Video Game Addiction

Value
Uncommon, Strong: 10 Points • Uncommon, Total: 15 Points • Common, Strong: 15 Points • Common, Total: 20 Points
Description
A Video Game Addict suffers from a compulsive overuse of computer and video games that interfere with the character's daily life. Such characters play constantly, compulsively isolating themselves from (or isolating themselves from other forms of) human interaction, and focusing exclusively on attaining in-game achievements rather than real-life goals.'''''
When prevented from playing video and computer games, the addict feels Restless and Irritable, and generally expresses boredom with any activity that does not involve electronic gaming. In conversation, the character will constantly reference the games he plays, even when such subjects of conversation aren't truly appropriate. Video Game Addicts tend to lose interest in their mundane lives. They may play many hours per day, gain or lose significant weight due to playing, disrupt sleep patterns to play and suffer sleep deprivation as an effect, play at work, avoid phone calls from friends and/or lie about play time. Relationships with family and friends and performance at work or school may suffer.
Characters with this Complication become Depressed when they do not succeed in games, and can even become Suicidal if a particularly beloved avatar character (usually from an online MMORPG) is unable to accomplish some online goal. Under extreme circumstances, such characters are capable of murder to "avenge" an online defeat.
Despite the name, this Complication is actually a problem with Impulse Control rather than a true addiction.
A Frequency of Uncommon means that the addiction is not yet a serious problem for the character, and it only rarely affects the character's daily performance. A Frequency of Common means that the addiction is a very real problem, and the character's daily performance is seriously affected.
A player character should not take this Disadvantage with a frequency of Very Common, as this would mean that the character spends most of his active life filling the addiction. While that might properly simulate the struggles a true Video Game Addict must go through, unless the campaign is centered on the character's struggles with addiction, it doesn't make for very exciting game play. Similarly, a character who possesses an addiction that has a Frequency less than Uncommon is not a true addict; rather, he just has a bad habit he enjoys indulging. The strength of the addiction (whether Strong or Total) determines the character's ability to resist giving in to the addiction when given a chance to indulge it.
See Also
Adrenaline Junkie, Can't Face Up to His Problems, Drug Addiction, Impulsive, Kleptomania, Self-Destructive, Trouble Magnetic
Category:Complications
Category:Psychological Complications
Category:Psychological Complications U - V
Category:Compulsions
Category:Impulse Control Issues
Category:Addictions