Should Multiplayer games be labeled "Addictive"

[CptStern]

Interesting article here on the addictiveness of mmorpgs ..for a change it's not fear mongering nonsense on the evils of video games


"Nonetheless, experts are divided about whether obsession with "World of Warcraft" and other MMORPGs should be labeled as "addictive" - so-called electronic opium - since unlike drugs no physical dependency is involved.

Whatever the label, observers agree, players obsessed with these games do have a problem. "They have withdrawal symptoms. They can't wait to get back on [the game] again," says Maressa Orzack, director of the Computer Addiction Study Center at McLean Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Belmont, Mass. She's treated many people who've been unable to stop playing MMORPGs and who've neglected their jobs, schoolwork, and families. The games, with names like"City of Heroes," "The Legend of Mir," and "Asheron's Call" "are made to be addictive," she says."



I know games are addictive and there's people bound to be obsessive to the point of unhealthiness but like any other form of entertainment the vast majority of gamers have some measure of self control ....right?

 

[Insano]

It might be good for people who aren't really into games, so that they can decide if they are going to give in to it or not.

 

[Infernal Shade]

Yes, they should. They're every bit as addicting as nicotine. I think they should start making Truth commercials for online gaming.

 

[$kelet0r]

i suppose so
something like excessive play can lead to withdrawal symptoms

 

[Sloth]

And it costs a lot, like normal addicting things are...
How much do any of the WoW players on the board play for game time?

 

[Beerdude26]

"This is John."
"John is addicted."
"To video games."
"John can't live without them."
"They have destroyed his life."
"If he doesn't play video games at least every 4 hours, he will go MAD."
"On February the 19th, John killed himself after his hard drive crashed."
"Don't let this happen to your child."
"Phone : 0800-8555-6555."

Lawlz

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

Hello my name is babyheadcrab, and i'm a WoWcaholic

 

[xLostx]

I always hit my crack pipe right b4 I play some c-s

 

[JellyWorld]

Anything that's fun's addictive.

 

[$kelet0r]

like sex

 

[CptStern]

and self-immolation



:O

 

[$kelet0r]

lol- give a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day, set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life..

 

[The Mullinator]

Sure why not. If anything I see it improving the sales of the game. I mean what fun is a game if it isn't at least somewhat addictive. As for the parents, well I wouldn't worry since they seem to know so little about the ratings anyway, the kid could just tell them its just a little advertising gimmick.

 

[Pesmerga]

I play WoW, and it's not THAT addictive. Sure, just like any other good game I play it regularly, but I won't ruin my life because of the game itself.

If you want to label MMORPG's as addictive, then might as well label HL2 and any other good game addictive as well.

 

[Qonfused]

I play WoW, and it's not THAT addictive. Sure, just like any other good game I play it regularly, but I won't ruin my life because of the game itself.

If you want to label MMORPG's as addictive, then might as well label HL2 and any other good game addictive as well.

6char.

 

[CptStern]

are there "warning cigarettes are highly addictive" in the rest of the world? canada has something similiar on cigarrette packs

frankly I think they should put more warning labels on everything:

"Warning: Pornography may be addictive and may lead to callouses, irritated skin, blindness and eternal damnation"

"Warning: Using a computer may become addictive and may lead to callouses, irritated skin, blindness and eternal damnation"

 

[$kelet0r]

are there "warning cigarettes are highly addictive" in the rest of the world? canada has something similiar on cigarrette packs

in euroland yes there are along with the smoking kills , this pack contains etc in big black writing - is it canada that puts the pictures of damage that smoking causes on the pack?

"Warning: Pornography may be addictive and may lead to callouses, irritated skin, blindness and eternal damnation"

"Warning: Using a computer may become addictive and may lead to callouses, irritated skin, blindness and eternal damnation"

well both do, porn sites often have that page of enter exit this material may offend blurb and computers come with the standard take breaks from your pc

 

[The Mullinator]

"Any society that needs disclaimers has too many lawyers." ~Erik Pepke

 

[Direwolf]

I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

Personally, I think I need a warning label on tacos before games. Those suckers are addictive and most certainly harmful.

 

[CptStern]

in euroland yes there are along with the smoking kills , this pack contains etc in big black writing - is it canada that puts the pictures of damage that smoking causes on the pack?

yes here's a few:

hey that's my brand!

well both do, porn sites often have that page of enter exit this material may offend blurb and computers come with the standard take breaks from your pc

yes but it says nothing about eternal damnation