That’s just it. People don’t realize that their compulsion is an addiction. Nothing Blizzard says is going to change that, which is why they use a “drink responsibly”-esque disclaimer. Usually, people require real-life situations to precipitate from their problems - spending so much money gambling that you can’t pay rent, for example. Blizzard might make other people aware of gaming addiction but people who are actually addicted are not going to pay attention to any warning.
Perhaps they will have a wake up call, but dont know how or where to seek help. By blizzard simply providing a tiny little blurb of info at the top of their webpage or something, then these players would know how and where to seek help. The Game Quitters group at least is free, the Respawn program costs money if you really need a structured program to get out of addiction. It would be very easy for blizzard to provide names of groups that are willing to help and not even allude to the fact that their games are contributing to the problem, they can skate right by that. Or we can go the way we are going where peoples lives are ruined every day by gaming addiction. Even if its just a few people seeking out the info, thats a few humans that can be cured.
This suggestion only gives me the impression that your entire experience with addiction comes from fictionalized sources where it’s used as a narrative device.
Even if that isn’t true, Blizzard is a gaming company. They aren’t qualified to provide health advice or resources aside from the most basic things like “maybe get off your chair every few hours so you don’t crush your own ribs”, and they shouldn’t.
I never said this. Everyone just jumps to worst case scenario. I never wanted blizzard to infringe on your gaming experience. I dont even want them messaging you in the game or by email. Simply advertising ways to seek help is all i ask, even just a little box at the top of the webpage or something will make a difference.
Just so you’re aware, one of the loading screen tips in WoW is:
“Remember to take all things in moderation – even World of Warcraft!”
It’d also be more than possible for someone concerned about their usage to set up parental controls on their own account and restrict the number of hours per week that can be spent playing.
I don’t think this is a Blizzard issue so much as it is an issue with a small subset of gamers in general who display compulsive behavior and need professional help with it more than they need game publishers imposing limits on everyone.
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I don’t have that problem because if I spend 32 hours playing video games that means I didn’t go to work, which means I can’t pay my bills, which would mean no electric or internet to play WoW.
Blizzard already addresses this.
Simply, in the modern game, there’s is flat out nothing that you can actually DO for 32 hours straight anymore.
Outside of leveling a toon from 1 to 120 (Does that even take 32 hours any more?).
I’m sure you can farm boars in Elwynn for gold, if you like.
But I firmly believe that A reason (not THE reason) for all of the time gating in the modern game is to combat the grind mentality and behavior.
32 hours in a WEEK would cover probably 10 toons worth of activity. Even if you were just endlessly mining ore, or collecting herbs, you have to stop sometime to actually sell the cursed things. And if you did that, you’d crater the market on your server anyway, so it’s almost self limiting.
But anything done to actually improve your character, you simply can’t. Not once you ding 120. XP and Gold are the only things you can grind endlessly in the current expansion. (If you want to work on the Insane title, well, be my guest.)
You eventually run out of world quests. And warfronts. And Island Expeditions (you can farm those endless for a mount, I suppose, but that doesn’t necessarily advance the character).
Clearly there’s lots of old stuff you can grind on endlessly. But not much in BfA or Legion. They’re basically saying “We don’t want you endlessly spending time in the game so we’re going to shut you down.”
Without being just blatant about it, rather simply tweaking systems to deter it. You will simply run out of stuff to do each day, and each week.
First of all i am aware and you didnt read my whole post. I used that tip in my post as not being enough.
Second i never said blizzard is an issue. I didnt ever say that “their games” are a problem. I said “games” are a problem. Dont take the post out of context.
Third, im only asking blizzard, as a developer of video games, to remind people that video games can become addictive if not taken in moderation AND that blizzard should be providing ways to seek help if you should become addicted and want help. Theres little wrong with blizzard advertising ways to cut back on gaming and lead a more productive lifestyle outside video games.
…Are you implying that Blizzard should subsidize mental healthcare for their customers?
I think you need only look at the Better Help scandal for a demonstration of what happens when media companies get involved, even tangentially, in the mental health sphere.
They’re game makers, not legislators or psychologists. Slow down with the SJW’ing.
Do you expect a guidance councilor to sit down with you every time you enter a bar? We have enough safe spaces, we need more common sense and personal responsibility.
Well. Ive been labeled a social justice warrior now. Thats not cool, man.
I guess everyone thats against this post wants people to continue down a path to nowhere and never do anything with their lives. Sorry i wanted to help people. Sorry i tried to be a good person and provide a solution. Good job for being so good at tearing things down. Im sure you all feel really good inside for being able to tear things apart and not provide anything constructive to this conversation (or any conversation for that matter).
Just stop with your self righteous non sense. Are you the one that made a thread about eating healthy before? You’re lecturing people non stop. Leave people be.
Go out and shovel an old persons driveway if you want to help.
You want a private company to subsidize public healthcare without regard for the fact that they aren’t under any legal obligation to do so. If you want to help people, just help people. Don’t extend your sense of moral responsibility to others.
I think that when a games company starts arrogantly presuming to tell me what is good for me and what is not…they can go pound sand.
You be you and ill be me and all i was doing was voicing an issue that could (it does) exist. I didnt mean to offend you anti-sjw people or w.e you call people just wanting to discuss an issue.
Youre here because you care enough about my topic to comment on it. That says enough. If you didnt feel some way about it then you wouldnt have said anything. Just be more constructive instead of calling people names. I tried to apologize and you people are still tearing me down…
Here’s the thing, though:
Games, in general, are meant to give you feelings of accomplishment. If a game does it particularly well, then you’re liable to want to keep doing so.
Under normal conditions, people are able to meter their own situations, however. You will find that some people become incapable of metering themselves, and they lose control over their time and choices. This is a fundamental difference in their own psychology compared to people who can regulate themselves.
As much as I do not wish to sound harsh, it is very much “them”. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t get help, or that we should treat them poorly or look down on them, or even that we can’t have an awareness that such a thing can occur.
People who are prone to this kind of behavior, however, tend to find it somewhere in their lives. If it wasn’t WoW it might be gambling, alcohol, etc. The medium isn’t the issue, it’s their inability to regulate their behavior which is treatable.
Which is to say that the issue isn’t that games exist, the issue is that some people are in a psychological place in their lives where it’s not healthy for them to begin gaming. Gaming itself isn’t the issue here, the psychological place they’re in is.
Video Game addictions come from pre-existing dopamine deficiencies either from a mental disorder like ADHD or withdrawal from a substance that increases Dopamine like Amphetamine.
What happens is the brain becomes hooked to the video game because it is a reliable source of that much-needed dopamine.
They have done studies of rats with reduced dopamine receptors and the rats were too lazy to even eat or drink without dopamine just like the kids in this article. Something to think about.
On the other hand I’ll add that if you are neurotypical and noticing that your playtime is not coming at the expense of any of your life priorities it is perfectly fine.
Haha! Yep just like Coke warns you that sugary drinks make you fat…not gonna happen!
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This is the issue here man. You wonder why people are mad at you? You make broad generalizing statements that aren’t true for 90% of people.
You’re providing zero solutions. Zero. Gaming isn’t the cause. I’m glad you want to help. We need more people out there that want to.
The issue is you’re directing your attention to the entirely wrong area. Once again. The opiod crisis is an actual issue. A super serious once that has actual ramifications (way more severe than gaming and it’s laughable that you compared them).
Go do a university degree and do some research on addiction. Please. You are in the wrong place, focusing on the wrong things and saying the wrong things.