back to article Gaming is not as addictive

The first large-scale research attempting to measure the extent of internet gaming addiction has found ... not very much. An Oxford University study suggests that playing online games is not as addictive as gambling. The study represents an effort to evaluate the extent of "internet gaming disorder," added to the fifth edition …

  1. Dwarf

    You forgot the last line of the report

    This report was sponsored by Acme gaming corporation

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      You forgot the joke icon. I think. I'm not paying $35 to read the actual report.

      It is amusing indeed that the researchers failed to prove their preconceived conclusion.

      1. d3vy

        "It is amusing indeed that the researchers failed to prove their preconceived conclusion."

        It's not amusing at all.. thats how science works, you have an theory, you test if it holds up agaist tests, you get others to scrutinise your work.

        If your theory holds up great, you have advanced your (our) understanding, if it doesn't hold up...great, you have advanced your (our) understanding.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          They were pushing a social agenda, AFAICT. That's bad science, and it's rampant. What's amusing is that these particular guys just said "fuck it". Hardly a victory for proper science, though.

  2. Shane 4

    What is addictive?

    You could make up just about anything to say it's addictive, Isn't life itself addictive?

    Don't know about you lot, But I certainly look forward to waking up each morning!

    1. Trilkhai

      Definition of addictive/addiction

      The formal/professional definition of addiction is summed up pretty well by Wikipedia as a condition "characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, despite adverse consequences." (Obviously, being "addictive" would just mean that average people are statistically likely to develop an addiction to it.)

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Lines are blurring

    Real-money gambling has become a major element of online gaming. It's just like slot machines. You can sell in-game items for real money, or an entire Steam account for that matter. Quite the scandal on some gaming forums.

    There is also a rise in addictive mechanics across the board, in every genre of games, online and offline, casual and hardcore alike. I for one am not a fan of games designed to waste my time on banal repetitive crap.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Lines are blurring

      I agree. My tin foil hat is receiving signals that gambling in video games is so abused that any report stating that gaming is not addictive is a paid report by the gambling industry (indirectly or otherwise). There are no laws requiring waivers of video game gambling by minors or adults like there are for casinos. Not yet at least.

      Call of Dooty: Infinite CashFair

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Lines are blurring

      Gambling is gambling whether online, offline or for non-money items, whether in a game or connected to it. It's the gambling which is addictive and it should be regulated.

      This is one of the most questionable things with games that rely on slot machine mechanics to make people spend real money, like overwatch. The game isn't the problem it's the addictive "pull the lever" "real money transactions" which are often abstracted behind something like "gems" so it doesn't feel like you're spending real money.

      I just wont play a game if it uses slot machine mechanics unless I can buy a specific item for real money, especially as most of these games don't provide the odds of each tier and item.

      One of the interesting things is what is the HMRCs & Gaming commision take on say Overwatch's crate system.

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