My position on video game addiction is pretty easy:

1. yes, some people can get clinically addicted to video games
2. yes, some people can abuse video games (but not be addicted to them)
3. The majority of gamers (in the upper 90%) have healthy, balanced relationships with games.

It seems like people who play computer games to escape are the minority who get into trouble.

The thing is, computer games are hella-fun. It’s also easy to get lost in them. This site is about helping people to find some kind of balance with computer games. It’s an individual thing, that each gamer needs to figure out for themselves.

I just finished reading Nick Yee’s great article about why people play mmorpg’s It’s a real gem. I’ll talk more about this article in another post, but for now, I’d like you all to look at this list.

It’s research-based and a good guide for you to think about games being problematic.

• Do you spend more time than you think you should playing the game?
• How difficult would it be for you to limit your playing time?
• How agitated do you get if the servers go down unexpectedly?
• How often do your friends or family members complain about your game play behavior?
• Has your work/school performance suffered because of your game play?
• How much of your happiness in life currently is derived from playing the game?
• Have your personal relationships suffered because of your game-play?

Play refers to a range of voluntary, intrinsically motivated activities that are normally associated with pleasure and enjoyment.[1] Play may consist of amusing, pretend or imaginary interpersonal and intrapersonal interactions or interplay. The rights of play are evident throughout nature and are perceived in people and animals, particularly in the cognitive development and socialization of children. Play often entertains props, animals, or toys in the context of learning and recreation. Some play has clearly defined goals and when structured with rules is entitled a game, whereas some play exhibits no such goals nor rules and is considered to be “unstructured” in the literature (source).

I think young people (aged 10 to 18) play games because kids are wired to learn through play. I think play is natural, and I think absence of play is really bad for the human soul. I think video games are actually really fun patterns for people to solve.

I also think there is something about pretending to be someone else, in another place, in another role, is really fun.

1. Enjoy and play games. They are hella-fun.

2. Play outside in meatspace. At least a few hours a week.

3. Depressed? Sad? Hiding? Gaining weight from playing WoW? When playing a game is more about hiding from real life than enjoying it, you should probably stop playing games for a while.

4. Real life friends are fun. have some.

This is thing, you have to ask yourself honestly. Like, look inside and honestly ask yourself if games are getting in the way of other stuff in your life. Here’s a list of questions:

1. Am I playing more than 4 hours a day?
2. Is my school work suffering as a result of my game playing?
3. Do I have a social life outside of games?
4. Has my physical condition deteriorated because all I do is play games?
5. Are my relationships deteriorating because of my game use? 6. Do I have a social life outside of games?
7. Do you lie so you can play games?

At the end of the day, you have to figure out if you are playing to much. In my experience, most people know things “aren’t quite right” with games.

We’ll talk about what to do if you think you have a problem in another post.