It was more than a fringe phenomenon. There was even a movie based on this train of thought, starring a now fairly respectable actor. http://en.wikipedia.org/w

It was more than a fringe phenomenon. There was even a movie based on this train of thought, starring a now fairly respectable actor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazes_and_Monsters http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazes_and_Monsters Like the book on which it is based, the film treats the playing of roleplaying games as indicative of deep neurotic needs. At least one protagonist is (or at least appears to be) suffering from schizophrenia (or some analogous condition) and in the end, the attainment of mature adulthood by others players is accompanied by the abandonment of role-playing games.