The MMORPG Addiction – Is it Real?

[Akasha]

Three years ago, I was completely immersed in Dark Age Of Camelot. I had set my mind firmly on the goal of obtaining the highest level possible and was intent on achieving it. I heard random comments during my two-year stint in Camelot, as my sleeping habits changed drastically and my priorities, according to others, seemed to be a bit skewed. It was about a year after I had begun playing Dark Age Of Camelot, which had been introduced to me by my two teenage nephews, that I, in turn, introduced the game to my 35-year-old friend, Julie, the mother of two teenagers herself.

It wasn't long before Julie became as immersed as I was, and eventually I received an email from her mother stating that she had completely "went off her rocker." Jannean, who is a 64-year-old housewife, married for nearly 50 years, was upset that I had introduced her daughter to something she deemed “demonic.� She claimed the violence was satanic and that the influence of the game had “sucked us in.�

"Demonic?" I asked, quite perplexed.

"Yes, demonic, you kill things, you murder things. Whether it's a game or not, it still numbs you to the reality of murder. That's demons fooling your senses," she emphatically explained. "Roleplaying is dangerous! That magic and sorcery is the Devil’s work! You are opening up doors in your life that are dangerous!"

I scratched my chin, rather speechless. I had heard the old urban legends, of people playing real life Dungeons & Dragons and deaths resulting from it, but I had never bothered to look into it. In fact, I was just playing a game, something I profusely enjoyed, and, sure, it was a grave distraction, one detrimental to my writing career, but the only damage was really lack of priority. I agreed with her that it was immersive and probably a diversion from more urgent necessities, but ultimately it was just...a...game.

Well, after she hissed and spat a lot about evil forces and my house needing being blessed, I resigned myself to the fact that she was being a bit extreme. However, over time, her claim was only reinforced by concurrent conversations with my friend Julie, who had mysteriously found herself off work for twisting her ankle at work--then a month later her knee, then a week later depression and anxiety, then afterward a migraine that wouldn't stop...then anemia, then a sleep disorder, then an undiagnosed tendon issue requiring crutches, then back problems...and everyday, all day, she was playing games.

I began to wonder--was Jannean and her gloom-and-doom speech possibly accurate? Were there threads of truth somewhere within the extremist remarks about demons and devils? Was Julie addicted? Was I?

As soon as the thought crossed my consciousness I brushed it off--we are grown adults, quite in control. I myself had resigned from my gaming to focus more on my writing career...until Star Wars Galaxies came along.

Julie hated Star Wars. "I'm not interested in that stuff, no way," she offered dismissively upon my suggestion we try something new. Somehow I managed to influence her to try it with me. We also purchased the game for her mother and father in an attempt to thwart any worries.

"Let them see it's not what they think it is," we thought.

Flash forward to two years later. The appeal of Star Wars Galaxies had come and gone while I pursued other things. I had cancelled my original account and busied myself elsewhere. I decided that, as I was in a short hiatus from writing, I would reactivate and slip into the worlds of Star Wars with Julie, her mom Jannean, her dad and some old friends. And was I ever shocked at what I saw!

"KILL! KILL! KILL!" Jannean's text appeared feverishly as we were in the heat of battle on my first hunt out with them. She blasted animals left and right as they fell along the wayside. I had this indelible image of this portly old woman with snow white hair slamming her fingers down on her keyboard, her muscles tensed in knots, a damning scowl on her face, daring any womp rat to cross her... And when we had a moment’s peace she quickly popped up a tent and tended the wounds of some long-haired man she kept calling "Babe." After picking up my eyeballs from my lap and placing them back in my head, I asked Julie, "Is that really your mom?"

"Yes, why?" she responded.

"You have got to be kidding me," I said in utter shock.

"No, she's a master tailor, a master marksman on three servers, and a millionaire. She lives her life here pretty much," Julie added.

"You have got to be kidding me. What does your dad think of this?" I asked.

"He doesn't play really," she told me.

"Then who is that man she keeps calling honey??"

"That's her in-game husband...he's a 24-year-old college student."

"You have to be kidding me!"

It wasn't long thereafter that I cancelled again. While the thought of Jannean role-playing and slaying innocent pixels was more than slightly funny, it did give me reason for pause. The path of curiosity led me to where it usually does...Google. I read article after article on addiction to MMORPGs-–college kids, aware they are addicted, discreetly seeking help online for fear they are ruining their lives-–support groups for women who have all but been abandoned by husbands and children lost in the world of Everquest.

