Reflection

I chose to do a research project on online gaming addictions because many of my friends have currently or had in the past, trouble keeping up with school and spent all of their waking and sleeping hours playing these MMORPG games. Some would spend hours creating new characters and relating game objects and scenarios to normal conversations. Because I have never played an MMORPG before, I wondered what was the addicting factor? Before this project, I did not know that an MMORPG was different than any other online game because it involved role-playing. I had also read about a boy who had died from playing the MMORPG, Everquest. To solve the mystery behind MMORPG addiction, I set out on my own quest. To begin my project, I hypothesized that MMORPGs are addictive because players are able to disembody themselves into the game, allowing them to escape from the sometimes harsh reality and forget their troubles in their fantasy game world.

This addiction to a virtual world must mean that they must be dissatisfied with life. To gather information about MMORPGs and addiction firsthand, I interviewed several young adults ages (19-22) about their experience. I also did research on other substance addictions, which had similarities with gaming addictions and their causes. From my investigation, I have learned that the role-playing aspect sets MMORPGs apart from other online games because MMORPGs create a channel for people who face self-esteem problems and depression to escape. Though many players seem to be addicted, only a fraction of the five percent of internet addicts are addicted to online games. Many of the subjects I have interviewed were able to quit and only show some signs of online gaming addictions. They know they have more important responsibilities, and they view these games simply as entertainment.

From this project, I have learned more about psychology, addiction, MMORPGs, and building a good website. The hardest part about this project was narrowing the topic because online gaming addictions is a very broad topic that includes many tangents, such as the science and psychology behind addiction. There are also various explanations of online gaming addictions. If I had more time, I would try playing these MMORPGs and see how I react to the game, as long as I do not get addicted to the game. I would also do more research on the scientific part of addiction and how it relates to online gaming addictive behaviors.