So, some Russian bloke is suing Bethesda for 500,000 Rubles because of how addictive Fallout 4 is. According to various gaming news websites, he lost his job and his wife because of it, and believes that Fallout 4 should carry a warning about how addictive it is, and that if he had known, he wouldn’t have started playing it until he had the free time.
I hate to seem insensitive, but it’s not the games at fault here. Yes, games are addictive. Of course they are; anything that you enjoy that produces dopamine can be called addictive. Levelling up in World of Warcraft is followed by a congratulatory sound and a little gold explosion. You did that. Only you. You’re seeing and hearing your efforts be rewarded, and that’s a powerful drug. Hell, studies suggest that job happiness can be ranked by how often you see the fruits of your labour fulfilled. Video games are no different in this regard.
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EvE is different, because IT IS a job. |
So why isn’t it the fault of the game? Frankly, because the problem isn’t wide spread. I may be a terrible example here (being the “Easily Distracted Gamer”), but roughly 31 hours into Fallout 4, I’m bored. I’m sick of trawling through various damp and dark holes, and carting shit back to my settlements to build a new shack has lost its shine. Will I be playing much more of Fallout 4? Well, I need to make a video on it, and I kinda want to finish the storyline, so… probably. But I’m not that fussed about it now.
However, I’ll agree that video game addiction does exist. And I won’t make any brash statements about it being restricted to just people with “addictive personalities”, because sometimes a game just *clicks* with you, and then you’re stuck.
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Perhaps the dog died. I’d sue then. |
Humans are generally social animals. Even misanthropes need someone. Just make sure that you keep those relationships close, and don’t let yourself be lost to the outside world. Video game addiction is a symptom of a larger problem – and it’s rarely the fault of the publisher or developer. Look to yourself, and you’ll find what you’re looking for.
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Family Christmas is still hell though. |
Stay safe out there, real world or otherwise. And Fallout 4 ain’t worth it.