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As the most popular game on general release at the moment, Call of Duty: Black Ops is certainly one of the most engaging titles to date. The console extravaganza had massive pre-orders and was sold out within hours of its release; such was the hype and anticipation surrounding it.

It is believed that the gaming industry is now bigger than its movie brethren in the entertainment family and developers work extremely hard to keep gamers coming back for more. Celebrity voice overs, stunning visuals, immersive worlds and continual updates with new content are just some of the ways companies keep their audiences’ attention.

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The Dark Side of Gaming

There is a darker side to gaming though, one which is damaging and, in some cases, even deadly. A fast growing number of gaming addiction cases are coming to light and is now being taken seriously as a new form of addiction, ranking up there with alcohol, drugs, nicotine and gambling.

The next revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders will have a comprehensive section on video game addiction, or, video game overuse.

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Deaths Attributed to Extreme Gaming Addiction

You must login or register to view this content.Devin Moore from Fayette, Alabama was addicted to Grand Theft Auto and reportedly played the game constantly. He was arrested and detained at a local police station after an alleged car theft. During his detention he grabbed a 9mm gun from an officer and shot him several times in the head. Moore was sentenced to death and is still awaiting the results of an appeal.

You must login or register to view this content.Mr. Qui from Shanghai, China was sentenced to life in prison after killing his friend Mr. Zhu with a knife. Zhu had sold a Dragon Sabre from Legend of Mir 3 which Qui had lent him in the game. Despite Zhu’s efforts to calm his friend and offer the money he made from it, Qui stabbed him to death.


You must login or register to view this content.In 2007 a 13 year old called Dinh murdered an 81 year old woman for subscription money to a game. He garrotted her then buried her body in a pile of sand outside the house. He was too young for prison and was sent to a re-education camp where he is still currently held.


You must login or register to view this content.Daniel Petric, 17, unlocked the family safe where his parents had hidden his Halo 3 disc and with it he found a gun which he used to shoot his parents. He told them to close their eyes because he had a surprise for them. When they did so he shot them both in the head. His father survived but sustained critical injuries and his mother died instantly.


You must login or register to view this content.You must login or register to view this content.Tyrone Spellman, 27, was utterly addicted to his Xbox. His 17-month-old daughter pulled his console onto the floor when she grabbed a cable, and the console was damaged as a result. Spellman was so enraged with her that he beat her repeatedly around the head with his controller, cracking her skull several times which killed her.

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The Dangers of Gaming

These cases are extreme but they do highlight the dangers of an increasingly widening addiction. Video games are a very real threat to many people’s lives. Many women have started referring to themselves as gaming widows and many marriages have ended as a result. That said, almost as many women are addicts as men.

Addicts have also lost jobs, real life friends, their health declines and they often isolate themselves to indulge in a world that, although seemingly full of reward, only rewards those responsible for creating them. Further more, the actions taken in the gaming world have no bearing on real life – nobody outside the gaming community cares because it’s not real.

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Symptoms of Gaming Addiction and Help

Gaming addictions are similar to gambling addictions and addicts display very similar psychological behavioural patterns. Symptoms include:

◦ Obsessive about games or compulsions to play them.

◦ Neglect of friends and family to game.

◦ Neglect of personal responsibilities (calling in sick at work).

◦ Playing down the amount of time spent gaming.

◦ Irritable when not playing (withdrawal symptoms).

◦ Game is centre of attention, even when not playing.

◦ Neglect of personal hygiene and health (including lack of sleep).

◦ Headaches, backache and RSI, mostly Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

◦ Becoming extremely defensive, often aggressive, when it is suggested they have an addiction.

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HELP!

Help is available though and there are groups on the internet who deal specifically with video game addictions, such as You must login or register to view this content.who are constantly helping people deal with, and overcome their addictions. If you know someone who sounds like they might have a gaming addiction or you feel you have a problem, visit their website for more information.

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Oh my god... Ive never knew it was this extreme

Some cases are really rare to see however, from black ops? I would expect it from GTA but I do not think that Black Ops can cause an addiction, especially if people suck at it.

Nice job bro. :y:

It's crazy how the world is when it comes to gaming, but it's reality. I only seem to be irritable when not playing sometimes. :mudkip:

Hope no one on NGU has killed someone :confused:

This is all bullshit. Those "examples" of extreme addiction are nothing more than people gone overboard. There is no way a normal person is going to try and steal a car, jack a police officers gun, and then repeatedly shoot him in the head. No one. And who the fk is going to beat their 17 month year old daughter in the head with a controller? No one. Are video games addicting? Yes. Is there a problem with video games? No. There is nothing wrong with videogames. This is like the whole fast food debate. Remember when MacDonalds was getting sued? It's just like this. You have to control yourself. The game isn't going to do it for you, and it's really sad that some people never give games a chance. They just point the finger because the games are graphic. Funny thing is, I have seen movies that are just as graphic, that those finger pointer were raving about. So, honestly, are games really that bad compared to movies? Honestly, if a game is 17+ that is YOUR choice to let your child play, because stores won't sell it them without an ADULT there.

Bottom line is there are extremes in everything, but you can't try and generalize a whole population based are 4-5 radical examples.

agreeing with the post above. millions of people play video games, and only a few extreme cases are reported. using it like this you could say anything can lead to death. going outside can lead to death and so on.

Wow.

Too short.

Games don't kill people, people kill people, haha!

wow the guy who killed his baby daughter just because she dropped his xbox

i feel sickened to read this

Damn, I think I might have an addiction :gluk:

Anyway, great thread once again ...