I might be playing too much

I figured I might be playing video games too much (~2 hours/day). I wonder if there is a software to time every time I play (kind of a count watch that detect when I'm initiating some particular .exe).
I'd like to figure if this is actually getting to be a problem (2-3 hours per day is classified as an addiction by some researchers)
Thanks.

 

how about just use your cell phone timer?

 

lol...use xfire messenger. once you have it on, it tells you the time you played on your xfire profile. it does not say the exact minutes/seconds but it tells you how many total hours/hours that day/hours that week.


edit: open xfire messenger, and then play game....it counts hours.

 

If you have to ask this question, it's a problem.

 

Go without gaming for a day or three. If you find that you think about games such that it distracts you from other stuff, then yes, you may have a problem. 2-3 hours a day isn't any kind of definition of "addiction", at least not by valid researchers. If I go golfing every day when I'm retired, does that mean I'm addicted, or I just really like it? The way you tell if you're addicted is if you can't do without it

Anyway, check for a game kiosk timer software or something... I don't have any experience myself with those. I'd personally just make a startup script for the game that starts the game, "sleeps" for 2 hours or so, and then kills the game. But that's because I'm a Linux dork

 

if 2-3 hours is taking away from things that you need to be doing, it is a problem. moderation is the key, just do a variety of things in your spare time and you'll not only feel better, but you will feel like yo are actually accomplishing something

 

2 hours a day is a pretty normal amount IMO.

 

You mean farming for water isn't accomplishing...doh!

A lot of games have built in alarm clocks and timers in their settings...you can try those.

Some games (i.e. WoW in China for example) have built-in timers that kick you off after so many hours

 

What game are you playing, if it is WoW, kick that habit, same applies to any MMORPG. Coz there is no endd to those games.

 

Well, I wouldn't say kick all MMORPGs - they're no worse than any other games, provided you have the self-discipline to control yourself and use moderation.

Of course, for most MMORPGs, if you manage to do that, that means you'll miss out on most of the end-game stuff, and there isn't much left for you to do, so you might as well quit anyway

 

Speaking from experience, no genre comes close to MMORPGs for the addicting factor. The more time you waste on it the better your character gets; the better your character gets the more you want to play; the more you played the less you want to stop playing since psychologically speaking it's difficult to let go of an endeavor you have pursued for so many hours (like training a character) no matter how senseless and boring it gets.

 

Thats not the only thing that makes them so time-wasting. A LOT of the stuff you do in MMORPGs just takes forever, period. You have to find a party, go out on some humungous quest that takes a bazillion hours, etc. I enjoy MMORPGs, but I simply don't have that kind of time to commit to playing them. So I don't even start.

Thats why I like FPS's and single player RPGs. The hooks you mentioned are all the same - the more you play the better you become the more you want to play etc. - but you don't have to spend a 4+ hour block of time on it, you can play 30 minutes a day if thats what keeps your boat afloat.

My bottom line is stay away from MMORPGs. They're fun, but you will end up spending a lot of time on them. And maybe thats fine with you now - it won't be later. Other games, I find, are just as fun and don't require you to spend huge blocks of time on them.

Just me ranting, as usual

 

Dude its the summer, if your not playing 2-3 hours a day what are you doing -.-

If your in school or at work and doing that stuff then its a problem.

But I got four months of nothing and im probably averaging around just over two hours a day on cnc3 / cs: source total.

As long as you mix it in with physical exercise and at least the same amount of time + more doing something that stretches your brain then you are fine.

 

2-3 hours a day isn't too much if you're a student without a job on summer holidays. =)

 

Even with a job, optional credit courses and a baseball team -.- , summers are so boring.

 

Working

I'm doing two jobs this summer; one during the week and a 24 hour on weekends.

And yeah, I still have time to game. And sit on this forum. I used to spend some hours in the evening gaming, but now I just opt for more sleep.

