Posts Tagged: Farmville

Online Gaming Addiction: Is online gaming the drug of the future?

Proposal by John Hartley

This research paper will discuss and dissect one of the most prevalent Internet problems of the day. That problem is addiction to online gaming. Since the Internet was introduced, even before online gaming, signs of addiction were prevalent throughout the United States with some studies dating back into the 1990s. The following research will show how, over time, this addiction has consumed massive amounts of users, from Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games such as World of Warcraft, to smaller browser-based games like FarmVille. This research is important to the future of the Internet and society as identifying the problem before it becomes too serious means a cure can be found. Many researchers have looked at past statistics of addiction and past technology surrounding online gaming, but few have hypothesized about the future and direction these online games are going.

The researcher will show how online gaming is and has become an addiction to many through past research on the topic and will make comparisons to drug addiction statistics (most closely marijuana). A definition of “addiction” will be set, followed by an outline of how each stage of addiction can be found in gamers and how addiction effects gamers’ lives. One article of study will show “The Effect of Computer Gaming on Subsequent Time Perception” (Luthman, Bliesener, Staude-Muller), which will solidify a major effect of online gaming addiction.

Through statistics, comparisons will be drawn and will then be applied to the main statement: Online gaming is becoming the next major addiction of the future. By looking at studies dealing with endorphin release and general brain function while playing video games, the research will again show a deep comparison to drug addiction. Along with the study of endorphin release, the researcher will also call on information from the psychological and medical communities for studies on the adverse effects this condition can have on addicts. In the second half of the paper, the study will point to why online gaming has the potential to be the “drug” of choice in the future. By analyzing virtual reality platforms and accessibility with widely popular games like “FarmVille” the researcher will build his case.

Through this study, new information is expected to be found showing that there is a pattern in the online gaming culture that is leading to more addicts every year. A correlation will most likely be found between online gaming usage and drug abuse. Statistical analysis may be gathered with simple ANOVA tables, which will prove or disprove any correlation between the two. If a correlation cannot be disproved the researcher will hypothesize on the future of online gaming addiction using the studies and research already used for the backing of the study. A survey may also lend to this research, contrasting drug use and online gaming use and reasons for each.

With this research, online gaming addiction could be better understood, leading to a possible “cure” for gamers worldwide. The research also has potential to have an interactive format, which would help it spread across many mediums.

Since I was a bit late with the framing, I’ll go ahead and respond to class discussion and my classmates’ framing questions     (I promise, I won’t make this a habit)

We spoke today about evaluating theory and I couldn’t help but relate the context to that of evaluating a presidential term. We can only not just begin to legitimately discuss the Clinton administration and it’s 2010! What business do we have discussing such new phenomena as “Farmville”?

However, the theories did seem to point out some observable occurrences related to technology and media. These occurrences not so estranged to those related to radio and television. I found the connection between the “Political Economy of the Media” and the “U&G Theory” to be such a never-ending circle. Which came first: consumer influence or media influence?

Either way, it may have been okay for the chicken to cross the road for a multitude of reasons, but I surely wouldn’t suggest that it cross the “information superhighway” ha.

In all seriousness, media influence was all the rage in class discussion. This complex tug-of-war represents the largest dichotomy in modern media. The role of news outlets is much less based on the professional opinion of newsworthiness and much more about making money. Unfortunately, Snooki’s court date is a more lucrative story than flooding in the Eastern Hemisphere. These are decisions that are being made my major news outlets, not just gossip rags. With the advent of a widely accessible internet, the smaller percentage of people with a more discriminating set of interests can easily glide past the Snooki’s, Lohans, and Hiltons straight to their news of choice. All this while the majority of America watches Snooki with delight.

Is it the media’s fault for presenting the story, or the public’s fault for demanding it? Is it the job of news outlets to give us what we want, or make executive decisions based on (arguable) values and morals? It’s all a business, so the answer lies in the green. And I personally think the power slides between the hands of the public and media, reaching an optimal balance depending on the environment. But I still hold true… it’s too early to fully examine the Farmville Administration with the goal of gaining any real answers.