Christine Gilbert, who spearheaded this astonishingly popular support group, called EverQuest Widows, says this: "To be the spouse of a computer gaming junkie is a difficult path. Our partners spend many late nights disrupting our sleep with gunshot noises and monster screams. We have to explain to our friends that the reason we were late was because our loved one needed just 'five more minutes' in order to get through the next dungeon level. However, it seems to have been the introduction of the game EverQuest that has caused real disruption in many relationships. I know that my husband has found himself in the doghouse several times for missed engagements (including going to work) and too many late nights. Love has definite boundaries when it becomes an argument of man vs. machine."

I recently spoke with Dr. Mark Stanwick while I was researching this topic, and he gave me some very informative answers to some pressing questions.

Zach: Tell me, why do you think people get addicted to online games?

Mark Stanwick: Unlike many conditions, addiction to online gaming fetches a rather simple psychoanalysis. What causes individuals to be addicted to online games, or MMORPGs? The sense of accomplishment and status. Advancing in online games requires a lot of investment with plenty of virtual rewards. Often people find themselves bored, or stagnant, in their real lives, overwhelmed with obligation and responsibility. As a sidenote, it should be mentioned that most chronic cases of severe addiction to MMORPGs are found in adult men, not children. In a virtual-reality environment you are in complete control of your life and of what you can achieve, with absolutely no consequences to pay if you fail. It differs from the stresses of a work environment because, while in real life it's isolating, in the virtual life it's liberating. The addiction is not so much to the game itself, but to the accomplishments made and the status had. Where one might be a clerk at a market or a postal worker in their real lives and feel they are going nowhere, in an MMORPG such as Everquest or DAoC they can actually gain status in a relatively substantial community for their accomplishments. In online games--all of them--there is a social infrastructure. A "food chain," if you will. There is usually a leader, be they a leader of a group, a guild, a raid--any number of things--and that individual has people listening to them, taking direction, guiding them through a "critical" task (such as slaying a dragon) and seeing it to completion. Then there are the followers, the supporters, all dedicated to the ultimate purpose. Now, for most, they have never been a part of, much less in charge of, such a massive task. Therefore, the thrill and the sense of being "somebody" or a part of "something" substantial is where the addiction lies.

Zach: Is anyone at risk of becoming addicted?

MS: Certainly some people are more at risk than others. In a recent study done at the University Of Southern California, researchers found that an overwhelming amount of addicts are new fathers, or those fresh out of college, or just entering. Men between the ages of 17 and 28 tend to make up the largest demographic. You might ask why, and I'll tell you. This is the period of life when circumstances tend to be the most chaotic and frightening, when we appear least in control, before we really get a handle on our direction. Marriage, parenthood, decision-making, additional adult responsibilities, job demands, financial issues, finding your social niche, these elements seem to descend on us most aggressively during this point. MMORPGs provide an amazing escape for those intent on lessening the blow of real life situations. This is when real life takes a backseat to a virtual one. Generally speaking, women do not afford themselves the luxuries of addiction and often find it absurd.

Zach: What are some symptoms of MMORPG addiction?

MS: They vary. Not everyone who plays online games regularly is addicted. However, should one find themselves calling in sick to work so they can play with friends, or isolating themselves for extended periods of time, those are definite red flags...also, becoming increasingly agitated if someone in real life attempt to communicate with you while you're immersed, if company comes over and you’re grumbling about having to leave your group or if your wife is asking you for the fourth time to take out last week’s garbage. Symptoms of addiction wreak havoc on your social life and many addicts have faced financial ruin and divorce. In one case, a single father lost his children to the state for gross neglect. He couldn't pull himself away from his game to feed his two-year-old, and they spent the majority of their time in bed, out of his hair. Addicts despise disruption of any sort.

Zach: What about teenagers? Don't they make up the largest portion of, say, the Everquest community?

MS: No. Actually, Everquest and other similar online games boast a very diverse community of online gamers. Teenagers do certainly make up a significant portion of the demographic but they are not the majority. Teenagers, speaking specifically of those between 13 and 18, tend to approach online gaming with a rather indifferent perspective. It's there, it's fun to play, it's fun to harass people and make up ridiculous names, but for the most post they don't make it a "life substitute." Many play with real-life friends, and make it somewhat of a hobby or extracurricular activity. Of course there is a minority that does use it as a substitute, usually due to social rejections, fear of inadequacies, or something of that sort. Children with visible, physical disabilities tend to be excellent candidates for MMORPG addiction because it's an anonymous forum where everyone is identical, for the most part. No one will stare, nothing makes you stand out in the crowd.

