Online multiplayer video games have a great potential for addiction. It has been estimated that about 10% of gamers worldwide are addicts. At least 10 gamers have died of cardiopulmonary-related symptoms at Internet cafes after marathon sessions. One poisoned his parents for placing a curfew on his gaming (“Gaming Addiction a Serious Problem in Asia,” Mar. 7, 2014, www.thecabinchiangmai.com). A married couple left their three-month-old daughter to die while they played online games. Gamers have committed violent acts, even murder, as revenge for “the murder of a player’s online identity.” In some Asian countries, gaming addiction is considered a major public health problem. In South Korea, the average child between the ages of 10-18 spends more than 20 hours a week playing video games online. The government has implemented a curfew at cyber cafes for those under 18 and set up treatment programs. The China internet giant Tencent set daily limits on the time that users can play the game King of Glory. Some of the most addictive games in 2015 were Madden, Dota 2, Grand Theft Auto, Tetris, Candy Crush Saga (the company is valued at $7.5 billion), Minecraft, EverQuest (called “never rest” and “ever crack” because of its addictive power), The Sims (player has omnipotent control over people), World of Warcraft (called World of War Crack), Call of Duty (the last two are played by more than 100 million players), Halo 3 (called Halodiction), Total War, Pong, Civilization, Diablo 3, Super Meat Boy, Team Fortress 2, Dark Souls 2, Counter Strike, Starcraft 2, Persona 4 Golden, Monster Hunter 3, Elder Scrolls, Angry Birds, Faster Than Light, Peggle, League of Legends (LOL), Civilization V, and Pokemon. Beware, particularly, of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG or MMO for short). The Internet is filled with the sad and frightful testimonies of people who have ruined their lives with online role-playing games. Consider one example: “Well long story now ending shortly is I became lvl 50 pretty fast on the server. In fact I was the 5th over all and the first half elf. I was awesome. I had the sword that sparkled and all my cool gear. … I would roll up into town and newbs everywhere would just be in awe. I ruled the world, or this virtual one anyway. Meanwhile my real life had fallen apart. I had lost my job and was in debt with creditors calling ringing my phone off the wall not even to mention I was fat as could be weighing over 400lbs. I could not deal with my real life. I hated any time that took away from my Everquest time. I was ruler in that world. Then one day my power was shut off. … I was so depressed. Not only was my online world now shutoff but now I had to confront my life that I had neglected for the last 2 years. It looked pretty hopeless so I decided to move out of my apartment that was driving me more into debt and possibly go live with my parents” (shoemoney.com/2008). “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). (Friday Church News Notes, September 28, 2018, www.wayoflife.org, [email protected], 866-295-4143) Comments are closed.
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