WOW that is true..i do get that sense of Adrenaline in my blood when i play a FPS like COD4 on search and destroy in a clan match or a pub and your whole team dies and your the last one left and your heart is pounding and you cant stop shaking and by some magical power you pull a clutch and wipe out the whole team and win the game. Yea i guess i have a addiction lol..hey its better then CRACK :P

I think that there have been clinical studies, and what they've found is that a good majority of extremely addicted gamers use their online lives as a shell, to shelter them from stresses/trauma in their real life, and also as means of which to exert more control over aspects of their life.

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great article, i think therapists are going to make a lot of cash over this new "sickness". But i happen to think an adrenaline rush every now and then is good for the nerves ;)

Very interesting peice Chromo! It's less the case now but I have at various times in my life been absolutely addicted to various games. I remember when I was very small sneaking up out of bed to play super Mario, Most recently there was world of warcraft, a game that, due to it's addictivness, really did have teh power to destroy lives, I played it waaaay to much and long after it stopped being fun.



The good thing about being addicted to video games is it is far more healthy than being addicted to drugs, alcohol, smoking, and it's far easier to kick the habit. Video gaming on it's own won't be doing anything to your body (course you may very well be munching pringles and pizza all the time you are playing then you may see the effects :P) so I guess it can be considered a safe addiction.



It's strange, but I really think people are predisposed to become addicted. There is no reason why some people need to have a Burger King every day, other than they are addicted to it. There is no reason why people drink a whole bottle of Coke or Irn Bru (hehe, scottish drink, just had to get it in there :P if you ever have the chance try it. First sip is AWFUL, by the time you finish a glass you will be in love) every single day other than because they are addicted.



We are always going to be addicted to something. I think it all boils down to whether that something is safe or not. I really think we could do far worse than be addicted to a bit of Doom or something :P



-Kenny from Qotpa

I am in total agreement. Many FPS and RPG games give me that rush. It's always fun, and exciting for me.



A perfect example for me is a game like Counter-Strike:Source. Get down to me and a few other opposing members. I really start to shake, my heart starts really pumping. I always love that, and that's probably why I'm addicted to that game for instance.



WoW is another for me, it being PvP or even PvE. I'm a healer, so, having to keep everybody healed, and alive can get quite intense for me.



Well written, Chrom0, and good read for me.

This was an awesome piece Chrom, i totally agree to you're right and I'm all for the biological aspect of alot of things and how they can dictate some of the choices we make, how strongly we become attracted to others, why we become addicted to "xtreme sports" and especialyl gaming.. Gaming is a rush and risk anyone can take because it involves nothing but sitting in your home and still give you those same adrenaline filled experiences.. Thats why America (as well as the world) is addicted to shock value, and horror movies as well, without even realizing it. You'd think movies like Saw and Hostel and shit would be little more than snuff films, but are in one of the fastest growing and popular genres of our time right now. :-P So yea, you're totally right. Nice article!

i have been in the heart pounding game mode.... usually happens even more when im under stress for a tournament tho :P Well writen chromo

I am addicted to games cause its my escape from reality. Very well written and good job. BUMPED

/applause



Well written and certainly food fo rthough, thanks Chrom!

Good read.

WO! Damn :(

shit i wish you guys would bump this and awesome read chrom





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I agree with you Chromo...however this obviously doesn't correlate across the entire demography. But I think that this does happen on some sort of level for every gamer...and for those that it doesn't, then they simply don't like gaming. Because why would you do something that you get no pleasure out of?



Me on the other hand, in games like CoD4...I realize that if I die, I simply start over and get another chance. I conduct actions that I wouldn't dream of doing in real life scenarios, which some of the games try to replicate. Sure I get my hopes up of coming out on top and being a "hero" for my team, but if I lose and noob it up, oh well, do better next round. But I will say there are some RPG's out there that may have affected my way of life...lol.



Top notch reading Chromo!

I disagree with your blog, but only on a personal level. I can see for some people how this may apply.



I deal with a lot of anxiety issues and often times I have trouble playing online because of this. For example, I am decent at guitar hero and love it on my own, so I thought I'd battle online. I immediately got the shakes, palms sweaty etc. and just couldn't do it. For me, gaming is about having fun, not making myself stressed out over it. The weirdest part is, I only get the panic attacks when I'm doing well.



However, with CoD4, which I totally suck at.. I love! I get killed all the time, but still have fun. I don't get the jitteryness I talked about above. I am not a good FPS player, but I still like to play them.



It also happens to me at the casino. If I'm up, I get nervous as all hell, and have to stop playing.



Also on a random side note. Did you know asthma inhalers are a shot of adrenaline? The adrenaline rush helps clear up your lungs.

I totally agree!! I've gotten that feeling from playing Gears of War, Call of Duty 4 and Forza Motorsport 2 so much. then I'd get pissed off if it didn't go my way. roflmaool.



Games are my anti-drug. *smiles*

I have to admit this for once....I thought I was the only person in the world who had his heart pump and his body shake when playing video games. I always thought I was weird for doing it, but I guess after seeing this i am not as ashamed as I used to be :)



As far as your non professional opinion goes....i do agree with the entire thing. First, why would anyone not want to feel the rush of adrenaline? Thats a great question. Second, as far as the endorphins thing goes, its definately true because when i play and my wife is around, I am more inclined to want to be physical with her for some reason, but I never put the 2 together, but now it makes sense. Lastly, it all makes sense as a whole. Most people are aroused through what they are seeing or doing, but video games combine a couple of arousal points in the human mind. You get to see action and excitement, you get to interact with the characters onscreen, and you get to feel emotionally for the whole experience. Bravo Chrome, i love this blog :)

I have to say I totally agree :) One of the more safer addictions I think. Great Blog Chromo!

wow, that actually makes alot of sense to me...

i am addicted to games, but i am also an adrenaline junkie!

like i go rock climbing and when i get to the top of where i want to go, instead of being let down i jump off and swing haha!

and hopefully i am gonna go sky diving pretty soon too XD

i should totally go to the AAA group :P

but then again i like to drink and i dont go to AA meetings, maybe ill just leave teh AAA and continue to have fun haha

i think video game addiction is more than just the adrenaline. i think is u play a game u enjoy enough u find it harder and harder to switch off ur mind to it, u start living the game, and then u cant leave the game because it becomes your life

just another thing to add to my addiction list.. damn that things getting long lol.. now i can use gaming as excuse "cant help it im addicted"

haha phate, that quote was going though my mind when i was writing this!

I sweat when I play intense clan matches... I love that feeling of pressure!

I toally agree. I think 'FPSDoug' says it best when he says:

"There's nothing like the rush of huntin' people down and killin' 'em! I mean my heart's beating-- my heart's beating! My hand's just shakin'-- my hand's just shakin'! But I'm still shootin'! [now screaming] 'N' I'm still gettin' headshots. It's like boom! headshot. Boom! headshot. Boom! headshot!"

:D lol