I find this to be the most disturbing part. I have done a substantial amount of game development myself on the side, it's how I got into programming originally ~15 years ago. I say that because I find it demotivating sometimes to work on games that I think are fun and non-addictive. My wife will show me some simple addictive game on the phone and ask why I can't just make a knock-off version of that... I could, but at what cost?

Some part of me really wishes that "gambling" in games would finally get cracked down on to level the playing field for the rest of us.

I now have a 5 month old son and that has really amplified my thinking of the future. I will of course educate my children on the dangers of addictive games, etc. but what about others? It's sad, but also classic "think of the children!"

I wholly wish micro transactions would be made illegal. To me micro transaction is equivalent to a movie pausing mid scene and ask "Do you want to continue watching this scene? You can if only you pay 99 cent.". It's a pure evil practice that taints games.

That reminds me of the infamous "Please drink a verification can to continue" greentext.

https://i.imgur.com/dgGvgKF.png

Half the "gamers" are on candy crush or supercell mindlessly clicking away, getting pavlovian salivations whenever some chest reward notification rings. With these numbers its an epidemic.

Imo, that is better then yelling raging online playing version of gamer. Still mindlesly clicking away for the most part.

What is the difference between video game addiction and other screen related addiction?

Primarily effects men, just like pornography addiction, so these don't get the same attention as social media addiction for example.

One is more fun than the others?

Maybe they are all the same problem, screens are more compelling than life and this statement is only becoming more true each day.

just happy i dont need to create a fortnite account to have a meeting yet.

I believe video game addiction is worse because it requires a higher level of attention unlike scrolling crap on facebook/instagram etc.

Maybe the real world is so out of control, the virtual world is one of the few places you feel in control.

The same can be said about drugs or any kind of addiction...At the end of the day you have to wonder if the "fix" helps you or puts you in a worse situation. Usually is the latter.

I don't know if it's helpful to think of people playing video games as trying to fix anything besides boredom.

It is about as innocent of an addiction as you can have and is likely better than tv or alcohol, which are the other go-to options for making the time go by. Remember, when USA tried a prohibition on alcohol, it did not go over well. People have a strong need to make the time go by and unwind - video games are likely the least destructive form of doing so.

I use to have friends hooked up to the screen (16 hours per day 365 days per year) I tell them that alcoholics have conversations and social lives and they get out of the house.