by Jeremy Matthews

Created on: April 13, 2010

People love video games.  Personally, I have been an avid gamer just about all of my life; I love video games.  And I will be the first to admit that there is such a thing as 'Video Game Addiction'.  But it isn't a disease (much like alcoholism or substance abuse).  Instead, it is a behavioral problem.  Due to the lack of ability on the game player's part to stop playing the game.  I have played some games that were truly awesome; did I want to stop playing these games?  No, I did not.  However, my parents had to teach me at a young age when to call it quits.  When left to my own devices, I could play for hours on end.  The weekends could pass with me barely acknowledging that they have come and gone.  I would become completely absorbed in what I was playing.

Was this the fault of the video game, the game's producer, or the retailer who sold me the game?  No, the fault lies solely with me; the player.  Now with that being said, years later I am still a happy gamer. I have ample enough time to play my favorite games and keep a healthy home/work life.  The key to breaking video game addiction is learning moderation.  Anything without moderation isn't a good thing.  This goes for eating, playing games, talking, etc.

A lot critics like to point blame at games for this addiction.  Having read/heard many people pointing blame at Blizzard for 'World of Warcraft' (being one of many infamous games on which people have gotten hooked).  But this blame is misplaced.  The person playing the game has a free-will.  And they need to exercise this free-will to log off of that favorite game, and emerge into the sunlight and fresh air from outside.  For me the key is to find other meaningful things to do instead of gaming.  Like taking a walk with the wife, or going to see a movie, or go outside and do some yard work.  You have to find a substitute for the games.

In the end there is nobody to blame for your game addiction other than yourself.  You need to make the first steps to gaining back your life.  You can have games and real life coexist.  Sometimes it is difficult, but it is possible.

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