Is the impact of widespread online gaming in South Korea of interest? Of course. The same principle can be seen in FarmVille, in Final Fantasy XIV, Borderlands or in an endless number of titles вЂ“ both good and bad.ДЄnd itвЂ™s no different to the narrative that propels you to the next chapter in a book or the cliff-hanger that makes you stay up late to watch just one more episode of Lost or 24.ДЄnd thatвЂ™s the problem with this Panorama show. The promise of another gun, a new killstreak, an extra attachment or high-level perk is absolutely why we play on. The reward of further play or extra items/abilities/weapons is the very essence of their success. How many WoW players have you heard talk about hours spent grinding in Azeroth? You could argue that just last night I spent a good two hours вЂgrindingвЂ™ Gran Turismo 5 to try and unlock the second rally Special Event that opens up at Level 16.ДЄnd Call of Duty, the most successful online console brand there is, only reached the heady heights which it today commands thanks to a grind-heavy levelling system in the multiplayer.Д«ut thereвЂ™s nothing sinister about this. Of course, itвЂ™s true to a certain extent.

This is the principal, it is argued, on which many of the worldвЂ™s most dangerous games are secretly constructed. If rats are taught that a certain action can garner random rewards they will repeat the action obsessivelyвЂќ. The analogy that is used in the show is one about rats. That games are designed to keep you interested is dressed up as a dark, dangerous psychological ploy that threatens the well being of our nationвЂ™s children.

ThatвЂ™s the most disturbing thing about вЂAddicted to GamesвЂ™, PanoramaвЂ™s investigation into gaming addiction that airs on BBC One tonight. Or a game where you feel no compulsion to play beyond the first level. What is the worth of a book not designed to make you read the next chapter? Or a film in which you simply donвЂ™t care what happens to the hero? The media we consume is by its nature designed to enthral, to engross.

Rowling had employed some sort of underhand psychological technique with which to manipulate her readers into consuming with ever increasing hunger more and more of her hypnotic words until youвЂ™ve bought all of her books, a Harry Potter pencil case, the DVD box set and a branded lunch box? There were many blurry-eyed mornings caused by a late one the night before when I simply couldnвЂ™t resist the urge to read one more chapter.Дid that opening paragraph strike you as sinister? Did it make you wonder if J. When youвЂ™re living and working in the jungle thereвЂ™s not much to do of a night, and as a result I found myself getting engrossed in, amongst other things, the Harry Potter books.

Panorama video game addiction