When I was younger, I played video games with my sister and got hooked when playing games such as Super Mario Bros. Now, I no longer play video/online games, but my step brother still does. It seems that people get really competitive when playing those games, and also addicted, which leads to the topic of this blog. Why are video/online games so addictive?
Gamesingear, Children playing video games and also the monitor screens or TV’s, 14th January, 2012, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Children_playing_video_games_%26_TV%27s.jpg
Purpose of video games in terms of design
The article titled Why are Video Games Addictive? by Dr. Brent Conrad, mentions that one reason why online/video games are so addictive is that sometimes you can make social connections by playing video games with friends either via video call or in person, or you can make friends with strangers. In a way, one can interact with friends. Therefore, it might feel as though they are already being social and consequently, do not feel the need to go out.
Another interesting point made by the author of the article is that games that involve currency in particular gaining currency are the sort of games that people might get addicted to. When I was younger I was obsessed with playing Super Mario, as I enjoyed collecting the gold coins and found myself wanting to collect more.
Conclusion
Video/Online games are addictive due to the designs of the virtual world. Most of the times you can create an avatar of your choice. Fulfilling one’s dream personal characteristics, and again placing themselves in a dream world. This may include powers and strengths. I agree with the author’s points about what makes video games addictive.
References
http://www.techaddiction.ca/why_are_video_games_addictive.html
The only experience I had with video games is ‘wii’. Since I was little, my parents were quite strict, the only video games I had was wii. Just because they see them as addictive entertainment. I can understand why they think of that way. I remembered on the news, when the murderer committed some serious crime, the news always showed that the murderer was highly addictinged to the killing or shooting virtual video games…
I think the gaining coins aspect and especially microtransactions make games addictive. Also just playing with friends in general, whenever I want to stop playing they go ‘just one more round! pleaaaasee…’ and then I end up doing like 5-10 more in the end :’)
A friend of mine who absolutely loves LoL has bought basically any skin there is in the game, and other games in which you can buy skins with in-game currency. I personally also enjoy some games that include in-game currency or challenges in which you gain experience points to be able to unlock more characters, and working towards getting all the characters was really addictive as well! I remember playing the game almost daily just for that purpose.
I think its therefore important to set some limits for younger kids when it comes to the amount of games they play in a day, making sure they also go outside rather than being locked in their room.
Since I have been playing video games from a quite young age I could relate to the things mentioned in your blog post. There were times where I spent a little too much time playing a game and in my life there were two points where it was on the edge to be game addiction.
One major reason why video games are so appealing is probably because of the social factor. Playing with a friend or family member makes it more fun of course. Sometimes I just looked forward to playing something with a friend – not for the game itself, but just for the socializing aspect.
I that that another huge reason is the reward-system that most games include. There is always something that you can achieve if you continue playing. You can get this really cool and fast car if you win 15 more races; you can get this gorgeous sword once you reach level 50; you will be able to buy this super nice looking character if you collected enough coins; etc.
For me personally, the rewards are the biggest threat!
As I am also a so-called ‘addictive’ player, I can basically understand the points from this blog. One significant reason video games are so addictive for us is that they construct a system. In games, there are various tasks, and goals players need to achieve. After finishing them, players will get rewards, and these rewards provide more motivation for them furtherly. Moreover, these completed achievements could become a kind of social capital to some extent. Players can tell their friends or other players what they have done in the game. It helps build a relationship between them.