As I was watching the documentary, Second Skin, I was amazed to see how central MMORPG were to these gamers. I have been made aware that these games can be a large part of some people's lives, as seen in Julian Dibbell's Play Money, but some gamers have come to the point where they have found a soul mate. In other situations, people have moved in with fellow gamers. It seems so ludicrous, yet this is a reality for many people working dead-end jobs. It is a way for them to escape and be someone else.
While these virtual online game worlds might be a nice escape from reality, but it can become so addicting that people spend 170 days played per year. It is hard for me to imagine that an MMORPG could be so immersive that gamers ruin relationships, lose their jobs and fall into a depressed state, fearing that they will lose their internet connection and electricity due to the fact that they have no money to pay bills. The statistics presented in this documentary were upsetting to me. However, I also learned about the happiness that some people gain from MMORPGs such as friends and relationships. It is great that these games can bring people together, but I found it amusing that these people take it so seriously.
The fact that these games drive some gamers into online gamers anonymous, which is a type of self-help rehab for gamers. They are usually coming away from gaming with nothing and the online gamers anonymous provides effective methods to help rebuild real lives for these people. Although it seems crazy to me, this is a necessity for many people. MMORPGs have the ability to consume a person's life and leave them with absolutely nothing.
These games have the power to connect people from all around the world and these gamers have the ability to build a relationships. However, at the same time, these games also have the frightening power to destroy a gamers life. The fact that they are so addicting is a harsh and ominous reality to me and this documentary scares me out of having any desire to ever try these games.
Interesting claim at the end: are you afraid that you might have an addictive personality?
ReplyDeleteThe "addicts" I meet who game would have probably immersed themselves in something else. Many other game-players I meet, playing both online and traditional games, do have lives beyond what amounts to a hobby.