Video Game Addicts - Media Labels

ad·dict ( -d kt ) v. tr. ad·dict·ed, ad·dict·ing, ad·dicts.

1. To devote or give (oneself) habitually or compulsively

2. To cause to become compulsively and physiologically dependent on a habit-forming substance.

Thus starts my day on March 13, 2000. I was awakened by the bedside radio just in time to hear a reporter on National Public Radio do a segment on video games and the video games industry. It seemed like a pretty light-hearted piece until it suddenly took a turn, as it seems to do when non-gamers cover the subject.

The reported exclaimed "no longer can people addicted to games be satisfied with black and white paddle games like pong." The reporter went on to say that these types of people need the latest 3D graphics, music and hardware in order to be satisfied. Then I heard the familiar PAC-MAN theme, followed by a discussion of how Mario came to be and how his image graphics were improved to attract gamers. The reporter interviewing a couple of kids playing Frogger on the PlayStation directly followed this. One kid said that the new Frogger made her sick while playing the game do to the 3D worlds, the other kid told her to take a pill so that she could keep playing.

So now gamers are pill poppers too. Nothing like putting a spin on the article for a follow-up report, I guess. The truth to the matter is that the game that she was playing is a poorly designed game that is no where near as fun to play as the original. Oh wait, that can't be it. Video gamers do not like those old games. The reporter is always right!

Why is it that folks that enjoy other activities such as golf, card and stamp collecting, wood working, fishing, music, sports, painting, movies, driving, etc are called things like hobbyist, fan, collector or enthusiast? These "labels" give us a positive perception to those endeavors. Nooooo.... video game players are given the same label as junkies and compulsive gamblers.

Why can't video game players be given a more positive label? The word addict has negative connotations. And I honestly believe that it was intentional. Oh great, now I'm going to get a paranoid label as well.

Well, let me sign off now so that I can go get my daily video game fix before I start getting the shakes so bad that I have to call in sick at work.