Gaming can be easily addictive.
Especially to someome who already have mental and social problems.
The worst case is for a co-dependant person. Since partying and guilds are a big involvement with gaming, for a co-dependant person, they can get the attention they lack in reality.
Thats basically what it comes down to, what you lack in your real enviroment. Most of the time, its the "social click", that you cannot find. Either you dont fit in with a certain crowd, or your in an enviroment that lacks the interests you want/need.
This new "addiction" has been getting noticed more and more. In Korea, they are enforcing many types of rules in the work enviroment to stop this addiction. They have noticed its lowering the productivity of workers. In the US, there are schools that are enforcing rules that prohibit any type of game interaction during school hours.
Trisomy was trying to compare gaming to TV. In reality, TV has not changed since cable and satelite came out. Where gaming has changed and flourished many times in just the past 5 years alone. You cant really compare TV to gaming.
With one, you watch the story unfold with no interaction involved. The other, you are involved and control the storyline, somewhat.
Right now, its still a new addiction, but it will become a big epidemic. Later down the line, I foresee certain media groups (film and TV related) lobbying for rules and laws against the gaming industry. Why? The gaming industry is stealing their target audience.
How far will it go? As long as the gaming industry improves and evolves, the addiction will become worse and worse.
Afro-American's post is a perfect example of what I was talking about previously.
As for what cinderboy said in his first post...... "Putting the blame on peer pressure, influences, etc are just bullcrap", this is incorrect. Studies have proven that peer pressure is the #1 cause of almost all addictions. Even gaming. The main reason for this goes back to what I said before. It relates to co-dependancy. Its been proven that the younger you are, the more likely that you will become co-dependant. That co-depedancy will relate to peer-pressure and the "band wagon" effect.
Also, you have to blame the hype for these addicitons, as-well. With advertising like "8 million play it!",or "You can become the hero like many others.", its obvious what will happen. You can see the effect of this everywhere. Even in these forums.
"I play it cause 8 million play it."........ is one of the best examples of what I am trying to say.
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