Gaming addiction

**Indiana_Jones** · 14th March 2007, 10:51

Full story: http://www.stuff.co.nz/3978271a7873.html

"The horror is that it's an obsession of the mind. It's a mental thing, it's not about gaming itself," Mr Bakker says.

"Then there's the other side. Let's imagine a 14-year-old kid. He's chubby and he's got pimples and the girls don't like him and he gets picked on at school.

"He comes home and turns on his computer and he becomes Arnold Schwarzenegger fighting the world but he has total control over his little environment. There's this need to go off into a fantasy world to control everything, but then they're losing control."

""Some friends and I have been calling ourselves WoW (World of Warcraft) widows since the game was released," the 30-year-old New Zealand expat, who lives in New Jersey in the US, says.

"WoW has taken a serious toll on my relationship. My husband still goes to work and supports his children and still has family time, but there just is not room for relationship time and World of Warcraft. For most, balancing World of Warcraft with real-life responsibilities is a bit of a challenge, but for some it is impossible," she says. "

-Indy

**Squeak the Rat** · 14th March 2007, 10:55

I'd say there's a few KBW's around too.....

**R6_kid:Me** · 14th March 2007, 10:55

i knew my mate had a problem when he turned down a game of pool and going to some clubs/pubs in takapuna (drinks on me) to stay home and play WoW instead... loser

**Guitana** · 14th March 2007, 11:03

Originally Posted by R6_kid

i knew my mate had a problem when he turned down a game of pool and going to some clubs/pubs in takapuna (drinks on me) to stay home and play WoW instead... loser

You should have held him down on the floor and gave him a mega titty twister that would've snapped him out of cyberspace!!!

**bugjuice** · 14th March 2007, 11:06

there was a funny South Park episode on this sort of stuff the other week..
fukin lairious

**Deviant Esq** · 14th March 2007, 11:08

In some instances, however, getting lost in the virtual world of online games can have real consequences. Marathon playing sessions have contributed to several deaths in Asia. A South Korean man died after playing the online game Starcraft for 50 hours, while a Chinese news agency reported a woman dying of exhaustion after several continuous days playing World of Warcraft.

A Korean couple were charged last year with neglect after their four-month-old daughter died while they played World of Warcraft at an internet cafe.

In another case, a player was killed in China in 2005 for stealing a virtual sword. Qiu Chengwei stabbed Zhu Caoyuan after he sold a borrowed sword, which is used in the game Legend of Mir 3, for $1,267.

I can believe it happens having known a guy lose his marriage because all he did was play games (still know him actually, and he's no better)... but still, people playing themselves to death? Incredible.

**earthbound misfit** · 14th March 2007, 11:10

Whats wrong with those women, don't they understand mans primal urge seek out and destroy those weaker than himself while also gaining power and control thru war
They need to go to counselling obviously, sort out their loyalty issues, maybe buy him more RAM for their anniversary or something

**Indiana_Jones** · 14th March 2007, 11:10

Originally Posted by bugjuice

there was a funny South Park episode on this sort of stuff the other week..
fukin lairious

Yea I watched it online, fucking classic lol

-Indy

**Disco Dan** · 14th March 2007, 11:37

Originally Posted by Indiana_Jones

"WoW has taken a serious toll on my relationship. My husband still goes to work and supports his children and still has family time, but there just is not room for relationship time and World of Warcraft. For most, balancing World of Warcraft with real-life responsibilities is a bit of a challenge, but for some it is impossible," she says. "

"my husband spends the whole weekend out on his motorbike"
"my husband spends the whole weekend on kiwibiker"
"my husband...." WHO CARES.......

If people would rather spend time in front of their computer playing a computer game than spend it with their partner they dont deserve a partner in the first place. leave em, and find someone who actually cares!

**Indiana_Jones** · 14th March 2007, 11:50

Originally Posted by earthbound misfit

Whats wrong with those women, don't they understand mans primal urge seek out and destroy those weaker than himself while also gaining power and control thru war
They need to go to counselling obviously, sort out their loyalty issues, maybe buy him more RAM for their anniversary or something

Damn right!

now get some some RAM baby

-Indy

**Smorg** · 14th March 2007, 12:30

I was an addict I still play although I'm no longer as bad as I used to be, not WOW though....BF2

**Lias** · 14th March 2007, 14:54

I've cut back my online gaming.

I only 3box rather than 6box now, and I'm only playing for ~40-45 hours a week rather than 70+.

I was gaming before I met my parther though so she doesnt nag too much because the gaming was there before her, and she knows its my first love :-)

**Indiana_Jones** · 14th March 2007, 14:57

Originally Posted by Lias

I've cut back my online gaming.

I only 3box rather than 6box now, and I'm only playing for ~40-45 hours a week rather than 70+.

I was gaming before I met my parther though so she doesnt nag too much because the gaming was there before her, and she knows its my first love :-)

my g/f probbaly plays more games then I do lol

-Indy

**Curious_AJ** · 14th March 2007, 19:57

thats a lie and you know it.. the last time i gamed was at your place and before that i hadnt played for months.. i dont have the time.. its my brothers who spend all day playing WoW and City of Heros (respectively) and dont have social lives...