 

healthy addiction could be things like golf, eating right, etc.

unhealthy addiction might be playing WoW for 12 hours a day.

basically, you have to make your own decisions about what sort of time commitment you want to make for different things in your life. if you don't feel right about spending two+ hours a day playing video games, then STOP. thats the only way.

in my opinion, there are 3 reasons people play games (instead of doing some other activity) - "boredom" isn't what i'm talking about. i'm trying to say that there are 3 reasons why someone might try to alleviate boredom (or resolve whatever catalyst) with a video game as a response.

you can get an adrenaline rush - 1
you can enjoy a story - 2
you can build relationships - 3

adrenaline rush is a pretty neutral addiction in my opinion, in most cases. i find that most first person shooter games, action games, etc. are designed to be played in short increments, giving you your fix and then allowing you to move on with your life. you don't get much out of it beyond the transient feeling, but if you don't commit too much time to it, it doesn't matter so much. also- if you are playing with your friends, then your real intention might just be "being with your friends," akin to a social drinker, which might legitimize the experience for you.

story games. mainly role playing games. these games are designed to be played by one person, and have a moderate time commitment. however, these games are designed to balance the addictive, habit forming repetition we all know / love / hate, with the progression of a story. if it is a good game, then when you are done you will probably feel much like you would had you just read a good book or watched a good movie. the time commitment increases, but you can also take something out of it in a lot of cases. i dont consider that unhealthy (even though i really don't like rpg's).

i really don't like mmorpg's. i experimented with them. they are 100% designed to entice you to continue playing them to no end. they consist almost 100% of ultra-repetitive actions, which are innately addictive and highly habit forming. i also find the supposed "relationships" people build on these games to be innately unhealthy. these kinds of games enthrall you while you play for hours and hours, and then when you are done, you have a feeling like "whoa so many hours just went by that i feel sick about it, and i don't feel like i got anything out of that experience"

that was my experience anyway. its a good thing that WoW trial only lasted a week.

ultimately, its up to you to take the initiative and decide what is or is not a good use of your time. its your time, after all. a good metric is to wage the time you put in against the feeling/experience you take. if you find that it starts to require more and more time to achieve the same result- consider doing just the opposite.

good luck.

 

Good thing i'm not an addict, I only log 6-10 hours of WOW.....2-3 UT 2004 and 2 either FEAR or Halflife 2 a day

 

I love playing games and sometimes I play for hours a day...I'm talkin more than 5 hours or sometimes more. Contrary to what some people may believe, I've tried it before and I have no problems taking a break from them. I just love playing them when I do. Certain games requires more time than others, too.

In my opinion, the amount of time you spend playing games isn't necessarily the indicator of addiction. It's what happens to you and what goes through your mind when you aren't playing.

For example, smokers try to quit and in a little while most of them go right back. This is because they are constantly reminded by other people smoking, ads, thoughts about wanting it so bad. If all the pressure builds up to a certain point, then you will go back to smoking, or in this case playing games. That's addiction.

Simply put....you can play games 12 hours some days.....but as long as it doesn't control your life.....or influence your thoughts and being...it's not addiction.

 

That's a lot!

 

If you still have enough money to pay for your internet and you still have friends in real life, then I think 2 hours of gaming really isn't hurting you.

 

There is no worst blind that the one that doesn't want to see.

 

I have a pretty plenty life, and I barely watch TV, but 3 hours on gaming is not that few: 8 hours you sleep, 8 hours you work, 3 hours shopping, cooking, eating, showering (basic needs). Plus 3 hours gaming only leaves you 2 hours for everything else: sports, reading, girlfriend, etc.
So that's how I started wondering that 2-3 hours might be a lot. Is not that I think all the time of gaming, I just enjoy it a lot, but it might still be taking too much time of my (our) day.

From Wickipedia:
"Based on current studies, researchers have classified more than 140 hours a month, an average of 2-3 hours a day, of video game usage as “abnormal behavior” (Clymo, 1996)"

"McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts has set up Computer Addiction Services under the direction of clinical psychologist Dr. Maressa Orzack. She was interviewed August 8, 2006, speaking of the game World of Warcraft she said, "I'd say that 40 percent of the players are addicted."

