictive and harder to put down, especially those mobile incrementals. Sure the situation is still faceted as today as back then, but now gaming, gamification and connected gaming loops (when short and long loop overlaps so a game is never in a “completed” state, see game dev from kayrosoft) are far more pervasive. I’m a gamer, I can play long hours and I’m not addicted. But. Those new breed of mobile games scares the hell out of me. I designed some game I played some of those. They are actively addictive not because they are interesting but because they tie into your psicology with boxes keys rewards daily bonuses etc.

cstrat 8y ago
Yeah you're spot on about the new games. They are like poker machines.
- jerkstate 8y ago
  Not really sure if that's new - in the 1980s, you paid for video games 25c at a time.
  - LoSboccacc 8y ago
    Yeah but the hardest they went to get another 25c was the 3 2 1 continue countdown. And you got quarters out of mom pocket, it’s really hard to visualize spending when it comes from your parents credit card.
    - dogma1138 8y ago
      Arcades also had prizes whether it was through tickets or through venue promotion where getting into the top score menu would grant you a prize. Arcades also often held competitions to further push how many people would play games to practice. In fact gaming for a good period of time intentionally swayed off the patterns Arcade Games used to employ to hook you in and keep you playing both due to technical limitation and different design philosophy.
Nullabillity 8y ago
> He’s missing an important point: new games are specifically designed to be far more addictive and harder to put down, especially those mobile incrementals. Arcade games were the original microtransactions.
- rtpg 8y ago
  One thing you didn't have was the rat race involved in many modern multiplayer games. When you want to be competitive and the top people are all playing all the time, you have no choice but to also play all the time. Doubly so when you have some sort of XP/loot system and some notion of resource consumption
  - dogma1138 8y ago
    Arcade games had top scores and even prizes.
    - jexah 8y ago
      This completely misses the point. In arcade games you can take a day off, come back the next day, and be just as likely to be "the best". In modern online mobile games, if you wanna be at the top and you take a day off, you might as well just give up. This is what was being referred to.
      - watwut 8y ago
        The primary difference however seem to be that in arcade you competed against dozen local kids most of whom did not cared at all, so it was easy to stay on top and feel like you are best of best. Internet makes you compete against whole world, so there is unlimited supply of people who dedicate their whole life to this particular competition. Necessary, you have to settle for not being best or dedicate whole life too. And if this is your motivation, then anything competitive online will consume you - whether game or fiction writing.
Swizec 8y ago
My problem with most new games is that they’re so overgamified that I just get frustrated and stop playing. It’s too obvious and in your face. So I stick to social media where my slot machine is sufficiently unpredictable.