Digital Gaming PSA Today we will look at something that is a fairly new craze sweeping the nation, the craze of digital gaming. We will take a closer look at some information about gaming as well as some potential pitfalls and what you can do to avoid them why still keeping your hobby.

Introduction Digital Gaming is a medium that has rapidly taken off in the last two decades. Spreading from a largely niche market for children in the 80s and 90s to a worldwide market spanning all ages and multiple platforms, from large AAA titles like Call of Duty or Halo to simpler ones such as Angry Birds or Candy Crush. In this PSA we will cover some information about gaming, and some of the pitfalls that can happen when someone spends too much time fixated on it.

Who Games? Gaming is no longer just for young men in fact according to the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) the average age of gamers is 34 and 40% of all those gamers are female. [1]

How big is Gaming? According to the ESRB in 2009 the gaming industry sold approximately $10.5 Billion Dollars in Revenue, and that 67% of us households play video games for an average of 8 hours a week. [1] And that number is seemly headed up in 2011 it is estimated that the total worth of the gaming market was $65 billion. [2]

The Pitfalls of Gaming As with all hobbies video gaming can become a problem taking time money and resources away from other more important aspects of life Here are a few of the pitfalls that can happen with gaming. Misuse of time Spending too much money Video Game addiction * It is worth noting that misuse of time and money are not equal to an addiction. While they can be signs of addiction, an addiction is usually a type of neurological disorder.

Misuse of Time This is usually the most common problem with video games is that they can be very time consuming. Unlike many other mediums games do not often have a definitive end. Unlike Books and movies that have a start point and an end point, video games do not really work that way. Why it is true that they may reach and end level there is often more in the game that keeps the player coming back for more, such as collectible items, harder difficulties, and the ever present online multiplayer. This means that video games can eat up a large amount even by other media standards.

Spending To much Money Video Games generally cost more than there media related cousins such as movies, TV shows, Music, and books, in two distinct ways:

Spending Problem #1 The first way relates more to “Enthusiast games” or your large budget graphically and computationally intensive games (Call of Duty, Halo, Battlefield, Arkham, etc). Why things like new DVD or book releases generally cost in the neighborhood of twenty dollars, similarly music and TV shows generally cost between one and two dollars for an episode or song. Contrast this with AAA games which can easily cost $ dollars at launch. On top of that the system to play these games on can cost easily $500 to well over a thousand for high end devices with many peripherals.

Spending Problem #2 The second way they are often more expensive is with what are called micro transactions, also known as DLC (downloadable content). There are many games on computers, tablets and phones that are free to play, however, these games usually also come with a system to unlock extras by paying money. These micro transactions can add up very quickly to easily be more than you wanted to pay for a simple game on your phone or tablet. Don’t believe me well than check out this story of how a five year old in Britain racked up a charge of ₤ (roughly $2700) in ten minutes and know that this is not the only instance out there of micro transactions gone crazy. this story

Video Game Addiction Another Pitfall to be wary of is that of an addiction. When video games start having a negative effect on your life, your career and your family, it is likely that you have a problem and should take steps to overcome it.

Steps To Take If you find that you have any of these problems associated with video games just remember these simple tips: Do not use video games for procrastination: If you have a pressing matter do it fist and then use your free time later for gaming. Pay attention to the amount of time you play: This can be difficult to do, as the old saying goes, “time flies when you are having fun.” Only if you understand how much time you are spending it can you see if it is cutting into other pressing matters. Set limits if need be: This is something that is generally targeted at children but is equally valid for adult gamers (both casual and enthusiast) as well. Fortunately many platforms are beginning to create monitoring and allotted time tools that allow you to see and control how much time you spend. To learn more see if your vender offers some sort of “parental control” Budget: games (again both casual and enthusiast) can become expensive in a hurry, having a budget set aside for your hobby this will not only keep you from spending too much money but also falling into the trap of Add-ons and DLC which can add up fast. Above All prioritize: This is the most important step to avoid problems associated with not only gaming but other forms of abuse as well. Take into account what is most important and then build a schedule around that. If your actions start to hurt the things you care about most then it is time for a change in priorities.

References [1] E.S.R.B., "How Much Do You Know About Video Games?," [Online]. Available: [Accessed 7 November 2013]. [2]Reuters, "Factbox: A look at the 65 billion Video Game industry," 6 June [Online]. Available:

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