Massively multiplayer online role-playing games: comparing characteristics of addict vsnon-addict online recruited gamers in a French adult population

Abstract

BackgroundMassively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) are a very popular and enjoyable leisure activity, and there is a lack of international validated instruments to assess excessive gaming. With the growing number of gamers worldwide, adverse effects (isolation, hospitalizations, excessive use, etc.) are observed in a minority of gamers, which is a concern for society and for the scientific community. In the present study, we focused on screening gamers at potential risk of MMORPG addiction.MethodsIn this exploratory study, we focused on characteristics, online habits and problematic overuse in adult MMORPG gamers. In addition to socio-demographical data and gamer behavioral patterns, 3 different instruments for screening addiction were used in French MMORPG gamers recruited online over 10 consecutive months: the substance dependence criteria for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, fourth revised edition (DSM-IV-TR) that has been adapted for MMORPG (DAS), the qualitative Goldberg Internet Addiction Disorder scale (GIAD) and the quantitative Orman Internet Stress Scale (ISS). For all scales, a score above a specific threshold defined positivity.ResultsThe 448 participating adult gamers were mainly young adult university graduates living alone in urban areas. Participants showed high rates of both Internet addiction (44.2% for GIAD, 32.6% for ISS) and DAS positivity (27.5%). Compared to the DAS negative group, DAS positive gamers reported significantly higher rates of tolerance phenomenon (increased amount of time in online gaming to obtain the desired effect) and declared significantly more social, financial (OR: 4.85), marital (OR: 4.61), family (OR: 4.69) and/or professional difficulties (OR: 4.42) since they started online gaming. Furthermore, these gamers self-reported significantly higher rates (3 times more) of irritability, daytime sleepiness, sleep deprivation due to play, low mood and emotional changes since online gaming onset.ConclusionsThe DAS appeared to be a good first-line instrument to screen MMORPG addiction in online gamers. This study found high MMORPG addiction rates, and self-reported adverse symptoms in important aspects of life, including mood and sleep. This confirms the need to set up relevant prevention programs against online game overuse.

How passion and impulsivity influence a player's choice of videogame, intensity of playing and time spent playing

“…The first is the low sample of female videogamers, as seen in other studies (Achab et al, 2011;Billieux et al, 2011;Campello de Souza, de Lima e Silva, & Roazzi, 2010). The second limitation is that there were no adult participants; the average age of videogame players is increasing, therefore research on videogame play should aim to study the older demographic as well as the younger.…”

“…Another limitation is that we have not included a sample of videogamers in addiction treatment and that we have not identified addictive players in our sample. Finally, university students are only a part of the videogamer population (Achab et al, 2011;Collins & Freeman, 2014;Fuster et al, 2014), therefore our university sample is not representative of all videogame players.…”

A Genre-Specific Investigation of Video Game Engagement and Problem Play in the Early Life Course

“…It is hard to ignore that there is some association between violent entertainment video games and aggression, although the strong and deterministic connections often made in popular discourse (e.g., in the aftermath of school shootings) are probably not supported by the evidence [12,13]. Another issue, which is explored in research [14], addressed in clinical settings [15,16], and identified with by players themselves [17], is subjective experiences of video game "addiction. " It is usually referred to as "Problem Video Game Play" (PVGP) or by similar terms to make it possible to discuss the phenomenon without implying a position about its status as a "real" addiction [18,19].…”

Addictions. Substance addictions vs. behavioural addictions

“…The main motivations for Internet gaming include social interactions and exploration [26]. The massively multiplayer on line role-playing games (MMORPG) are the most complex games, which provide the most intensive experiences of social interactions [27]. Among all types of Internet addiction, on-line game addiction shows the strongest relations with compulsive Internet use; the available study findings demonstrate that even 27.5% of players fulfil the criteria of addiction [28].…”