Zach: What types of methods are available to treat these addictions?

MS: Gaming addiction is not recognized by any facility as an illness. There has been a long, ongoing debate over whether it even exists or not. It's not something that there is a textbook cure for, like say, food addictions or alcohol or drug addictions. Surprisingly, most people who have participated in studies have been completely self-diagnosed, having reached rock bottom, seeking help. You have to remember, gaming online is relatively new, and scientists are still trying to pinpoint the pathological repercussions of its implementation in modern society. Very few find it a legitimate addiction, but there is a rare breed of therapists out there who recognize it and are willing to employ certain therapeutic procedures to inhibit the necessity of gaming for addicts. It must be said that the causes of such addictions are not the games themselves, but the individuals behind the keyboard. You cannot blame the people who made Ultima Online because your son refuses to leave his room. There are always, in every case I have seen, contributory factors leading to MMORPG addictions. Here's an interesting fact: an extraordinary amount of gamers with addictive tendencies are homosexuals. This makes complete sense. As stated before, they are just like everyone else--there are no government policies excluding their participation, they wear no scarlet letter. Even more interesting is that most of these men play female characters in an attempt to be more accepted, despite nothing marking them as different. It's entirely psychological and self-induced.

Zach: Thank you for answering my questions. I definitely feel a lot more educated on this subject.

MS: Thank you.

Source : Warcy News Network

You cannot blame the people who made Ultima Online because your son refuses to leave his room. There are always, in every case I have seen, contributory factors leading to MMORPG addictions.

Probably the best thing I read in that entire article! I’m not quite sure who Dr. Mark Stanwick is, but I’m assuming the author of this article didn’t just make them up. It’s good to hear that coming from a professional, now if only all the people out there who blame the games would read it.

It’s hard for me to picture a 64-year-old housewife screaming kill repeatedly, but then I have to remember I used to be guilded with a 75-year-old male in Everquest, who also had a sense of humor after naming his character “Gramps�.

He couldn't pull himself away from his game to feed his two-year-old, and they spent the majority of their time in bed, out of his hair.

That is a scary thought, but if I was to be 100% honest, it’s majority of the reason I don’t want kids (yet). Apart from the normal financial issues, we don’t own a house (we rent), I’m not married, blah blah blah, the biggest reason’s are selfish; I’m not ready to give up my gaming life, and children do need to come first. I’m also not ready to give up late nights raiding, sleeping till noon the next day and the general life that come with someone that spends most of their spare time on-line. That, however is a personal choice of mine.

becoming increasingly agitated if someone in real life attempt to communicate with you while you're immersed, if company comes over and you’re grumbling about having to leave your group

Sadly I will both have to confess to this and dob in the boyfriend. Both of us have, in the past ignored each other or “sshhh’d� the other one because we were in the middle of a hard fight, raid, running to the next zone, tradeskilling etc. Weekends are normally the times when friends and family meet up, for us though weekends are for 12 hour stints on-line because of no work. When the mother rings to “pop over for a visit�, it’s usually met with rolled eyes and, /g sorry guys gotta go… parental visit.

Am I addicted? Possibly. But I can get off to go for my daily walk (No, I’m not a dog), and just the other night I turned the computer off for an entire night of DVD’s. On the other hand, once I get WoW it most likely will be a struggle to do those sorts of things. As my mother says to me, “So long as you’re having fun, are happy and healthy� that’s all that matters.

[farslayer77]

Signs of addiction in my experience

Needing to justify what you are doing on a regular basis to others and
yourself.

Isolating yourself not just physically but mentally from important people in your life.

Hiding what you are doing in order to keep doing it .

Continuing to do the activity when you are hungry,angry,lonely or tired.

Games are like any other activity that provides distraction they are best done in moderation imho.

You can always try one simple thing. Look yourself in the eye in the mirror. Ask yourself one question. Do you play the game or does the game play you ? If you hesitate or can't answer I play the game. You might have a problem.

[Kalazor]

Lol, funny article.

Signs of addiction in my experience

Needing to justify what you are doing on a regular basis to others and
yourself.

Isolating yourself not just physically but mentally from important people in your life.

Hiding what you are doing in order to keep doing it.

