Video Games Impact On Society Essay
Video Games and their Impact on Society
Video games are widely used as a source of entertainment. Video games allow a person to physically interact with a television or a computer. Although there are casual players who enjoy a game for a brief period of time, there are also people who are overly obsessed. Obsessed players continuously play with no time limits, while a typical player can control the amount of time they play. This is a video game addiction. Video games create more of an addiction than reading a book as they are difficult to quit playing and people tend to have an urge to pick the controller or keyboard back up and continue to play.
Game genres have certain intentions for players. The type of game can bring in the audience’s attention …show more content…
and get them addicted (Vitelli). Rewards are also incentives to have a player continue to play (Netzley 62). Both genres and rewards intertwine to keep people addicted. Generally in a first-person shooter, a weapon or weapon camo is given to the player, due to their progression. Similarly, a MMO game gives a player a weapon or an ability. Gamers get a sense of pleasure when their progress is rewarded for working hard (Netzley 63). Since these rewards are easily obtainable, players continuously play the game, gaining an addiction to it, and game designers have psychology to keep the gamer’s attention (Netzley 61). Not only is the game addicting, but each reward makes the gamer want more. An addiction is a distraction that keeps us from doing what we should do (Netzley 64). Gamers are able to find something achievable and that is why they are addicted. If they continuously play, they find rewards such as weapons or abilities, but if they stop, the player gets nowhere, ceasing themselves from progressing.
A game can be so addictive, that it can turn one’s life around. Former Indianapolis Colts player, Quinn Pitcock, quit his job due to his addiction to Call of Duty. He tried to find ways to get video games out of sight, such as burning them or breaking them, but he continued to buy more (Netzley 59). His craze for video games took control over his career, furthermore, if he had not continued to play Call of Duty, his career in football would have progressed. Violence is the key component that drives the body toward addiction (Netzley 57). Being able to kill someone virtually is what brings about enjoyment and wanting to continue to play. Call of Duty contains continuous violence, so it gave Quinn Pitcock an addiction to it. Since video games can create addictions, countries around the world have established video game addiction clinics (Vitelli). People believe that video game addiction is so life controlling, that they are willing to seek help.
Not only are playing video games addicting, it can also change your behavior and emotions.
A research was done in Singapore that showed that children were impulsive and unstable in controlling their emotions (Netzley 61). “They were also more likely to be socially incompetent” (Netzley 61). Children were to act more hostile due to their game addiction and were simply not as sociable. The children’s hostile acts are drawn from their addiction and the video games that they play. Their inquisitive minds are linked to the video games. A risk factor from the consistency of video games includes impulses (Gentile). Gamers have a sudden feeling to continue to play, not being able to restrain themselves (See Fig. 1). They act as if video games are the most important thing in the world and cannot get enough of it. “However, gaming can easily get out of hand, causing people to lose sleep, skip work, and otherwise shirk responsibilities when they cannot control their impulse to play games” (Netzley 59). Gamers tend to forget about their daily lives and shift their minds completely on video games. They act as if video games are the only things that are developed in this world, when they could be doing other things, such as going outside. Limitations are strongly needed to decrease these obsessive
behaviors.
Fig.1. A cartoon that shows a video game addict (Skorkin).
Some people suggest that video games are addictive, while some people do not. Research has shown that video game addiction has not been considered to be a mental disorder because it has not shown similar physical effects of a substance addiction (Netzley 56). Although it shows no physical effects, there are responses to video games. “Some researchers, however, believe that enough physical evidence exists to prove that video game playing can trigger physical responses that make it an actual addiction, something that makes you feel good when done and bad when stopped” (Netzley 57). This idea of a video game addiction is incomparable to substance addiction because it provides different effects, but it still follows the idea of an addiction.
Video games do create an addiction. Gamers continuously play them, growing an attachment to the game. It also changes their behavior and overall life than previously existed. They show more aggression and present a negative attitude towards people because they are affected by the video games that they play. When video games are taken away, gamers tend to lose control of their emotions. Games affect people psychologically, making them want to continue to play. To show that games are addictive, clinics are being used for people seeking help to end their game addiction. This activity keeps people away from what are most important, family and friends. Video games dictate the lives of people.