"At one addiction support center in Richmond, Canada, excessive gaming accounts for 80% of one youth counsellor's caseload"

 

Don't worry about it bro. As long as you got a life away from it and you can live without it, you're fine. Studies can kiss my....laptop

 

Just get xfire, it's the easiest. It keeps a neat little profile of each game you played and for how long. And 2-3 hours a day isn't that much. I usually play 40-60 hours a week games such as BF2 and CS. Now it's mostly BF2. In the last 7 days I only played 30 hours but I didn't play yesterday and today not yet. Take a look at my xfire profile. http://www.xfire.com/profile/zitwep/

I usually play 6-8 hours a day on holiday and 3-4 hours a day when I am not on holiday. My record was 72 hours in 5 days and that's when BF2142 came out. I remember playing from 4 PM to 7 AM non-stop, no breaks whatsoever and went to school at 8 AM, came back at 4 PM and played till 1.30 AM before I fell asleep on my keyboard.

So if you ask me, 2-3 hours a day is really not that much and I wouldn't be worried about it. And I wonder what those researchers thought when they say 2-3 hours a day is addictive. Tonight I have a 32v32 BF2 battle which lasts 12 hours and that's every weekend and I usually play those 12 hours.

PS. They regarded 2-3 hours of gaming a day as addictive in 1996, ten years later things have changed drastically.

 

2-3 hours of playing video games is not a problem, unless its interfering with your "real world" activities. But people play for 6-8 hours straight every day (I used to be one) I didn't like how I was becoming so I quit WoW, and picked up a summer job...and to be honest, I like earning 500 dollars a week as opposed to getting my "uber lewt" in WoW.

 

You should go cold turkey and get checked into a psych/rehab ward like Lindsey Lohan, stat!

 

That's kind of funny (to me) - you're basically going on a weekend shooting trip inside your computer.

Every once in awhile, me and some guys will go out to a range and just shoot other peoples guns all day (bring melons and gallons of water ). That probably takes 12 hours from start to finish, and it really isn't that different from playing a massive BF game. Dunno.

 

You can't even play a game of Madden in under an hour unless its with ridiculously shortened quarter length. I think 2 hours is fine, especially if it is replacing TV watching. If your girlfriend is going to leave you over it, and you are going to continue gaming AND you dont actually want her to leave you, then you might have an issue. I would think the average tv viewing is higher than 2 hours a day, so I wouldnt worry too much. At least with gaming you are using your brain somewhat, and with ventrilo and team speak, etc you are socializing also.

 

I play about 3 hours max, but i know people that play all day long. So your not the worst. Just use a clock. Say "im going to play from 12-2" and as long as you are honest with yourself, you will make the deadline.

 

There's a critical difference: a lot of TV watching is a social activity you can do with a significant other. Gaming is something you either do alone, or with an anonymous user (from Singapore, probably). You can't really compare 2 hours on TV with 2 hours on WoW.

 

do you guys have friends? And I don't mean people that you chat with while you play..? I game maybe an hour every 2 days. but I mean I am to busy at the house, got band parties at night, go golfing with friends, go out with friends, how old are you guys? 14? j/w cause some of you guys sound so lonely...

 

I'm not sure how much talking you do while watching TV, but I think you might annoy me a little bit I know what you mean, but I was talking about people watching TV alone like they play WOW alone. I play WOW with 3 friends from my old hometown as well as a couple guys that they know from Idaho, and using ventrilo it is socializing since we are mostly talking smack, etc as well as making plans to go out, etc.

Personally I do my thing at work and then spend time with my family, but when my wife works nights and the kids are all in bed, I can a- watch tv alone, or b- play WOW with my friends. For me, and this is only an example for me, b is social while a is not.

Edit - Now some of my friends are a little different, I am never on while my kids are up, they have already logged in a few hours before I even see them. I won't try and defend WOW as not being addictive, its like any video game, online activity or even TV watching, moderation is the key.

