Kotaku
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addiction
Japanese Newspaper Wonders About "Game Addicts"
The Mainichi Daily News is running a three part series on online game addiction. More »
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Comment by Megamoppy: Geh? Biting her and throwing the remote at a tv? How the hell does he do this because of online... 6 Responses | Other threads
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addiction
MTV Seeks Gaming Addicts For Reality Show
MTV's documentary series "True Life" is looking for you, if you're addicted to playing video games to the point that that it's ruining your life. The decade-old reality show is seeking hardcore addicts for "True Life: I'm Addicted To Videogames." More »
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Comment by UndergroundDreamer: I'll never understand why people want to show the whole nation that they have a psychological problem. "Hey look at... 11 Responses | Other threads
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news
News Show Looks At Death of Xbox Runaway, Dark Side of Gaming
This Friday CBC News show The Fifth Estate takes a look at the sad case of teen gamer runaway Brandon Crisp. More »
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Comment by Gorilla Snow is Maximum Risky: *sigh* Yet another case where everything and everyone is blamed but the parents. Sprinkled with some sensationalist news 'findings'. 17 Responses | Other threads
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clips
Video Game Addict Is A Real, Sad Case
Straight from the TV show of the same name, this intervention is froman episode earlier this yearFebruary 2005. And is sad, sad viewing. Oh, except for the Shinobi part. That part, totally understandable. More »
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Comment by willy: That is a fucked up way of dealing with addiction. Fair enough going cold turkey, but using emotional bribery is... 9 Responses | Other threads
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health
Italian Boy 'Addicted' To Playstation, Says Actual Doctor
13 year old Lorenzo Amato was rushed to hospital by his father, where doctors at first thought he may have been suffering from a stroke or brain disorder. But no - after closer examination, the medics diagnosed 'Playstation Addiction'. More »
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Comment by Komrade Kayce - Hero of Soviet Kotaku: I present evidence a, that video game addiction does exist. [IMG][i62.photobucket.com]] I have done this with every system I've bought for myself,... 9 Responses | Other threads
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addiction
Video Game Addiction Support Group Opens In London, Canada
The US-based support group, On-Line Gamers Anonymous has opened its first chapter in Canada. Brad Dorrance - founder member of the London, CA chapter - came to the group after his 12-hour a day habit contributed to the breakup of his marriage and lead to an attempted suicide. More »
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Comment by AllegraStreit: Now I'm no psychologistm but it seems to me that whether we want to call it an addiction, or merely... 5 Responses | Other threads
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world of warcraft
Warcraft Cited as Main Reason for Couple's Divorce
It seems that World of Warcraft is the cause of yet another relationship breakdown. A gal named Jocelyn has divorced her husband of six years citing a crippling Warcraft addiction as the main cause. More »
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By fdemarcoComment by disgustedwife: I'm another wife to add to the list of whom are in the mist of a marriage crisis due to... more » | Other threads
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china
Social Responsibility and the Chinese Gaming Scene
Henry Jenkins, an MIT professor who was at the International Games and Learning Forum in Shanghai earlier this month, has some very interesting general and gaming-specific observations on his blog - perhaps most interesting of all were his thoughts on the issue of addiction, social obligations of game companies, the piracy issue and a lot more - his somewhat-lengthy roundup is a great little synopsis of what I imagine were some really fascinating discussions. The connection between the one child policy (and the attendant 'little emperor' syndrome) and fears about gaming addiction among Chinese youth is not one I'd really thought of before: More »
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Comment by hikkifan1986: @Odin: Someone already recommended you take a government class. They're definitely right. But you likely won't. At the very least,... more » | Other threads
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crime
Game Obsession Blamed in Xbox Baby Murder Trial
Video game obsession is what lead to the beating death of 17-month-old Alayiah Turman, an Assistant District Attorney said yesterday in the closing arguments of Tyrone Spellman's murder trial. More »
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Comment by big-mama: Seriously, I don't even care if this nut was obsessed, he bashed this little girl head in. I mean, it doesn't... more » | Other threads
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addiction
Abstaining From Gaming: An Experiment
The latest Aberrant Gamer column over at GameSetWatch is an interesting summation of a challenge Leigh Alexander extended to herself and her readers: abstaining from gaming for a week. Any kind of gaming. Some dutiful readers were successful, Leigh was not - but it does raise some interesting questions on why and how we game: More »
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Comment by toneroni: Another interesting article Maggie. While I still go on crazy videogame buying sprees, i rarely find enough time to play... more » | Other threads
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only in china
College Freshman In China? No Computer For You!
