Computer Game Addiction

[Tamerlane]

@ SS

Your parents play Pokemon?

As for me, I can see the TV from my PC, however I rarely tend to spend long enough time on each. If I happen to reach the two hour limit for my PC, I tend to disconnect from the internet.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

@SS-Your parents sound much cooler than mine. My parents couldn't even turn on a Game Boy colour, much less play one.

@Tamerlane-Yeah, the internet service in Perth is a bit of a let-down, isn't it? I live in the foothills, and we get terrible internet service. I'm lucky to get a steady 5k/sec, even though my PC has a 56k modem.

[Tamerlane]

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
@Tamerlane-Yeah, the internet service in Perth is a bit of a let-down, isn't it? I live in the foothills, and we get terrible internet service. I'm lucky to get a steady 5k/sec, even though my PC has a 56k modem.

Broadband is the answer my friend, however at the moment. Telstra seems to be acting liking Microsoft with those pathetic download limits.

[Sailor Saturn]

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
@SS-Your parents sound much cooler than mine. My parents couldn't even turn on a Game Boy colour, much less play one.

@Tamerlane-Yeah, the internet service in Perth is a bit of a let-down, isn't it? I live in the foothills, and we get terrible internet service. I'm lucky to get a steady 5k/sec, even though my PC has a 56k modem.

Yeah, my 'rents are pretty cool. They both have their own GBCs. They both have Pokemon Pinball, plus my mom has Pokemon Silver and Pokemon TCG GB, as well as several other games. She also has her own N64. My dad is "borrowing" my SNES, but he won't give it back. They also spend all day every day watching TV.

I always laugh when I read things complaining about kids watching too much TV and all the bad influences from it. My 'rents spend a whole lot more time watching TV and playing video games than I do. It reminds me of an episode of Sliders in which the bartender said "That's the problem with you kids today. You read too damn much and don't watch enough TV."

[Sailor Saturn]

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
I'm lucky to get a steady 5k/sec, even though my PC has a 56k modem.

I've got 56k modem, but only 36k/s connection through MSN. No cable where I live and DSL costs minimum $50 a month and we can't afford that.

[Aragorn Returns]

i have cable, but there are too many people using it and so the entire community goes slow. also, cox is not all that reliable, they have a lot of problems. The only TV i really watch is smallville on every tuesday, but only if it's not a rerun.

[Tamerlane]

Originally posted by Sailor Saturn
I've got 56k modem, but only 36k/s connection through MSN. No cable where I live and DSL costs minimum $50 a month and we can't afford that.

At the moment in Perth, the only offer for cable comes with a $56 a month and a 300 MB limit download. And thats not even including the installation fee. Thats the problem when you only have one cable provider.

No discount rates for us.

[Aegis]

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
I find I can't handle more than 6 or 7 hours a day on the computer. I hardly ever watch TV, unless there's a good anime on. Which happens about 5 times a year at best. That said, I do need my nightly Simpsons fix, but it's still only 1/2 an hour most days.

I've been reading a lot of books lately.

Well, yesterday I had an old frined over, so maybe only a couple of hours. But normally, I spend about 4 or 5 hours on my computer a night, doing assorted things, mostly writing.

[frogus]

nwah ha ha! 512kbps I love you!

anyway, to get back on topic, I think it is appaling how the press can take an effect and say it's a cause...
In the several recent 'why do you play RPGs' and 'why play videogames' threads, you will have noticed that the reason PC games are fun is because they are exciting, whereas real life is boring. So the appeal is greater to people with more boring lives. There are thousands of people however who 'just like videogames', independantly of how boring their lives are, and of course there are plenty of people who have boring lives but 'just don't like videogames'...so the clinch comes really when someone is of the type who just really likes videogames due to their personality (similar to many SYMers I would hazard), and is of a depressive tendancy. Here the attraction to videogames is great, but it is multiplied ten-fold by the extreme boredom with which depressives view their lives...so the appeal of computer games is massive and dangerous and addictive.

Suicide is a possible of depression. Videogame addiction is also a possible effect of depression. This in no way means that suicide is an effect of videogame addiction.

[K0r/\/f1@k€$]

The various replies made here pretty much bear out what I feel, particularly that it is ridiculous to say someone spends too much time on the computer in such a way as to say they are always doing the same thing. That could be compared to saying you spend too much time outside. The whole reason why I like the computer that much is because there is so much you can do on it. However, five hours a day is pretty much stretching it for me.

[KidD01]

Well you don't have any idea the temptation of PC games. But the temptaion of SPAM is the worst. You can ask Sleepo & Weasel for details

[K0r/\/f1@k€$]

I'm ashamed to say I had an unpleasent period of playing Diablo 2 for about 3/4 hours a day. I really should change my siganture now I've uninstalled it.

[KidD01]

I know how U feel. Diablo 2 packed too much action while the scene are too dark I prefer RTS than Diablo. I can hook myself around 3 hrs playing Total Annihilation, TA : Kingdoms, C&C series or RA series. I played Mechcommander 2, MW4 & MW 3 these days - just to relife the joy playing simulators (besides I can't spend my budget on new games these days)

[Aegis]

Originally posted by KidD01
I know how U feel. Diablo 2 packed too much action while the scene are too dark I prefer RTS than Diablo. I can hook myself around 3 hrs playing Total Annihilation, TA : Kingdoms, C&C series or RA series. I played Mechcommander 2, MW4 & MW 3 these days - just to relife the joy playing simulators (besides I can't spend my budget on new games these days)

Mechcommander 2 isn't a sim, but it's a damn fine game (Was in an online clan, House Davion, 1st New Avalon Hussaers) and was the undefeated champion of the Innershpere during the the Chaos March, and Clan Wars.

Anyway, I had a point, but seem to have forgotten ti. Be back later!

[Aragorn Returns]

wow aegis, you're amazing.