 

In case you were referring to me, I have limited options of what to do when I have 3 young kids and my spouse is working pms. On those nights I can't go out, and I don't enjoy a lot of TV. I wish I could go out and do more things like I used to, but such is life.

 

You people need to have these stereotypical views of hardcore gamers. They are not lonely, they have friends, we are not 14.

I am 18, I have a girlfriend, spend time with her everyday. I go swimming everyday and I have driving lessons everyday. I go out every 3rd night but I still manage to game 5-7 hours a day. Remember, there are 24 hours in a day. 7 to sleep and 7 to game, makes 14, that makes 10 hours available for whatever else you want to do.

Gamers are not loners, just because they sit in front of a computer doesn't mean they feel lonely. In fact I would think they are less lonely than a lot of people. On the internet they find a lot of people that they share a common interest with, ie. games. They can form quite intricate relationships with other gamers that can last years and often result in long lasting "real life" friendships. Hardcore gamers go to LANs, some LANs have more than 500 participants, they must be real lonely . I often find that loners usually go out a lot, they look for contact with people (I am not saying that people who go out are all loners). So please stop having this stereotypical view of people that like to play video games. I could say just as much about people that go hiking everyday for 8 hours, but I don't, because it's what people like to do and I respect that. Don't judge when you don't know.

 

There's a big difference between adult gamers (like yourself) and kids (under 18). I won't say most of the addictions are in kids; a lot of adults are addicted as well. But what constitutes an addiction is very different between the two.

^^ Good example of what I mean. If you don't work, then sure, you have 10 hours to screw around by that schedule. Personally, I'd rather sleep more then 7 hours, but hey, different people are different.

If you work 8 hours a day, then forget it. The entire schedule shifts - I guarantee you will want to sleep more then 7 hours, and you'll have a lot less time in general. I don't have any kids (keeping my fingers crossed ), but I can't even imagine what it must be like with those running around as well.

 

What ever happened to offline multiplayer or bringing guests online? Of course you're just playing with "imaginary friends"? Almost every other day, since vacation started, I get together with about 4/5 of my friends, and we play Halo 2 for hours.

On a side note, I don't play MMORPG games, including all WoW and other games like it. I tried a few of them and I HATE them. xD

 

"hardcore gamers" is a funny phrase. There is only one "hardcore gamer" and it is that fatality guy. He actually makes money for his "hardcore'ness'. How much money do you make playing games for 1/3 of the day? If anything it is costing you money. And I to have a g/f and play a vital role in my fraternity and I mean like I said I game maybe 2 hours every 2 days.

I am not trying to start an argument, but I also believe talking to people with a microphone that you have never met before is anything other than working on social skills. Because we go and interview for a job face to face, you will have most likely not of had the experience in pressure situations besides trying to find that health pack when you health is down to 17 and you have 5 guys shooting at you... And that won't get you very far later in life.

And LAN parties are like Star Trek conventions, the .0000001% of people who actually goto them and/or keep up with them enjoy it but the other 99.999999% of the population just laughs.


Also, I love video games, but I don't sit in front of the screen for 5+ hours everyday. And with your hiking example. Hiking is actually good for you. Cardio, leg muscles, good for your heart, and you basically always do it with other people. Playing computer games all day doesn't help the weight, doesn't work anything out besides your fingers, and works you eyes constantly which in turn wears them down sooner. Some will say that it helps your reflexes, but honestly I think that is BS. Sports help your reflexes..

 

Yeah the phrase hardcore gamer is blurred, but one has to use a phrase that describes a person playing for long periods. Sure I am not making money, but do I really want to? Do I really care? I just do it for my entertainment. And yeah I don't lose weight while playing video games, that's good because I am as thin as a nail. Yeah my eye sight my be dropping, it's been 4 years since I started gaming and my left eye is 100% and my right eye is 90% (had to do this for driver license eligibility), not bad at all. And you are saying gaming wont get you very far in life, where do you think game developers and the likes originate? Do you think a hermit living in a cave will be in the video game industry? And how do you the friends are not real? I may be talking to some real life friends ie, my best friend plays too and other good friends. I am not saying it's working on social skills, but talking to someone on a mic in a game while shooting eachother is fun and certainly not a sign of loneliness.

