Digital Gaming PSA It is time to take a look at something that is taking the world by storm, 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 while 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 Like many hobbies, video gaming can become a problem. Here are a few of the pitfalls that can happen with gaming. Misuse of time Spending too much money Video Game addiction

Misuse of Time 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 an end point, video games do not tend to work that way. While it is true that they may reach an end level there is often more to the game that keeps the player coming back such as collectible items, harder difficulties, and the ever present online multiplayer and chat rooms. This means that video games can eat up a large amount of time even by other media standards.

Spending Too Much Money Video Games generally cost more than their media related cousins such as movies, TV shows, music, and books in two distinct ways:

Spending Problem #1 “Enthusiast games” or your large budget graphically and computationally intensive games such as Call of Duty, Halo, Battlefield, Arkham, etc. can easily cost $60-$100 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 Another way that games are often expensive is with what are called micro transactions, also known as DLC (downloadable content). There are many games available to 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 an astonishing amount. Check out this story of how a five year old in Britain racked up a charge of ₤1700.00 (roughly $2700) in ten minutes. This is not a singular incident.

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.

Defining Addiction A condition when a person engages in an activity that is pleasurable and over time becomes compulsive. Interferes with responsibility, work, relationships.

Is this problem an addiction? Gaming is a behavioral addiction. Gamers escape problems in real life by gaming. Provides immediate reward. Studies show increased endorphins while playing.

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: http://www.esrb.org/about/video-game-industry-statistics.jsp. [Accessed 7 November 2013]. [2] Reuters, "Factbox: A look at the 65 billion Video Game industry," 6 June 2011. [Online]. Available: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/06/06/us-videogames-factbox-idUKTRE75552I20110606.

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