Gaming Addiction Debunked Don't let it spoil your fun.
Is Computer Game addiction a problem? We take a responsible look.
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We have seen in the recently published Parts 1 and 2 of this article, that there are many potential benefits to be derived from Computer Ganing and there is every reason to go so far as to encourage gaming for the many instances described earlier where good will be achieved. Nevertheless, caution cannot simply be cast aside and you should always take a responsible approach not only for yourself but also others for whom you are responsible..
Some hard facts follow although we do finish on a positive and optimistic note.
One hears increasingly of social tragedies resulting from computer gaming and there is much anecdotal and reported evidence of family splits, job losses, marriage break-ups and even death
A number of you will have heard of the case when in 2005, a South Korean named Lee Seung Seop played StarCraft solidly for fifty hours in an Internet cafe and made headline news for all the wrong reasons. He suffered a cardiac arrest, was taken to a local hospital where he later died. “We presume the cause of death was heart failure stemming from exhaustion,” a Taegu provincial police official told the Reuters news agency. The police commented that they did not know if the deceased had been suffering from any prior health conditions and added that he had recently been fired from his job because he kept missing work to play computer games.
One of Lee's friends said: “…he was a game addict. We all knew about it. He couldn't stop himself.”
A fascinating fact but perhaps not surprising 15 million + people, or 30% of the population, are registered for online gaming in South Korea.  It is no surprise that it is a South Korean corporation that operates the World Cyber Games annual event, backed by high profile names including Samsung and Microsoft.
Whilst death is perhaps an extreme consequence of Computer Game Addiction, but the circumstances concerning Lee's death are perhaps all too familiar
What conclusion can we draw from the Computer Gaming Addiction issue?
See if you might be suffering from Computer Gaming Addiction by answering the following questions:
#Â Do you need to play computer games with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve the desired excitement?Â
#Â When you are away from your computer, are you able to concentrate on non-gaming things or do you find you are constantly thinking about gaming?
#Â Did you ever lie to family and friends rather than admit to them the true amount of time you spend on computer gaming?
# Do you feel restless or tetchy when trying to cut back on or stop computer  gaming?
#Â Have you previously been unsuccessful in trying to cut back, control or give up computer gaming?
#Â Do you ever use computer gaming to take your mind off of personal problems, feelings of helplessness, guilt anxiety or even depression?
#Â Have you ever risked damaging an important relationship or risked your marriage in order to satisfy your â??loveâ?? of computer gaming?
#Â Has your computer gaming ever resulted in a lost job, a lost career move or educational opportunity?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you may be addicted to computer gaming. You can see for yourself the indications that you may have lost control. Why wait until it is too late to seek out help?
Most of us will know in our hearts if we are spending too much time at computer gaming even before doing the tests. According to research, MMORPGs and online gaming are more likely to become addictive than home-based Video games. Occasionally, rather than going online to compete, think about playing home-based video games with your friends and family.
Above all, variety rather than hard-core gaming of any type could well be one of the answers.
This is one of three concise articles, on Computer Gaming Addiction. The articles have been researched and written by a site dedicated to Video and Online Gaming and endeavour to put a sensible perspective on this important issue.