Gaming Fanatics Show Hallmarks of Drug Addiction

Game_addict writes "There's a story over at New Scientist saying that a new study has found that game addiction has the same effects on people as drug addiction."

So ...

[b0r1s]

Where do I sign up for 'disability' payments?

Does NOT.. In Fact...

[Sfing_ter]

It DOES NOT. In Fact, I can stop playing Quake any time I choose. And when I choose to I will. Just not right now. I have a couple more frags to get... NO Really... anytime I want...

This just in:

[oGMo]

"Journalists show hallmarks of sensationalistic idiots."

In related news...

[Elitist_Phoenix]

... so does Slashdot!

It's a good thing...

[bobdotorg]

... that my only addiction is to Duke Nuke'em Forever.

World of Warcraft FTW

[SenorMooCow]

I would have posted sooner but I was busy playing WoW. :)

Re:You know the worst part?

[Anonymous Coward]

You just have to recognize what part of the computer you're addicted to. I was addicted to Counter-Strike. So I recognized that, and instead got read slashdot all the time. Which I'm not addicted to at all. Not at all.

Some signs to watch out for...

[cffrost]

- Concerned familiy members confront you with stacks of empty jewel cases and electronics store receipts.

- Making promises to yourself you can't keep ("Just one last round...").

- Tendency to play alone; preference for single-player games over socially-accepted multi-player.

- Begging the cashier at Best Buy to front you a new title ("C'mon man I'll have the $49.95 by Friday, I swear!").

It's all about access

[AvantLegion]

I'm lucky. I've got an addiction too, but Hilary Duff won't let me anywhere near her.

So what's next?

[agapits]

Are they going to build rehab centers for game addicts where patients can only play super mario brothers or galaxia?

Gateway drug?

[daniel422]

And this article doesn't even go near the gateway aspect of videogames. Why I never started drinking and smoking dope until I started playin'. Now it's all been downhill. After that last all-night coke binge playing Sonic the Hedgehog I figured enough was enough...it was time to turn my life around. And it all started with a few mushrooms and a crazy guy called Mario....

Re:So ...

[iGN97]

You can only do that if you consistently blame getting fragged on the lag.

Bob Saget Agrees!

[DoctaWatson]

"Gaming is not a drug. I used to suck dick for coke. Now that's an addiction. You ever suck some dick for a video game?"

Summary for those who can't be bothered to RTFA:

[lxs]

Young men find a new excuse for their irresponsible behavior.

Isn't this exclusively a Nintendo thing?

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought Nintendo patented [slashdot.org] this effect.

Nintendo scored a patent Tuesday ... which covers causing a game character to hallucinate - e.g., see bleeding walls and hear maniacal laughter

ObPA

[SinaSa]

They say there is a Penny Arcade for every slashdot article.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2002/08/28 [penny-arcade.com]

As a drug addict...

[DeafByBeheading]

...I find this highly offensive!

Re:No Joke

[ClamIAm]

"A witty saying proves nothing."

Re:Big Effing Deal

[FidelCatsro]

apparently the symptoms include :
The lights being on , but your not home ,
Your mind is apparently not your own .
Your heart sweats and your body shakes ,
You need another kiss to alleviate the symptoms

Also you can't sleep , you can't eat .
There is no doubt this is deep
You will also notice your throat is tight and you cant breath
again all you need is a kiss to alleviate symptoms

Well many like to think they are immune to this stuff , Oh Yeah!
Unfortunately it is closer to the truth to say that they can not get enough .
Gonna have to face it , You're addicted to love.

(Shoot me now)

Re:No Joke

[jrob323]

Since you're apparently someone who DOES take the writings of Joseph Smith as pearls of unquestionable wisdom, that doesn't exactly impugn the legacy of Marx.