For game addicts, bad games are more addictive
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Mar 10th 2007 at 6:15PM }
Prof. Dmitri Williams, one of the leading academics in the gaming space, who was an expert witness at the U.S. Senate on the constitutionality of game banning laws, held a roundtable on game addiction at GDC. Williams referenced Carnegie Mellon University A. Fleming Seay's research on addiction in an MMO context.The addiction, defined as "problematic use" by Seay, is when an entertainment product dominates and displaces other behavior,
causes conflict and not playing causes anxiety. Seay found that self regulation (self monitoring, self evaluation and self consequence) was difficult for certain people. This seems obvious, but like anything in academia, if somebody hasn't done the research it isn't legitimate. The other thing Seay found was people's affinity for a game caused their problematic use -- but the interesting part was that those with "problematic use" were those who didn't like the game they were playing. They would do the same actions over and over again, didn't find pleasure in their actions and got stuck in a rut.
Williams thinks now is a the time to start looking into the ideas of "gaming addiction" and "problematic use" before it gains traction. He says, "Coming up with a solution to that, is better than sitting in front of Congress in ten years."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jdoki @ Mar 10th 2007 6:26PM
"...but the interesting part was that those with "problematic use" were those who didn't like the game they were playing. They would do the same actions over and over again, didn't find pleasure in their actions and got stuck in a rut..."
Summed up every MMORPG I've played with that statement! :)
Right, just back to EQ2...
jadenguy @ Mar 10th 2007 6:31PM
wow, exactly.
Jonah Falcon @ Mar 10th 2007 6:32PM
That pic is rated R, pushing NC-17. :o
hvnlysoldr @ Mar 10th 2007 6:35PM
By George I think he's got it.
Psaakyrn @ Mar 10th 2007 6:45PM
So... wouldn't the solution be to make good games? (or at least, stop making bad games)
Anon1 @ Mar 10th 2007 6:51PM
5: That'd be impossible. Whether a game is good or not is subjective. Look at the SaGa games -- I think they're awful, but apparently there are people out there that like them, or else they wouldn't make them.
dukemeiser @ Mar 10th 2007 7:11PM
I must not have this behavior problem. When I play a bad game I get rid of it. No sense wasting time on a game that sucks.
Psaakyrn @ Mar 10th 2007 7:12PM
to #6 Anon1
So you didn't understand the article. People like them (overly so) because they've bad elements, which helps to lock in their addiction tendencies.
Of cause, it does mean that good games tend to have worse profit to expenditure ratios. Maybe EA realised that long ago. :p
(explanation: good games does earn more, but requires a hell lot of polishing to get to that state. Might as well publish a not-so-polished game which people would still like; Even if it doesn't sell as much, the cost to polish the game doesn't justify the relatively marginal increase of profits)
REUYL @ Mar 10th 2007 7:16PM
It's true, I couldn't stop playing Driv3r when I got it, and that game really sucks.
LaughingTarget @ Mar 10th 2007 8:01PM
Nice to see I don't have an addiction. Game sucks, I stop playing. Simple.
reid296 @ Mar 10th 2007 8:30PM
That's basically what it's like with Final Fantasy XI players. They complain about all the crap in the game yet they still play it, and pay to do so.
Asgeras @ Mar 10th 2007 11:29PM
Actually, I've never complained about FFXI...it's fairly fun :P
I find it funny how they're attacking gaming addiction. Obviously, it's because gambling addiction, alcohol addiction, etc., are much less likely to ruin lives nowadays.
Anything can be an addiction. I have an aunt who was addicted to reading for about half a year. That's literally all she did, besides eating and sleeping. Moral of the story? Not everything that can be addictive is inherently bad.
hapes @ Mar 11th 2007 1:23AM
@#12: Asgeras
Any activity that generates addictive behavior is a sign of an unhealthy obsession (in some cases minor). Even if it's something theoretically 'good' for you such as reading...I mean, what if your Aunt read Harlequin romances the entire 6 months? What if you played The Matrix Online for 6 months, stopping only to eat, sleep and take a dump? I mean, just thinking of TMO makes me die a little inside.
The key is: The games aren't the problem, it's the people. As with other addictions (I'm thinking of the ads I've seen while having poker on TV during the time I make dinner), if the game industry makes an effort to address the 'problem', it will enable Congress (antonym of progress, anyone?) to enact pointless legislation that endorses the process, thus making it a non-issue.
Is it a good idea for Blizzard to suggest WoW players play less? I think so, because they won't STOP playing, they'll take longer to get to Lvl 70, which results in more fees. Puzzle Pirates gives you a little poke every hour or so, suggesting you take an ergonomics break (I always translated what they said as 'Stand up, you fat fuck!'). That's a good start.
ill trooper @ Mar 11th 2007 6:01AM
"3. That pic is rated R, pushing NC-17. :o
Posted at 6:32PM on Mar 10th 2007 by Jonah Falcon"
I took that photo. Yeah, for real. Who'da guessed you'd find the cover to an e.p. I released nearly 10 years ago with my friend Jay:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:4gjm7i41g75r
It keeps showing up on the web...
Neils @ Mar 13th 2007 12:05PM
I was at the first GDC addiction talk (there were 2 this year), where Blizzard actually discussed WoW. I research addiction, and saw Blizzard's thoughts as right on target. My GDC wrapup is here, if anyone's interested: http://neilsclark.com/archives/89