After watching the movie “Second Skin,” I was in disbelief. Here were gamers so involved in these virtual worlds that their lives outside the game were almost nonexistence. I was personally shocked by the one man whose wife had twins and yet he only slightly cut back on his hours playing World of Warcraft instead of giving up gaming to help out more often and/or spend time with his children. These gamers go to their nine to five job and then dive right into their virtual world. It is to the point that they are so consumed by the game that they use their vacation days to play World of Warcraft. Their friendships and relationships are only real in their gaming world. Natural world friendships are almost nonexistence. I understand the desire to game, to have equal opportunities and have the chance to be becoming the best at something. Starting off in a game the playing field level it doesn’t matter if you have a disability or if you are overweight or if you are shy, everyone has the opportunity to become a master of the game, but what I wondered after watching “Second Skin” was how this gaming addiction could be monitored and/or regulated. Gaming addiction can be deadly. It can ruin people’s relationships, friendships, and jobs in the natural world, but at the same time it can be a place where people find their significant other or a group of friends to fit in with. However, gaming addictions are just like alcoholism and drug addictions. Drugs are illegal and there are laws about consuming alcohol, but our society has no regulation on how often people game. Gaming addictions are just as dangerous as drugs, but the question is how could gaming be regulated? I am unsure how gaming should be restricted, but mostly because I see the value in gaming and at the same time I see the negative consequences. The other issue besides the pros and cons is the logistics of restricting gamers. How can the government limit the number of hours someone plays a game?
The idea of restricting game usage is an interesting one. I wonder if this would even be possible or if it is necessary. As you say, we regulate other potentially harmful things like drugs and alcohol, but how effective are these regulations? Also, it could be argued that most anything in excess could be harmful. Moderation is a main component of a healthy and happy life but that doesn't mean we can impose regulations on every aspect of life. I think the idea of a open internet also comes in to play here. Restricting online gaming means restricting what people can access, when they can access it and for how long. While gaming restriction may have good intentions, I think there is a lot here to think about.
ReplyDeleteWhat if game companies made playing time the scarce commodity? You log on, join your team or guild, and are told "if you do not stop the horde of orcs in 2 hours, the villagers will all die, you will lose experience points, and you will not be able to log in for two whole days."
ReplyDeleteJust an idea I've been tossing around. I love games, but they seem slanted to those willing to play all day and night to "level up."
Companies should at least consider some ethical guidelines in designing future titles; they might then avoid future legislation. Linden Lab asked the FBI to investigate gambling in Second Life and provide legal advice. The FBI was thrilled to have the chance to study a new field of potential crime and happily worked with the company, who faced no legal bills or liability as a result.