Online Gaming And Its Risks.Online Gaming And Its Risks.

Online GamingOnline Gaming

�� In 2007 there were In 2007 there were 217 million people 217 million people playing online playing online gamesgames

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The Game MarketThe Game Market�� The fact that doesnThe fact that doesn’’t help the t help the game addiction problem is that game addiction problem is that games are a multibillion dollar games are a multibillion dollar industry and have a very high industry and have a very high demand. demand.

�� EG: china had a $580 million EG: china had a $580 million game market in 2005 and it has game market in 2005 and it has been taken over by one type of been taken over by one type of game which is the worst that game which is the worst that mostly causes game addiction mostly causes game addiction MMOrpg.MMOrpg.

Image by myself.Image by myself.

China Revenue $580 million game marketChina Revenue $580 million game market

104.4 million104.4 million18%18%Casual AdultCasual Adult

17.4 million17.4 million3%3%Casual Casual ChildrenChildren

179.8 million179.8 million31%31%MMOG MMOG moderatemoderate

214.6 million214.6 million37%37%MMOG MMOG hardcorehardcore

11.6 million11.6 million2%2%MMOG MMOG childrenchildren

$52.2 million$52.2 million9%9%MMOG MMOG professionalprofessional

The Human DesireThe Human Desire

�� Psychologists have Psychologists have claimed that claimed that gaming is a result of gaming is a result of the primal human the primal human desire to win.desire to win.

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WinningWinning

�� As most of us know As most of us know winning feels good winning feels good and losing feels and losing feels bad. bad.

��Winning and losing Winning and losing causes an actual causes an actual chemical reaction in chemical reaction in the brain.the brain.

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The AddictionThe Addiction

��Games become Games become addictive because addictive because they cater to the they cater to the human desire for a human desire for a challenge.challenge.

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What Are The Symptoms?What Are The Symptoms?

�� The usual symptoms The usual symptoms include:include:

�� lack of eating lack of eating

�� lack of drinkinglack of drinking

�� excessive use of the excessive use of the game game

�� lack of focus on lack of focus on anything but the gameanything but the game

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The Mental Health IssuesThe Mental Health Issues

�� There have been a few There have been a few reports that games can reports that games can lead to crimes. lead to crimes.

�� News has been News has been released that a 19 year released that a 19 year old student killed a taxi old student killed a taxi driver whilst recreating driver whilst recreating a scene from a game.a scene from a game.

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The Subject At HandThe Subject At Hand

�� The main subject The main subject though is whether though is whether Gaming is truly Gaming is truly dangerous and can dangerous and can the addiction be the addiction be broken.broken.

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The RisksThe Risks

�� Excessive gaming can alter Excessive gaming can alter the mind and cause a lot of the mind and cause a lot of mental trauma. mental trauma.

�� It was reported that a gifted It was reported that a gifted Asian boy committed Asian boy committed suicide after Playing too suicide after Playing too much world of warcraft. much world of warcraft.

�� He left a suicide note saying He left a suicide note saying he wanted to he wanted to ““join the join the heroes of the game he heroes of the game he worshippedworshipped””

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The Accusers The Accusers

It is the parents of these players that It is the parents of these players that are usually the ones that blame the are usually the ones that blame the game companies for the dangers there game companies for the dangers there games cause to the youth.games cause to the youth.

What Can Parents Do?What Can Parents Do?

��DonDon’’t pay the subscription. t pay the subscription.

��Use computer access as a reward for Use computer access as a reward for good behaviour.good behaviour.

��Encourage them to pay themselves Encourage them to pay themselves and take responsibility. and take responsibility.

��Limit the time they spend on the Limit the time they spend on the games.games.

FinallyFinally

The saying that is most relevant here The saying that is most relevant here is is ““Take all things in moderationTake all things in moderation””because there is only a thin line because there is only a thin line between passion and obsession.between passion and obsession.