Computer (game) addiction!

[Rhuobhe-]

Anyone else addicted to computer game or more generally to the computer?

I find sometimes I will spend 3-4 hours a day playing my current favorite game: Runescape. But having said that I also feel as if I want more!

Personally I am not bothered by this, but it drives my wife crazy. I think it is no different than her watching several episodes of friends, sex in the city, and other silly shows that I don't understand. One difference though is instead of just staring at a screen, I am interacting with what is happening which stimulates my mind and helps my hand-eye coordination.

[Richt]

I wouldnt say I am addicted to computer games, but I do go through phases of not being able to put certain titles down.

I found Tiger Woods 2004 on the ps2 and world snooker 2004 very addictive at different stages.

[tickletussler]

Originally Posted by Rhuobhe-

Anyone else addicted to computer game or more generally to the computer?

I find sometimes I will spend 3-4 hours a day playing my current favorite game: Runescape. But having said that I also feel as if I want more!

Personally I am not bothered by this, but it drives my wife crazy. I think it is no different than her watching several episodes of friends, sex in the city, and other silly shows that I don't understand. One difference though is instead of just staring at a screen, I am interacting with what is happening which stimulates my mind and helps my hand-eye coordination.

Oh YES, I'm absolutely addicted and have been known to stay up the whole night playing and stay awake till the next day.

If I was going to choose the lesser of 2 evils, i would say game addiction, because it keeps me away from the kitchen, i only eat what I have to, and it makes me stick to Atkins to a tee.

It helps that my other half is addicted to the same game but we often have to "fight" over the PC as it's only installed on one PC so we can share characters. Luckily we have 3 other PCs at home! LOL

I reckon being addicted to the computer box is better than the tv box - there's more crap on tv than on the computer

[Zolgor]

My weakness is Counter Strike, Just plain old CS 1.6 for me. I find that it is hard to go a day without it and while I usually only play for 20-30 minutes at a time it really ticks my wife off because she thinks I am dependant on it lol..

I must say I have a PS2, XBOX and Gamecube and CS 1.6 on the PC is still my favorite.

[misti17]

I used to be addicted to Everquest. Along with most members of my family. (mom, brother, 2 sisters and cousins)

Then I met my fiance and quit playing the game. Since November, we have played World of Warcraft. I would say he is much more addicted than me.

The thing I liked more so about Everquest that I found addicting was the social atmosphere and WoW just doesn't have that for me. (Thank God!)

Misti

[Ernesto ECB]

I've been playing games religiously since the original NES came out when I was a kid. I moved onto the Genesis and SNES, then the Sega CD, PS1, Saturn and N64. Once I got into college, it started up again with the GC, Xbox, and PS2. Now I'm starting graduate school, and guess what????? I already have my xbox 360 pre ordered!!!

I used to play games all day before I graduated from high school, but once college started, I find myself only playing a select few games now. I mostly play heavily during the winter and summer breaks. I would say that video games have even influenced my career path as I am slowly working my way to a pHD in Computer Science. I've been addicted to everything from Command & Conquer, Goldeneye, Mario Kart, Final Fantasy 7, to Halo.

Is it a problem? No, I don't think so. It has been a nice way to experience adventures and stories just as if I was reading a novel. Can it be a problem? Yes, I have a brother that seems to substitute good grades with clan matches on xbox Live.

[BreakfastSurreal]

my world of warcraft addiction is what lead to my rapid weight gain...if you are grouped up with people in a game doing somethign, and you get hungry and go afk, you have to think and cook quick...therefore my meals mostly consisted of hot pockets and pizza rolls and chicken nuggets before I started this WOE...I have had to limit my playing time to nights and weekends only because otherwise I would NEVER make time to exercise during the day. Moderation is key to everything! hehe DAMN MMORPG's!

[Jabak]

AHHH yes, the gaming addiction. I have been a serious gamer for quite some time. I started with everquest in early 98' and am now involved with beta testing of new games and am active in World of Warcraft with The Syndicate(the worlds oldest and largest online gaming guild) http://www.llts.org

I was once addicted to gaming in a bad way. My normal day would be go to work for 8 hours(when i didnt skip out to game) come home and get on the computer for 12 hours, pass out for 4 and repeat. Often on the days I didnt work I would spend 40ish hours online at a time or until i passed out from exaustion. The side effects from this was the loss of local friends ( as i met and still am in contact with friends I made online at the time) and some serious weight gain due to my sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habbits. After a couple years of doing this I came down with a bad cold and just felt terrible. My family had a kind of "intervention" where they sat me down and expressed to me their concearns for my unhealthy lifestyle. I really didnt think much of it until they showed me a picture of what i looked like after graduating highschool and one taken of me recently....almost 100lbs heavier. This was when I decided that my addiction had gone way to far.

Now I still play online games, but look to them as a source of enjoyment rather then a need. My weight has gone from 317 to just monday to 206 woot. Actually becoming a member of The Syndicate has helped me immensly along my new WOL. I find it easier to follow the Atkins WOL while gaming in my downtime( i had a problem eating while i was bored). Its important to keep things in perspective when gaming. Its far to easy to blow off important things like exercise and friends and spend them all online. If anyone does happen to play world of warcraft, send me a tell ingame to Jabok or Jabak on the Zul'jin server( i play 2 at once ) and I would be happy to chat with you!

[so not mandi]

I am also very much into MMORPGs. Always have been. From the first graphical MMO to the one I'm beta testing (City of Villains) I have played most. I just adore them.. Even World of Warcraft, which I played extensively and most likely will play again sometime in the future, when they fix some issues. :P

I play City of Heroes also, which is actually a great game for people who want to cut back on time spent on games, IMO. You feel powerful at low levels as well as high levels, and you can do practically everything by yourself so you don't have to depend on getting a group to do stuff. I think this is great because, when I need to go make an Atkins dinner & I need some time.. I just quit the game. I don't feel like I'm getting behind as much as I did with WoW. (Day 5 and we've already got a bunch of 60s, come on, geez!) But you still want to put at least 2-3 hours in it a day to get "your fill" which, on top of work/school.. you do tend to put exercise and whatnot on hold because you're just not thinking about it. It's horrible... but I am trying to correct it.

[matawguro]

Speaking of Everquest...



Anyways, I seem to be addicted to EQ, and now EQ2 differently. I can't play hardcore anymore as I get burned-out. Must be my age. My addiction comes in the form of spending on PC upgrades to play the game and getting second accounts that I hardly play anyway.

Right now, I seem to be more addicted to reading bulletin boards like the ADBB.