Panarama gaming investigation

[Ryoko]

I'm really not looking forward to this tonight another lets bash gaming, games are evil load of crap I expect.

So apparently it's about the fact psychologists have wasted time to find out that gaming uses a risk and reward strategy to make people want to continue to play, did they get paid to find that out?, they could have just tried playing one then they would have realised that.

It's as old as the hills, you need to keep people playing the title to the end, just as you need to make people want to continue watching the show or film, other wise they will wonder off and do something else, not invest in the next game, not watch the next episode in the TV series etc, it's a method used by all media, even celebrity filled monthly rags.

Of course this has been going on since the creation of gaming in the 1960's what has really changed things today is the advent of online gaming, which is a totally different kettle of fish and a massive catch 22 for the industry.

Online gaming has exploded over the years as it's an addition to our social interaction, titles such as WOW are nothing more then a fantasy pub, why go out with your mates in real life and discuss your boring life and job when you can hang around with your guild as a brave sir knight making a difference to the world on your quest, it's like a dream a fantasy of yourself actually being important with the addition of people to talk to and be friends with, COD is similar only on a much smaller scale. the catch-22 for the industry being of course how to make us buy the new one over the one with have been comfortably inhabiting over the last 12 months or so, hence the creation of downloadable content as an extra revenue stream to make up for the fact we are buying less games and playing the few we have for longer.

I doubt Panarama will touch the human interaction aspect that is at the heart of all the biggest titles now days, a modern day far more accessible version of Dungeons and Dragons on a global scale, that all gaming is. Really not looking forward to this show it is the BBC after all.

This is an interesting article by a games researcher at Microsoft, essentially about how to make games appealing.

It's hardly hidden psychological devices, and the work of behavioural psychologists is used to sell everything
It's not as if games are unique in this aspect.

Oh buggers! I thought it was on at 9. I've missed all but the end.

Will I just get angry if I watch it on iPlayer?

I wasnt too sure what it was trying to say. I kinda got the feeling it was aimed at making parents take a bit more responsibility.
I could be wrong as I was reading about slippers and old people at the same time!!!

Article here

Not too bad, except it still assumes gamers are only men

No it just assumes all the saddo gamers are men. Obviously all the females are pretty cool and so not worthy of air time

Right well that was a pointless waste of half an hour of absolutely nothing new or of interest.

I now feel that I am owed money, Badgers Paw they did indeed show a load of idiots at a midnight opening event, knew they would and I think the stupid cow moaning about her son playing Wow for 20 hours a day and getting violent when the internet was off classes as the stupid irresponsible mother so thats the other fiver.

Seriusly 20 hours a day, bet the only contact she has with her kids is when she shouts dinner is ready and they come running down the stairs take the plate and go, it's her own fault for not taking interest in her kids and being happy that they stay in the bedroom out of her way, as for the violent when the internet is off, if that was me he'd be out the door for a night or two to cool off and no internet ever again, some people.

Laughable about the couple who let there baby starve to death because of gaming, yeah not like that happens all the time among none gamers is it

I think the point Ryoko was making was that it was laughable that they brought it up in the program.

And they clearly could only find a handful of addicts in the UK to interview, so then had to talk about Korean gamers, when it's a completely different market there.

The baby starving was absolutely tragic. However you see cases like that in non-gamers too, only something else (or just their basic nature) causes them to neglect the baby. Very sad.

Yes exactly kids get neglected and die all the time hence the reason we have so many charities and social services, it's laughable that they point out a case in the program where a baby died because the parents where playing online games all day and only feeding the child once a day.

fact of the matter is the them playing online gaming in the internet cafe next door is irrelevant they could have been in the pub all day, been in the next room all day and only fed the child once a day.

it's a case of couldn't resist showing a bit of sensationalism on the part of the program makers, and I really don't think scapegoating helps child abuse/neglect cases one bit and may even make it harder for authorities to target at risk people.

I remember hearing the story about the baby a while back and it was deeply saddening. There is something very wrong with someone who lets their child starve to death. Something that was probably wrong with this couple before they got addicted to games.

On watching it I still believe that people addicted to gaming have a right to have it taken seriously as a problem.

Exactly and it's something Panorama glossed over time and again, people playing because they where depressed was mentioned but not expanded upon, addictive personalities was mentioned but not expanded upon.

I do get so fed up of the scapegoat culture of tackle the effect not the cause and I do think it leads people down the wrong roads, what is the point in the gaming addiction programs in Korea, why are they addicted? why are they not doing more then one thing in a day, what is the relationship with the family/friends/work mates etc there are so many things at play that are ignored, whole thing is a waste of time and money.

Definitely Paisley, same as any addiction. Though I guess it's more compulsion than addiction, and there are more likely to be underlying causes, as there is nothing inherently addictive about games.

I'm amazed that anyone can become addicted to any form of entertainment, but that's just me.

Also, the programme was dull and added nothing new to the debate other than perhaps shining a light upon Korea and Starcraft 2 which I imagine many didn't know about before.

A good response to the episode.

General gaming is not a problem very few people actually become violent because of playing games and those that do act violently already had that tendency to it already.

Give people some credit they are not stupid or mindless drones they know the difference between reality and fantasy.

The real problem in MMOs they can be highly addictive as such games are set up that you can never 'beat' the game and since you are playing against other people there is always a strive to improve or be left behind.

People do play MMOs because is an escape from realism some people simply play for fun others because they are depressed and need escape from the realities of their life.

And I you will find many gamers are now women by the way not as much as men but quite a number.

But if times are hard you may have learned some useful skills that will help you in the future.

I still say if MMOs are a totally different kettle of fish to normal gaming and if people where not on em, they would probably be on forums all night.

and I don't see anything wrong with that and all, look at me I hardly play any games now, I'm on the net all the time, because I hardly get out the house now I'm not working so I don't see anyone much except DS and DF, is that a problem I don't think so, just an added kind of social interaction.

Marking my place. Played a variety of games for 30++ years.

Paintballing and air rifles are among my interests though I would probably twist a knee running about like a 30yo now I am over 50, but can separate fantasy from reality and even if I have blown up thousands of millions of people (in war games) would not be inclined to punch, let alone shoot, someone.

Will come back for a thorough read later!