So this week the Entertainment Merchants Association released statistics on how the gaming industry was doing. Turns out the industry is doing pretty good year-to-year despite the current slump in console sales. Still the analyst say that the blockbuster games coming out later in the year will most likely bump up... oh wait, this is a story about videogames from Fox. Screw the facts, let's talk about how videogames are evil!
Seemingly out of nowhere (unless you read the headline, which foreshadowed the dramatic right turn the article takes) the story veers into an article about how psychologists are worried about game addiction, going as far as to mention the South Korean man who died while playing videogames in 2005. Why so far back? Because they probably didn't know about this guy in China, or they wanted to whip out that Korean addiction statistic about 2.9 percent of the male population being addicted to gaming. So somehow a story which appears to have been instigated by the release of sales numbers becomes about people getting addicted to and dying from gaming?
I realize that gaming addiction can be a real and serious problem that causes some very serious issues, but what is the point of bringing it up simply because you're discussing videogames in general? There was absolutley no impetus for this article, and if they were going to do a piece on gaming addiction a full fledged article on it would have been far more appropriate. If you're still not convinced, check out the sub-header which seems to say that the gaming industry is "peddling" its games to children like drugs.
Matthew Razak is Destructoid's Associate editor and co-founder of film site
Flixist. He began as community member "cowzilla" and was since sequestered to write brainy features material. He lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife.
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Contest:
8:00 PM on 08.01.2009
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I love Fox news, especially around the time of elections, but this is ridiculous.
The problem is not video-game addiction, the problem is that any form of liberal entertainment must be stopped!
As video games continue to take audiences away from television these attacks will only continue.
This story was just posted for mockery and hits anyway. FOX News isn't even worth mentioning on any blog that flaunts itself of having any integrity.
Why don't you be honest and cite the original article instead of trying to spin this as something Fox News put out themselves? It's disingenuous and shows you for what you are.
I agree with the first part of your comment. Calling this an addiction is an overstatement. I don't see how anyone can develop a physical or even psychological dependency on a game.
Then again, I've neither studied the field, nor do I plan to.
But I disagree that stories such as these should not be posted. We, as gamers, must defend our hobby so that it is no longer referred to as dangerous, meaningless, or childish.
Some people for instance are compulsive or any number of other mental defects. Does that mean the object that they are compulsive to buy or have is evil?
He's talking about the way it's twisted. The spin as they say in the News industry.
Addictions don't work that way. You can't get somebody off crack by getting them a girlfriend, or a job, or a goal for them to work towards. That's what seperates people who play games too much from people with addictions.
THIS IS INDISPUTIBLE FACT.
...but seriously, how do you americans actually believe Fox News? Seriously.
Very well written.
BAN THIS SICK FILTH YOU CALL FUN.
it's not like i'm going to play some cod 4 then go driving... into a tree. yippee
Analysts have discovered that once a person watches television, they are hooked for life!
Get the pitchforks and torches guys, we've got some burnin' to do!
Oh my God. I forgot about those!? I'm actually serious! I've been hearing so much about how video games are dangerous I actually forgot that smoking, drinking and drugs were a problem! Yeah thank you modern news you've saved the world's chilfren once again! >:[
Me.
On a more serious note, this is not really anything we should break our heads over. Unless it's clearly bashing videogames in order to be sensationalist and getting more hits from gamers because of that.
Also, I just like videogames. I like to play them, since it gives me something to do. They are fun to me, and that's why I keep playing them and keeping an eye out for new releases.
So, what were talking about?
"When that game is completed, gamers look to a new game, often without replaying the old ones."
Like a movie. I've bought tonnes of DVDs I've only watched once.
or even Books and CD's.
I just guess Fox News or however wrote this don't understand there is a difference between crack and videogames. Therefore they won't have the same warning signs of addiction. If the child steals and turns up with a new game then they'll be punished. Crack just disappears into your body. and what kid at a certain age doesn't lie to their parents or get out of chores? shit most of us still do it!
PS: I don't play video games, never have, and have no desire to do so, but I'll defend YOUR right to play them to the best of my ability!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,491429,00.html
I found it along with a decent mix of positive and negative articles about video games by searching "video games" in the www.foxnews.com search bar.
This one has a video. It just isn't quite as sexy to write about as it would be if "CBS" was replaced by "FOX"
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/21/earlyshow/health/main4959531.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody
You wanna know what word you're supposed to use? AddictIVE. Not addictING.
Someone can be addicting someone else to something but an object is always addictIVE. I see so many people get this wrong, do they teach it wrong in American schools or something? It's like saying "that videogame was so dissapointed. I am upsetting now." Not the right words!
Rant over.
Grammar aside, the word you should be using to describe a good video game is 'compelling'. As in, the game is so compelling, I can't put it down. Addictive carries connotations that are not helpful for the video game industry.
P.s. I wasn't aware of the difference between Addictive and Addicting.