People find different ways to occupy themselves, I chose gaming. Everybody to his own taste. Be objective.

PS. Fatality is a Professional gamer. He plays about 8-10 hours a day. So if you call him hardcore you have to call the people which play 8-10 hours a day hardcore too. It's not because people don't make money that they are not hardcore.

 

Im 19, but since im a college student, all my buddies are off with their families, so i got nothing to do.

 

I game about 6 hours per day, and the rest of the days are for misc activities.

 

I've generally noticed that the vast majority of people majoring in CS with an interest in graphics/game design think their job 10 years down the road will be to play games all day and get paid.

 

Well then they are idiots except if they have a video game testing job, ie play a bug ridden game for weeks and find the minute bugs and report them. But the ones I know don't think like that so I don't know where you fish them from.

 

Well to each his own, If it makes you happy then go for it, that's the important thing!

 

That's what I am killing myself trying to say: be objective and don't judge when you don't know. Chacun a son gout! (Everybody to its taste)

 

I don't believe gaming 2 to 3 hours a day should be considered addictive in 2007. Addiction only comes into the argument in certain cases. One good exercise is holding off gaming for a solid 3 or 4 days. If you feel any excessive urges to play even when engaged in other activities then it might be an addiction. If you give into playing during that time even when you decided initially not to, it is more of an indication.

I think gaming is generally a healthy form of entertainment as long as it functions as a part of your life as a whole. It becomes a problem when things get turned around and life becomes a temporary endeavor when you are not gaming.

MMOs need to be put into their own category. I don't think they have that much to do with addiction. More, they begin to form a split personality or split life. MMOs often have many of the basic requirements of a life, minus the sustenance and sleep part. Socialization, entertainment, work, responsibility, commitment, etc are all a part of an MMO. So when I ask a friend who is really into WOW if he wants to go out later that night he responds, "Sure, just let me see if I can get out of raiding first." It isn't so much an addiction for him as a responsibility and commitment to another life. If someone got mad at you for having to go to work everyday, you'd be a little confused. Some MMO players, similarly, don't understand why people get mad at them for "having" to go raid.

Also, when I was much younger I spent much more time gaming. I'd play X-COM when I got home and Ultima or Everquest later in life. Still, sometimes I spent more time on forums like these about the games than I did actually playing them.

As I got older, and I devoted more time to school and other activities I simply didn't have as much time to play video games anymore. Now, as a university student, I have even less time to play games. I still play when I'm in the mood and not in the middle of a really good book, but I find that my time spent gaming is simply something I choose to do in my free time. And that is the point, as long as gaming is scheduled around you life and your life isn't scheduled around gaming, you are probably just fine. People spend all day doing what they enjoy (when they aren't working, schooling, or sleeping) and it really is your choice to entertain yourself any way you want. Games are so diverse these days that different genres almost end up being entirely different forms of entertainment anyway.

 

If 2-3 hours a day is "addiction" then I think 97% of gamers may be in serious trouble... I'm thinking addiction is something closer to 8-9 hours a day, planning strategy/characters when not playing, and napping during class so you don't have to sleep at night...





I got better though.

 

I'm not going to say much without reading the research, although it does seem a bit suspect. I think the key to it, though, is that 2-3 hours per day every day may be a problem. That's 14-21 hours per week pissed away on games. I'm sure people watch just as much TV, and I wonder why that isn't targeted.

My opinion is that if you play games when you have nothing else/better to do, then there isn't a problem. Personally, I would rather put that free time to something more useful, such as learning a new skill or increasing my knowledge.

If you play games instead of doing things like socializing, progressing in your career or education, or anything similar, then you have a problem. Addiction is a really vague area that is fairly "new", and we're still learning a lot about it.

 

Play when you are relaxing, like waking up or getting ready for bed.

 

Anyway, I'm pretty sure that looking a bright screen before bed is bad for having a good sleep (I'll search for the reference, but I'm pretty sure I read about it)