Game Addictions - Panorama - Monday 6th December - 8.30pm

Morning all!

Panorama - Trialed for cover art on a Daft Punk album

Just a little note here before I settle down with a bout of The Sims 3 and Fallout: New Vegas (Oh yeah because you and CoD is SO macho!). I saw an advert for a document on Gaming Addictions, I believe it to be discussing whether or not a "gaming addiction" is valid for treatment in these times. Bad Press? Possibly. Panorama are not wise to poke their head out so soon after exposing corruption in football the night before the big bid for 2018, but perhaps they are into S&M and stuff like that. Punishment is their porn.

(For the Guardian's take on this, visit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2010/dec/02/panorama-gaming-addiction)

I, for one, am on the fence on gaming addiction. Having experienced and observed the destruction of addiction to chemicals, their affect on individuals and their families and friends, when I look at gaming it does not have the same impact. The most popular response appears to be "But why can't you just turn it off?!". I am confident that this attitude towards a chemical addict would not only prove ineffective in motivation, but also prove wildly damaging in the downward spiral that is traversed in the course of the drug abuse.

What you can also tap into is the phrase "Binge Gaming". This probably takes place so much it is not worth approaching, but lets be honest, if you have not seen a video yet of someone playing a game and being rudely interrupted by parents/power cuts/anything, then stop reading this and hit YouTube now. What makes it so funny and yet so sad is that I imagine a few of us have been here before. You do not want to stop. You do not want to go to bed, do homework, eat dinner, go to grandmas. You want to sit there and play. Why? The only appropriate analogy I have, is maybe having great sex, only to be halted prior to climax. I have had some pretty bad tantrums believe me. But was this not addiction at its birth? I will be honest, I would be surprised if you do not see a couple of the aforementioned videos on the show. Bad press it really is.

So are they valid or not? I cannot decide! I have heard so many people say they are addicted to games, however part of me wants to argue. It would appear to be similar to the number of people who claim they are alcoholics (with shameless pride I might add), I genuinely would want to know how much of it is true and how much is just them making claims so that they can continue "abusing" while waiting for someone to step in and help.

Either way, Panorama are pros at typically negating the positives of the subject at hand. The games industry have done wonderous things, but unfortunately for all the Jack Thompsons (look him up) out there, there aren't enough David Jaffes (look him up). Someone to tell them to fuck off and stop being so narrow minded. And it would appear that when we try to shut 'Jack' up he screams louder. Like a child.

See you on Monday!

If you have anything you wish to share with me or indeed the readers, feel free to comment or e-mail me at twentyfiveand0@hotmail.co.uk - Don't forget to check out the What Have I Been Playing pages found on the right! OR Check out my channel at www.youtube.com/ike1luv