What’s in a game? A case for video game addiction.
We can become addicted to many things; food, drugs, alcohol, love, baseball and sunsets (I am guilty of several of these).
However, some things have inherently addictive properties. They cause a chemical change in our bodies that results in a physical need we can no longer control.
This article from Psychology Today does a good job of laying out the argument for why video games can be addictive.
The true sense of video games’ ability to addict, to be the source of disease verses a symptom, is under heavy debate, but there is no question that some game developers choose to inject mechanics with the sole purpose of keeping us playing.
These tactics become predatory when they force engagement in order to maintain the friends, progress and money we have previously invested in a game.
Tomorrow I will explore with you the counter arguments, but for today, take a look and see if the games you play use social manipulation, dark energy mechanics or gambling to keep you glued to your screen.
