re: #217 Jadespring

Next Monday I’m going to do some binge gaming. Should last about three days. Are you covering that? :D

Well, I have included some of the stories about Korean guys being found dead at their computers, still grasping their mice…

It’s a fairly short paper. I’m covering the behavioral aspects of how the games are designed, and also trying to cover some of the social and emotional needs they meet. It’s a Skinner box, but it’s also a social activity. Nick Yee points out that if you look at the statistics, MMORPG players are essentially using the games instead of watching TV. Why do we think it normal for a person to watch an average of 28 hours of television a week, but pathological for a person to play a computer game with friends that involves socializing, problem-solving, and imagination for an average of 22 hours a week?