Continuing to do the activity when you are hungry,angry,lonely or tired.

Games are like any other activity that provides distraction they are best done in moderation imho.

I always lie about what games i play to real life "friends". I don't want them invading my enviroment and annoying me in-game as well as in real life. The only reason i see those people is because i need to study with them - i don't frankly want to see them anymore than necessary!

[Akasha]

I also lie to people about my gaming in real life. Non-gamers just don't seem to understand it when you try to explain, and it's easier to just fib a little. When they ask what are my plans for the weekend, I reply with "catching up with some friends and probably going out." It's not a lie.. I will be catching up with friends... online ones :-)

[farslayer77]

Understand that Kal. Once upon a time I had friends I hung around with.
Because I hated them less than I hated everybody else P

When I saw them two questions popped up in my head upon seeing them.
How much or How far.

How much is this idiot going to want borrow. Or how far away is the place he is going to want a ride to P.

Then I graduated highschool and by the time I was in my twenties most of them disappeared from my life P

I just tell people the truth about my gaming. Because I am just not interested in what they think about me. That to me is tantamount to sayiing their opinion of me is more important than my opinion of me P

[Akasha]

Originally Posted by farslayer77

I just tell people the truth about my gaming. Because I am just not interested in what they think about me. That to me is tantamount to sayiing their opinion of me is more important than my opinion of me P

I completely agree in that I'm not too worried on what they think when I tell them, the problems I find though however is the following :

"What do you do for fun?"
"I play online games"
"Oh, what sort of games?" *genuinely curious look*
"Um, have you heard of Everquest?"
"No"
"It's a Computer game, but you play with other people online"
"Oh, so, um, you play with your friends.... on... a computer?"
"Yeah sort of, the people you play with are all over the world, for instance a lot of the people I play with are from (by now their very confused and eyes glazing over) US or Asia..."
"What do you do in the game?"
"Well I play a mage so I get to have a pet and cast spells. You kill mobs to get experience so you can level..."
(by now they are totally confused)
"Oh... lovely weather outside isn't it?"
"um... yeah"

So for me, it's just easier to say more 'normal' things that they understand. I'm catching up with friends (getting online), might go out for a night (raiding) and do some house work (that ones real lol).

Unless they have children that play online, which I am surprised with how many different families I work with I am yet to find children that play EQ or similar... or if they have a partner that play or play themselves, they can't seem to understand why I would want to be doing something like that. I think,sadly, a lot of the not understanding has to do with the fact I am female... maybe if I was male it might seem more normal.

[farslayer77]

Unless they have children that play online, which I am surprised with how many different families I work with I am yet to find children that play EQ or similar... or if they have a partner that play or play themselves, they can't seem to understand why I would want to be doing something like that. I think,sadly, a lot of the not understanding has to do with the fact I am female... maybe if I was male it might seem more normal


I observe that children are smart enough to not play lifesucking games like EQ. What does that say about us P. Try the its an extremely economical form of entertainement line . For x dollars I get 40 + hours of entertainment a month , most people understand being cheap er thrifty P.

If you were male ? Is australia stuck in 1950 american or something P I am just kidding Akasha. I just had to comment on that.

[Akasha]

If you were male ? Is australia stuck in 1950 american or something P I am just kidding Akasha. I just had to comment on that.

Sometimes I honestly wonder... it mostly comes from mother's who give me that, 'tutt tutt' look :roll: Most father's actually think I am pretty cool that I play them, and currently work for a man that has Doom 3 sitting on the kitchen bench. Even father's that don't play online games are still like "oh cool" when I tell them... mother's.... hmm not so much.

I get people look at me wierd because I don't do my nails, go to a hairdresser monthly or shop with girlfriends. I'm used to it, all my mates are male, I would rather go to a pub and hang out that go to a shopping centre. Then again... girls don't make you feel sexy when your hanging out like guys do haha :D

[Kalazor]

I get people look at me wierd because I don't do my nails

I'm sorry but that is a must =P. I love it when women have a cute french manicure :D.

[Akasha]

Once I get a different job I will probably do them.. I used to. Doing child care the last thing you can have is long nails ( not even long... anything past the end of your finger is enough ). Changing Nappies, dressing them etc, you can't risk scratching them. Not to mention that I wash my hands 10 times a day after handling sticky food, dirty nappies, wiping noses etc... washing that much makes your nails go funny.

I do however, have a fond understanding of why new mother's looked so wrecked haha :D