Via Ars Technica comes a Chinese article on one of the latest (and potentially least offensive) ways officials are trying to combat internet addiction and people dropping dead of gaming binges: freshmen at a number of Chinese universities aren't allowed to bring computers with them to school. Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, and Shanghai Jiaotong University recently joined the growing ranks of Chinese universities who have instituted such a ban. On the surface, I guess it makes sense - no computer = no easy access to the magical online = no WoW binges, at least in theory. But the plethora of internet cafes and quick and easy access to those oh-so-seductive games means many are suspicious about the efficacy of such bans: More »
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Comment by kcieplak: Hey, Want to weigh in on video game addiction-- a real issue or just hype? We want your comments, webcam responses, and... more » | Other threads
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By Mark WilsonComment by mcderek3000: I think China is much more scared of its citizens talking about Tiannamen Square or Falun Gong with Westerners than... more » | Other threads
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only in china
China Opens Kinder, Gentler Camp For Online Addiction
According to Chinese state run media, some 13 percent of Chinese internet users are qualified as addicts—they're simply unable to cut the cord between themselves and internet porn, cybersex and, deadliest of all, online video games. While the American Medical Association appears to still be on the fence about classifying heavy players as addicts, China has no such qualms, initiating a program for those who need their electronic fix and need it bad. More » -
only in china
Chinese Anti-Addiction Measures Not Going So Smoothly
Despite mandating that all Chinese companies install anti-addiction measures on MMOs and the like by the beginning of July, things aren't going as smoothly as intended: 20 companies have failed to implement the systems and the government isn't too happy about it. Notices have been sent out, and if the companies fail to comply with the requests of the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), they will have their internet service suspended (and the games will be shut down until they do comply). More » -
minus two to humanity
Couple Addicted to D&D Online Almost Starves Children
Amidst spending $50,000 of inheritance on computer systems and a plasma television, one young Nevada couple became so addicted to Dungeons & Dragons Online that they neglected their 11-month and 22-month children to the point of malnourishment and near-starvation. The prosecuting attorney had this to say about the parents:They had food; they just chose not to give it to their kids because they were too busy playing video games.
The couple pleaded guilty to child neglect and face up to 12 years in jail. Unfortunately, the damage they have done may haunt their children for life, as the earliest developmental months are seen by many as the most important. But to put it in language shitty, rpg parents might understand: no 18 intellect for little Billy and Sara. [AP]
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By Mark WilsonComment by Irenicus: I saw this the other day on prime time news in my country. MMO's are bad for you!!! more » | Other threads
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stunning
AMA Finally Takes Action, Orders Research
The American Medical Association's look at video game violence has been muddled and confused since the onset. So it's no wonder that after much ado, the association decided to essentially table the idea of classifying video game addiction in the upcoming revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and order more studies. More »
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Comment by epionx111: i'm actually waiting for video game addiction to become real. Imagine it, being able to have paid time off for... more » | Other threads
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crack is still whack, though
Addiction Experts Don't Think Video Games Are An Addiction
Although the AMA still have to vote on the issue of classifying videogame addiction as a mental disorder, it's clear that the majority of the physicians who make up the committee that votes on whether or not the issue makes it into the American Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders would rather postpone the decision until more information can be found. More » -
the end
Orson Scott Card, Recovering Game Addict
Ender's Game writer Orson Scott Card used have it bad for gaming. How bad? Card explains: More »
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Comment by mu-chinist: "games CAN'T have the kind of storylines that movies and books have, or they wouldn't be playable" It's too bad that... more » | Other threads
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Comment by Shumina: Situations like gamer's addiction are non-participatory problems. The person playing does not see a problem until it truly becomes... more » | Other threads
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addiction
Warhawk Down
I love Warhawk, I love it so much that I continue to play it despite the fact that the beta has a major and, I'm sure temporary, bug. More »
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Comment by neostars: I have more fun playing Warhawk than Halo. If Sony knew that they have a gem here, They would Market the... more » | Other threads
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send tarutaru fanfics
Final Fantasy XI Ruining Lives!!
CBS news ran a piece on online game addicted players yesterday, highlighting former Final Fantasy XI Online junkie Kay Johnson. Johnson is a mother of two who was, at one point, spending 50 hours a week immersed in the world of Vana'diel. More »
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Comment by to-ah: Well said!! I myself do invest on playing the game like getting game guides, actually a whole set of 'em... more » | Other threads
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Comment by laesperanzapaz: the guy in the pic has his head foto-shopped..... more » | Other threads
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china
China Rolls Out Anti-Addiction Software
Gaming is getting get harder in China for the 18 and under crowd. The government is forcing online game operators like NASDAQ-listed Shanda, NetEase and The9 to use anti-addiciton software that limits the time underage gamers can play. Games not embedded with the new software by July 16th will be shut down! With the installed program, kids can play up to three hours of online games like WoW or whatever no problem. In the two hours following that, the player's points are cut in half, and after five hours, the points are reduced to zero. It's not possible to earn anymore. What's more, a warning will also start popping up every 15 minutes warning of "unhealthy game time." This new system will require players to log-in with their real names and i.d. card numbers. Analyst Liu Bin More »
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Comment by onikuwagata: @"Oh my God commies suck!" What good is freedom without responsibility? If you sit inside all day, play MMORPGs while pissing... more » | Other threads
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original
College: Play WoW and Still Get a Degree
Astute Kotaku reader Jacob says he came across this banner ad while strolling the net. He didn't say where he was when he saw it, so I suspect a porn site. Just kidding Jacob. (No, really, porn.)
