The Toll of Gaming

Within recent months the next-gen gaming consoles have been introduced to the world. MMORPGs like World of Warcraft have been consistently releasing new expansion packs to keep the profits in the gaming industry at their all time high. According to LATimes.com, the profits in the gaming industry have risen 20%. In the year 2006, over $12.5 Billion was made by video game companies such as Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. So there's only one real question: Why are so many people buying video games?

Many people ask what is so great about video games themselves. They don't allow the gamer to accomplish anything in the real world, right? Well actually that's not quite true. With recent releases of next-gen consoles, captivating games and massive worlds of players, people may find it's hard to leave the world of gaming. In mid-November the Nintendo Wii and the Playstation 3 consoles were released back to back. People were lined up in front of stores for days trying to get their very own console. The Nintendo Wii is quite the catch, and quite easy to catch at that. For a small $200 you could get your hands on one of the leading consoles in the market today (the Wii). For an understandable $500, you can buy the Playstation 3, which can function as a console, computer, and DVD player. And, if you wish to go the extra mile, for $600 you can get a PS3 with even more memory than the $500 version. Ok, so now we know what people are paying to get these consoles, but once again the question is asked: What makes the video games so special?

The World of Warcraft Burning Crusade expansion pack was released mid January. With millions of players already online, the expansion pack kept many gamers' eyes glued to their computer screens for hours. Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) are so captivating because it is almost like you are in real life. You do have the ability to communicate with other real people playing the game like yourself, and the sky is the limit. In World of Warcraft, people can gather in clans of over 50 people and do whatever they want. They can go and kill giant beasts with the hope of acquiring unimaginable wealth, or spend hours training skills to make more and more money. What's the cost to enter the World of Warcraft? Well, you have to order your own $50 WoW software, then buy expansion packs, and subscribe for $14.99 a month. So does the gaming world really seem so friendly anymore?

Here's where you can really spend that money that's been burning a hole in your pocket. Though it is against the rules, some websites offer services such as raising the levels of characters, or selling items/gold. The costs of these services are anywhere from $4 to $300. Someone who really wants to make it to the top has the option of cheating and paying hundreds of dollars to do so. That money could be saved, invested, or spent elsewhere. A gamer with an addictive personality such as myself knows that they have spent way too much money on games such as these.

Other console games have been known for their great graphics, or six-axis controllers which makes the motion of the controller important in gameplay. Some people can't stand to be without the latest and greatest games to play, and so they spend hundreds, or even thousands of dollars trying to get their hands on a brand new next-gen console. Stopping this addicting is harder than you would think, but it can be done.

One great tip for breaking this addiction is the same as any other addiction. Talk to somebody. If you are reading this and are spending more than an hour on the same video game every day, talk to someone. A parent is the best option, because they can help you manage your time better than you probably are now. If this is a parent reading this article, talk to your child about why they shouldn't be wasting hours playing video games. It cuts out family time, is harmful to the person's health, can cause lack of sleep, and many other addiction-related side effects. The best way to get rid of one of these addictions is to stop doing it during weekdays. This is the easiest rule to follow, because stopping on weekdays will allow for more time to do what has been listed above. You can play on the weekends at night or in the morning, but try to cut down on it as much as you can. If you are a serious gamer, you will find breaking away from these video games is extremely difficult at first, but it gets easier the longer you keep away. When you are playing, play in short periods of time. Don't play for more than an hour at a time, and allow atleast a 2 hour break period inbetween playing so that you can do other things.

While the gaming industry is booming, so are the amount of people becoming addicted to the games. Many people don't realize the effects the games have on them while they are playing. If you don't think you have any problems with playing video games, here's a test you should take. Wake up one morning and don't play video games. Just stay away from them as long as you can. If you find yourself biting your fingernails in front of your computer screen wanting to play your video game, you are an addict. Talk to your parents or teachers, because they are the ones who know how to help you keep money in your piggy bank.