why do people like video games so much?

R

redhead4

Hey everyone, I'm writing a feature story on computer and video game addiction for my school's online publication, the Hard News Cafe. I'm very interested in other's personal experiences with this type of addiction and I've compiled a list of questions, somewhat like an informal interview, for anyone on this forum to read and answer. Just so you know, some of the responses I get may be used as quotes for my article. If you don't want to be quoted, please do not respond. However, if you do choose to answer the questions, your participation will be greatly appreciated and if you wish, your identity will remain anonymous in the article.

There are 11 questions in all. Feel free to answer as many as you like.

1. How long were, or have you been a computer/video game addict?

2. When did you realize you were addicted?

3. What game or activity were you addicted to the most?

4. If possible, describe how it felt to be addicted to a video game or the computer in three sentences or less.

5. How did your addiction affect other aspects of your life? (ie. school, work, relationships, etc.)

6. How did your addiction begin?

7. Have you had any other addictions that are not computer related? If so, what were they?

8. How many hours a day did you spend playing video games at the peak of your addiction?

9. What did you find the most captivating about the game(s) you played regularly?

10. What have you found to be successful in helping to control your addiction?

11. What advice would you give to those struggling with the same problem?

Thanks for your participation.
 
I'll do it, sure. But do us a favor and post up the full article or something.

1. How long were, or have you been a computer/video game addict? I've been playing games sense I was about three years old, so I've been playing for 16 years, an addict that long as well. Even when I was in the first grade I can remeber the feeling of trying to get home from school as soon as I could to get back on my NES.

2. When did you realize you were addicted? I've always known, you don't play 5 hours a day without thinking about it.

3. What game or activity were you addicted to the most? I'm addicated to any online game, playing with other people is the best.

4. If possible, describe how it felt to be addicted to a video game or the computer in three sentences or less. It isn't like being addicted to something that you want to stop, like smoking and drugs. It's not going to kill me, and it's what I love to do in life. I consider myself lucky.

5. How did your addiction affect other aspects of your life? (ie. school, work, relationships, etc.) Most of my friends are addicted themselves. After school we would spend hours playing each other in games and having a blast doing it. It did caus me a problum with homework though, I just always had to beat that next stage...

6. How did your addiction begin? I can't say when it started, I just know I have always loved them.

7. Have you had any other addictions that are not computer related? If so, what were they? Not really, I mean I love to read and write, but you can't call those addictions. I never did smoke or do drugs, so guess I don't have any other.

8. How many hours a day did you spend playing video games at the peak of your addiction? I still average about 5 or 6 hours a day.

9. What did you find the most captivating about the game(s) you played regularly? The feeling that I'm doing something else besides playing a video game.

10. What have you found to be successful in helping to control your addiction? Who says I want to control it? It's what I love to do. I'm not killing my body, and I don't find it hard to go to work everyday and see my girlfriend. I never want to stop playing games.

11. What advice would you give to those struggling with the same problem? Give me all your stuff.
 
1. How long were, or have you been a computer/video game addict?

I've played video games since I was like 3, but I would say that I started calling myself a gamer when I was 20, which was 2 years ago.

2. When did you realize you were addicted? When I finally broke down and bought an XBOX even though I already had a Gamecube and PS2. :D

3. What game or activity were you addicted to the most?

That's a tough question. I tend to go from game to game and not spend a large amount of time on any. But I would have to say that Animal Crossing, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and Tales of Symphonia have been the most addicting so far.

4. If possible, describe how it felt to be addicted to a video game or the computer in three sentences or less.

When it interfered with doing homework, I felt guilty. But I'm out of college now, so as long as other things aren't being neglected, I'm ok.

5. How did your addiction affect other aspects of your life? (ie. school, work, relationships, etc.)

When Animal Crossing came out, I used to play that instead of doing my college homework. Especially math. So I probably didn't do as well in math as I could have if I hadn't been playing Animal Crossing.

6. How did your addiction begin?

When I got my first job. I finally had the money to buy stuff for myself. The first big thing I got was a PS2. Then I got a Gamecube. Then I got an XBOX. And a Nintendo DS. And so on.

7. Have you had any other addictions that are not computer related? If so, what were they?

No.

8. How many hours a day did you spend playing video games at the peak of your addiction?

I don't remember. Probably at least 10 hours on Final Fantasy Tactics Advance...long enough to run the battery out on the GBA SP.

9. What did you find the most captivating about the game(s) you played regularly?

They are fun.

10. What have you found to be successful in helping to control your addiction?

Not having enough money to buy all the games I want. :lol Also, being kept in check by my significant other. ;)

11. What advice would you give to those struggling with the same problem?

Budget time and money for games, but make sure you have money and time for other important things in life.
 
1. How long were, or have you been a computer/video game addict?

15+ years

2. When did you realize you were addicted?

When I skipped school to stay home and play games, when I called in sick to work to do the same, and when I paid $160 for ONE game.

3. What game or activity were you addicted to the most?

Hard to pinpoint one game...more like one genre of games, fighting games.

4. If possible, describe how it felt to be addicted to a video game or the computer in three sentences or less.

It doesn't bother me at all, I see no harm in it as long as your responsible enough to pay your bills and keep a healthy relationship with others.

5. How did your addiction affect other aspects of your life? (ie. school, work, relationships, etc.)

When I was younger I skipped some school, now I spend way too much money on games.

6. How did your addiction begin?

With a Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985

7. Have you had any other addictions that are not computer related? If so, what were they?

I was addicted to several drugs, but have been clean for 7 years now.