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Comment by hufse: Hunting for XP at lvl 70? Not possible, you only get gold and rep at lvl 70. more » | Other threads
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clips
Clips: Tyra Banks Talk WoW Addiction
Tyra Banks talks to a World of Warcraft addict. I love how very clueless they are about the game, not that you need to know about it. I mean if a guy walks out on his wife birthing his child to go level up he's a giant tool. More »
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Comment by internerperson: While she can lose weight, with her dickwad fiancee playing wow all the time and having a child to take... more » | Other threads
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Comment by The Commissar: 'It's just annoying when stories like this or ones about violence from gamers hit, it's immediately "the parents' fault", even' Because... more » | Other threads
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wow
Addiction or Lifestyle?
From the "parents without nuts, literal or otherwise" department comes the harrowing Current Affairs report on a child lost to the dregs of addiction. His smack of choice? A "violent computer game" known as World of Warcraft. More »
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By egaugerComment by rainofwalrus: Amen, StratfordX. I have two types of friends IRL*: Those that can easily pull me away from Internet/WOW and those... more » | Other threads
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Comment by Jesse in Japan: For the love of God, don't tell Jack Thompson about this! more » | Other threads
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world of warcraft
WoW and Game Addiction
Twitch Guro reports on the latest video game addiction stupidity making the rounds. Clinical psychologist Dr. Maressa Orzack, founder of the Computer Addiction Services at McLean Hospital in Newton, Mass., says some of the signs of gaming addiction are dry eyes, headaches, backaches and erratic sleep patterns. Or maybe that's just the flu. More »
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Comment by Maunuar: I don't play "WoW" or do drugs, or drink. I do play some other MMO's though. My parents already limit... more » | Other threads
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wow
Whining of Warcraft
This is awesome...a FuckYeah-style tag site documenting the myriad reasons to quit WoW. Top three reasons: got fat, want a girlfriend, Chuck Norris. More » -
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By brownleeComment by Little Mathletics: No, this is for real. It was announced a few days back, and they'll be taking in their first patients... more » | Other threads
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Comment by HJungle: Twenty-five cents at a time. That's just...harsh. Nice find, Kotaku, and I agree with Fuzz on the record... more » | Other threads
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addiction
We've Been Talking, and We Think You Have a Problem
Gamespot reports that the Smith & Jones Addiction Consultancy has opened an eight-bed gaming addiction treatment ward: More »
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By egaugerComment by justinmark: Addiction treatment and recovery resources for the addict and their families. ____________________justin[www.addictiontreatment.net] more » | Other threads
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asia
Vietname Restricts Online Play
Evil, evil online gaming is getting restricted in yet another Asian nation. Korea and China have previously taken action against gaming addiction, and now Vietnam is entering the fray. There are currently 2 million players in the growing South-East Asian market, and MMO is the gaming of choice. More » -
top
Korea Eyes Controlling Young Gaming Fiends
South Korea's cracking down on youth gaming. Politician Kim Hee-jung plans to draw up a bill that will keep kids and teens from playing computer games for insane periods of time. The country has become infamous due to several incidents in which gamers played themselves to death.
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Comment by dalziel_86: Y'know, if parents would parent, governments wouldn't have to demand that game companies parent for them... This applies equally to... more » | Other threads
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china
Boy's Death Blamed on
Back in 2004, a 13-year-old Chinese boy jumped from a building after playing MMORPG World of Warcraft for 36 hours straight. A suicide note said that the kid was joining his heroes in WoW. The boy's parents are now suing the game's Chinese distributor Aomeisoft for $12,500. The suit contends that the game does not include a warning, stating that the game is suitable only for players above age. More »Judas PriestWorld of Warcraft -
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By lsmithComment by Sarah Brabazon-Biggar: From the picture, it looks like if you unplug it you're cutting power to your console. more » | Other threads
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Comment by Chef: No restrictions here in Taiwan. No deaths from addiction either that I know of. Speaking of which, I... more » | Other threads
addiction
Denver, 4:43 AM
Mon Jul 6
8 posts in the last 24 hours
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