Hardcore video game players inhabit a world of flashing lights and glowing consoles, but they might be anyone from college students to professionals — and their legions are growing. According to survey results released by the Interactive Digital Software Association in 2001, 60 percent of Americans age six or older say they play video games on a regular basis. A May 2002 survey by the same company revealed that U.S. consumers purchased 219 million video and computer games in 2001, a dramatic rise from 1996’s 105 million.
Springfield resident Derek Brandt said he became a frequent player when he purchased an Xbox last year. The 30-year-old said playing video games is a relatively new hobby for him. A friend who works as a computer analyst introduced him to the Xbox game “Halo” several months ago. Brandt now plays the game, which allows for a large group of friends to compete simultaneously, for more than 15 hours a week — up to six hours in a single night.
“The draw for me is actually the team sport of it,” he said.
Brandt said he doesn’t see the hours he puts into game-play as a bad habit.
“I don’t feel like I waste time doing it,” he said.
Brandt, who holds two jobs, added that playing “Halo” helps him relieve stress after a 13- to 15-hour work day. He said the only drawback is that late hours spent playing often leave him tired.
Marge, a junior anthropology major and video game player who preferred not to reveal her last name, said excessive game play leaves her exhausted as well. She said she has to stay up late making up for homework she did not do during the day.
“I’m perpetually tired,” she said.
Marge said her favorite games include “Animal Crossing,” “Snood,” “Tetris,” “Eternal Darkness,” “The Sims” and “Kingdom Hearts.” She plays games on computers, Playstation 2, GameCube and Game Boy.
“On some days, I can play for three hours,” she said. “And on some days, I can play for five hours.”
Marge said she plays as a means of escape from her daily routine.
“It’s the only time I get where people leave me alone and don’t bother me,” she said. “It’s mindless entertainment.”
Brandt and Marge both said they are able to balance game-play and day-to-day obligations relatively well. However, other individuals say their video game hobbies turned into addictions that overshadowed the rest of their lives.
A 2001 Wired magazine article referred to these people as “game junkies,” and pointed out several online communities offering “treatment,” including EverQuest-Widows, a Yahoo! group currently boasting more than 3,000 members. The article also recounts the woeful tale of software writer Reuben Logsdon, who said the game “Civilization” controlled his life for seven years.
Clinical psychologist Maressa Hecht Orzack founded and coordinated Computer Addiction Services at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts, where she helps treat people dependent on their computers or video games. Her Web site, www.computeraddiction.com, lists symptoms of the malady, treating the dependence as seriously as any drug addiction.
Brandt said that despite the hours he puts into playing, “Halo” is not an addiction.
“I don’t consider myself a gaming geek by any means,” he said. “To me, it’s just fun.”
It might be arguable whether addiction is possible, but video games’ popularity is undeniable. No matter which level players are on — sore eyes and shaky hands, simply stress-free, or somewhere in between — millions are getting in on the action.