“Computer games –especially online– are definitely an addiction for a small group of young people, but we shouldn’t be stressing about the risks of gaming”, says Wijnand IJsselsteijn, full professor of Cognition and Affect in Human-Technology Interaction at the Department of IE&IS. “When printing was invented, people were already warning for an information overload and a solitary existence because of books. The same thing happened upon the introduction of radio and television. New media, same fears. Of course, nobody should be gaming for hours on end. Game addicts often show a distorted daily routine. They’re at their computers at night, don’t eat well and school, work, and social activities are neglected. And, like with other addictions, game addicts can show withdrawal symptoms, and their game time has to increase every time to get the same kick out of it.”

“An addictive game is a good game, in a sense. It’s a game that’s so much fun you want to keep playing. In the early stages, games reward you for minimal progress – extra points, a stronger avatar, or advanced weaponry – but those rewards are ever further apart as the game advances. Rewards often vary; they’re unpredictable, which makes the conditioning effect even stronger and thus more addictive.”

“Apart from these micro rewards, peer pressure is another aspect that paves the way for addiction. Gamers used to play by themselves, but now there are many online games where you work in teams. If you’ve agreed to meet at seven, you have to be there. A lot is expected of team leaders especially. The aspect of social recognition is often downplayed, especially by parents, but it can be very important to be appreciated for something you’re very good at.  In gaming countries such as South Korea and Japan, successful gamers are like pop stars.”

“Balance is the magic word. If someone’s seems to have vanished completely, someone should sound the alarm, but there’s no harm in an hour of gaming. In fact, it has its upsides. Games activate the user and many things can be learned through playing. This is particularly true for serious games – we recently developed a game to stimulate people who suffered from a stroke to do their ‘boring’ muscle exercises, for example – but for regular games, too. A good gamer has quite some strategy, coordination, and logic skills: an ideal manager, if you think about it. Spending time in a virtual world is not as bad as many people think, as long as you’re aware your real life is elsewhere. My advice: gaming is fine, but play in moderation.”