Video games are widely used as a source of entertainment. Video games allow a person to physically interact with a television or a computer. Although there are casual players who enjoy a game for a brief period of time, there are also people who are overly obsessed. Obsessed players continuously play with no time limits, while a typical player can control the amount of time they play. This is a video game addiction. Video games create more of an addiction than reading a book as they are difficult to quit playing and people tend to have an urge to pick the controller or keyboard back up and continue to play.
Game genres have certain intentions for players. The type of game can bring in the audience’s attention …show more content…
and get them addicted (Vitelli). Rewards are also incentives to have a player continue to play (Netzley 62). Both genres and rewards intertwine to keep people addicted. Generally in a first-person shooter, a weapon or weapon camo is given to the player, due to their progression. Similarly, a MMO game gives a player a weapon or an ability. Gamers get a sense of pleasure when their progress is rewarded for working hard (Netzley 63). Since these rewards are easily obtainable, players continuously play the game, gaining an addiction to it, and game designers have psychology to keep the gamer’s attention (Netzley 61). Not only is the game addicting, but each reward makes the gamer want more. An addiction is a distraction that keeps us from doing what we should do (Netzley 64). Gamers are able to find something achievable and that is why they are addicted. If they continuously play, they find rewards such as weapons or abilities, but if they stop, the player gets nowhere, ceasing themselves from progressing.
A game can be so addictive, that it can turn one’s life around. Former Indianapolis Colts player, Quinn Pitcock, quit his job due to his addiction to Call of Duty. He tried to find ways to get video games out of sight, such as burning them or breaking them, but he continued to buy more (Netzley 59). His craze for video games took control over his career, furthermore, if he had not continued to play Call of Duty, his career in football would have progressed. Violence is the key component that drives the body toward addiction (Netzley 57). Being able to kill someone virtually is what brings about enjoyment and wanting to continue to play. Call of Duty contains continuous violence, so it gave Quinn Pitcock an addiction to it. Since video games can create addictions, countries around the world have established video game addiction clinics (Vitelli). People believe that video game addiction is so life controlling, that they are willing to seek help.
Not only are playing video games addicting, it can also change your behavior and emotions.
A research was done in Singapore that showed that children were impulsive and unstable in controlling their emotions (Netzley 61). “They were also more likely to be socially incompetent” (Netzley 61). Children were to act more hostile due to their game addiction and were simply not as sociable. The children’s hostile acts are drawn from their addiction and the video games that they play. Their inquisitive minds are linked to the video games. A risk factor from the consistency of video games includes impulses (Gentile). Gamers have a sudden feeling to continue to play, not being able to restrain themselves (See Fig. 1). They act as if video games are the most important thing in the world and cannot get enough of it. “However, gaming can easily get out of hand, causing people to lose sleep, skip work, and otherwise shirk responsibilities when they cannot control their impulse to play games” (Netzley 59). Gamers tend to forget about their daily lives and shift their minds completely on video games. They act as if video games are the only things that are developed in this world, when they could be doing other things, such as going outside. Limitations are strongly needed to decrease these obsessive
behaviors.
Fig.1. A cartoon that shows a video game addict (Skorkin).
Some people suggest that video games are addictive, while some people do not. Research has shown that video game addiction has not been considered to be a mental disorder because it has not shown similar physical effects of a substance addiction (Netzley 56). Although it shows no physical effects, there are responses to video games. “Some researchers, however, believe that enough physical evidence exists to prove that video game playing can trigger physical responses that make it an actual addiction, something that makes you feel good when done and bad when stopped” (Netzley 57). This idea of a video game addiction is incomparable to substance addiction because it provides different effects, but it still follows the idea of an addiction.
Video games do create an addiction. Gamers continuously play them, growing an attachment to the game. It also changes their behavior and overall life than previously existed. They show more aggression and present a negative attitude towards people because they are affected by the video games that they play. When video games are taken away, gamers tend to lose control of their emotions. Games affect people psychologically, making them want to continue to play. To show that games are addictive, clinics are being used for people seeking help to end their game addiction. This activity keeps people away from what are most important, family and friends. Video games dictate the lives of people.