Are Video Games Addictive?

I'm sure everyone around has a friend or at least knows someone who spends their entire day on the computer. A good majority of the people who sit on the computer all day, spend their time doing nothing that seems productive at all. They'll typically be playing a video game.

Not all of these people, but some are so attached to the games, that they'll cancel family get together, parties, sports, anything, just to get the chance to play their games a while longer. Isn't this one of the characteristics of an addictive object?

I've began to think more and more that video games are actually addictive, especially to boys and men, regardless of age. I've seen adult men around the age of 30 who still enjoy spending every spare minute of their time on the computer.

Whether it be World of Warcraft or Call of Duty, all games seem to have some addictive characteristics behind them.

So then why is it that people become addicted to games, in a sense, so easily? I'm sure that there are several reasons. I myself have been addicted to certain games, but not for prolonged periods of time. I usually get bored with the games, or realize that I'm wasting money for absolutely no reason.

I always eventually find that there are much better things I could be doing with my time, and especially my money.

But why do others fail to see this? Why is it that people will sit on the computer all day, accomplishing what seems to be nothing, and never really feeling accomplished?

I'm sure that there are several reasons, but I'm sure that there are several other reasons that I'll never know. Some of the obvious might be:

Leveling/Gaining
People become easily addicted to gaining levels and wealth. They like to gain something in their games. They'll get up early, stay up late, skip school, skip work, avoid social gatherings, all just to gain something in their games. There is a reward for playing more often, therefore people will do whatever it takes to play as often as possible.

Boredom
People get bored. They usually turn to video games at first as a way to entertain themselves. They eventually rely on video games each and every time they don't feel like doing anything else. Video games are then their gateway. They'll spend all the time they have on the video games.

There are problems with video games, we all know it. However, the only way I've ever been able to keep myself away from the computer for hours at a time, is to not get involved with these games at all, right from the start.