8. How many hours a day did you spend playing video games at the peak of your addiction?

12-14 hours

9. What did you find the most captivating about the game(s) you played regularly?

They are fun heh

10. What have you found to be successful in helping to control your addiction?

Having to pay bills, saving money for other things..work takes away alot of time from gaming.

11. What advice would you give to those struggling with the same problem?

Watch your budget, try to balance gaming time with social time, try and get in a relationship..it can help.
 
Just so redhead4 is clear about this, we're not actually game addicts in the sense that we are clinically addicted to videogames. Or at least I'm not, after reading through a couple of those I'm not sure about some of you :lol. We just like videogames more than the average person.
 
1. How long were, or have you been a computer/video game addict? Let's just say too long! I know my PC and consoles want to have a vacation away from me for like a week but I dont let'em. ;)

2. When did you realize you were addicted? When I stayed up all night playing a game, 'till like 3am.

3. What game or activity were you addicted to the most? Mostly games that you can continously play over and over again and get different endings, etc.

4. If possible, describe how it felt to be addicted to a video game or the computer in three sentences or less. My addiction towards video games is more powerful than drugs. *takes out a syringe and takes a shot of crack-o-game*. Man...I dont think a rehab center would even cure me from games.

5. How did your addiction affect other aspects of your life? (ie. school, work, relationships, etc.) Well in school all I thought about were games same goes with work, but never really in a relationship, wait I never had a relationship.

6. How did your addiction begin? It all begun on that very old console Nintendo.

7. Have you had any other addictions that are not computer related? If so, what were they? I did have an addiction towards this one girl, but she just totally killed me and now I feel like Im going to do something drastic to myself. :'(

8. How many hours a day did you spend playing video games at the peak of your addiction? Hmm..I'd say at least 5hrs.

9. What did you find the most captivating about the game(s) you played regularly?

10. What have you found to be successful in helping to control your addiction? Im kinda of still addicted a little but not how I was when I was younger, but sleep and my job kidna' of cured me a little.

11. What advice would you give to those struggling with the same problem? Ask your console if its tired or not, if it replies back, keep playing! :D
 
yeah, Im not really an addict. I love video games. But they dont take up my whole life where I dont have a social life. I dont let video games get in the way of school work or family life. I just play video games when friends come over and when I have free time. I sort of discipline myself so I dont go overboard. :)
 
I think I'm more addicted to talking about video games than actually playing them. :lol I spend more time online talking about games than I do playing games. I post here the most, but I lurk at the IGN boards all the time.
 
Mai Valentine said:
I think I'm more addicted to talking about video games than actually playing them.  :lol I spend more time online talking about games than I do playing games. I post here the most, but I lurk at the IGN boards all the time.
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Me too, I definately spend more time talking about games than playing them, and possibly even enjoy it more. I dunno, I just don't think my attention span is what it used to be, I only do a couple of hours a day. I would still say I was slightly addicted just for the amount of time I think of games and discuss them, though.

I think that redneck thought this was a board for actual game addiction problems though, which makes me think of the point stealth brought up recently about why not enough people join here. :-\
 
Ya, BV should really consider doing something about that...


I also agree with the last two posts. I probably talk more about videogames than I do play them. I'm not even really sure why. It seems completely backwards and illogical. Whatever the reason, it just seems to be more fun to argue over videogames than it does to play them, well, most of them. Every once in awhile you play a game that completely draws you in, so I guess that's better than talking about them. But now I'm rambling, so I'll just stop talking altogether.
 
Retro Hero said:
I think that redneck thought this was a board for actual game addiction problems though, which makes me think of the point stealth brought up recently about why not enough people join here.  :-\
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I was going to say the same thing. I like talking about games more also. I think he saw the title and thought this was like a therapy place. :lol
 
Mai Valentine said:
I think I'm more addicted to talking about video games than actually playing them. :lol I spend more time online talking about games than I do playing games. I post here the most, but I lurk at the IGN boards all the time.
Click to expand...
Give your PC a break and go play!
 
1. How long were, or have you been a computer/video game addict?
Addicted? Lady you're crazy...My business is my hobby, as my hobby is my business fo' shizzle...

2. When did you realize you were addicted?
I never realized jack, this industry has been a goddess to me, pays my bills, and keeps me happy

3. What game or activity were you addicted to the most?


4. If possible, describe how it felt to be addicted to a video game or the computer in three sentences or less.

Nothing's possible when you don't have an addiction :)

5. How did your addiction affect other aspects of your life? (ie. school, work, relationships, etc.)

School, you get a gang of video game fiends....work....I WORKED for GameStop and Toys R Us! I ran the video game sections lol
Relationships....all the ladies love my Sonic stuff :)

6. How did your addiction begin?

Man, I was raised on Coleco and Commodore 64...something you might never ever know about sista! I'll have to school ya on that one.

7. Have you had any other addictions that are not computer related? If so, what were they?

I'm addicted to boobies if that's bad :)

8. How many hours a day did you spend playing video games at the peak of your addiction?

Sheet...how many hours do you like watching movies? going to the hair salon? going shopping for crap you don't need?

9. What did you find the most captivating about the game(s) you played regularly?

How much work they put into these games, is like a novel or a movie you really like

10. What have you found to be successful in helping to control your addiction?

Lady, again, there is no addiction, this is a way of life.

11. What advice would you give to those struggling with the same problem?

What problem!? I think you got the problem, coming in here and tell us we're addicted and making us feel like crap! Shame on you! I don't show up to your house and tell you what's wrong with you! Do not judge unless ye be judged in the eyes of the lord..
 
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