With the proliferation of broadband in America and elsewhere, an increasing number of people are devoting their free time to online games. Every person needs some degree of relaxation from their daily routine and online games are an ideal recipe for taking some time out for relaxation. But what do you do when an innocuous pastime transmogrifies into a consuming passion? How can you know when you or someone close to you has breached that line from being a casual gamer to a highly strung online game addict? What, if anything at all, can be done to break out of the video game cycle?
Online games have burst forth all over the Internet in recent years, led mainly by the increase in bandwidth. Computers are just about everywhere - in every office and in every home. Many people in the United States and all across the world are spending more time in front of the computer at the expense of more conventional entertainment such as newspapers, books, radio and television. One of the segments of the online world, which goes by the name of casual gaming, has grown into a massive source of alternative entertainment. Casual games are based on Flash that can be played online or downloaded onto your PC. The majority of games follow a simple premise and you can learn it in minutes. What takes time is game mastery and the delicate balance between easy to learn and tough to master is what's so addictive about these online games. After you have completed a few basic levels, you are convinced that you will be able to go all the way. Most games involve collecting, seeking, puzzles and there are, of course, card games. These games revolve around simple concepts with increasing difficulty as you make your way through the game. Playing a few levels now and then is one thing. However, giving up other aspects of your life in order to play video games is where game dependency takes over.
While at work, the temptation can be almost overwhelming. After all, most of the important work that we do is at the computer. Who might notice if you just dug into a couple of video games? It may even increase your productivity by clearing the cobwebs in your head so you can concentrate on the important tasks on your list of to-do things. But that's where the problems begin. Effectively, the video game that was intended to reduce your stress has resulted in an increase. You now wind up with more work than you did before sitting down at your desk.
The problem that you face at home is less well defined. At work, you need to account for your time. You know where you should be and the work that you're supposed to do for which you are paid. However, after work you are free to do whatever you wish on your own terms. Some people like to work out, others watch television, and still others busy themselves with crafts and cooking. Similar to gaming, these are all harmless pursuits in moderation. But if you think nothing of sacrificing health or personal relationships then you are looking at a problem.
So what steps can you take if you suffer from addiction to online games? Well, the first step is to accept that you have a problem. Speak to your spouse or your sibling or maybe a friend and let them know their help might be necessary. Then get to your computer and delete whatever games you have downloaded. It might be punishing to let go of the games that you paid to download but all this is for the best. Delete bookmarks for the gaming sites and any passwords you might have saved. Take one step further and delete e-mails you received from those sites. The concluding step, and this might be the most vital, is to find something else to engage yourself in. Distract yourself. Do a blog, check up gardening if you want - it doesn't matter, just find yourself something else to do. The video gaming sites don't require your presence to survive. After some while, you can put your willpower to test by playing a game occasionally. You will know for sure that you’re cured if you are able to turn it off after playing a few levels.
Online games are good, clean fun. But it's important to know when to walk away in order to get on with your real life, which you can't replace with your online life. Online games, like anything else in life, should be played in moderation. Overdo it and you're in trouble. It's just a matter of deciding when to draw the line.
Author Resource:
Sunnil Meira is a developer for Addicting Games . Need your daily gaming fix of addicting games online? This is the place.
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