Many hardcore gamers claim they’re “addicting to games” or that “games are addicting.” In truth though, these individuals most likely aren’t refering to the word addicting in the traditional sense.

In fact, dictionary.com has different definitions for the word addicting.

ad·dict   ( P )  Pronunciation Key (-dkt)
tr.v. ad·dict·ed, ad·dict·ing, ad·dicts
1. To cause to become physiologically or psychologically dependent on a habit-forming substance: The thief was addicted to cocaine.
2. To occupy (oneself) with or involve (oneself) in something habitually or compulsively: The child was addicted to video games.

n. (dkt)
1. One who is addicted, as to narcotics or a compulsive activity.
2. A devoted adherent; a fan: “We are all… addicts of change” (Christopher Lasch).

Unquestionably, the very first definition of the word is the traditional meaning. In the example featuring that definition, The thief was addicted to cocaine, ‘addicted’ is presented in a very negative light. Since crack cocaine is an illegal narcotic, it’s bad enough as is, but to become addicted to it is even worse. So don’t become ‘addicted’ to substances. Especially illegal ones.

Moving on, we feel that someone “addicted” to video games would fit in with the second definition (in the first half). Most notably, the example reads The child was addicted to video games. While we slightly resent that noted example features a child as the video game player - especially because more and more people are playing video games nowadays - we still prefer it to a thief. The definition here, “to occupy with or involve in something habitually or compulsively” doesn’t have a horribly negative connotation attached with it. In fact, we prefer the last definition of ‘addict’ most; “A devoted adherent; a fan.” After all, that’s what all of us here are, right?

We feel that while most of us enjoy games, we’re not truthfully hooked on them like criminals are on PCP. Having an admiration for, or being a fan of, something is certainly not a bad thing. After all, without avid video game fans, the industry certainly would not be where it is today. Fans provide quality feedback for developers and publishers and in fact, many fans go onto video game careers.

While we wouldn’t say it’s bad to be addicted to video games in the sense that I’ve described above, addiction could take a turn for the worse where players seriously become psychologically dependent on video games. Most notably, a few individuals over the last year have died because of long hours of gaming. I recall hearing something last summer that an Asian child died after playing Starcraft for an insane number of consecutive hours. The problem is that we simply can’t play video games 24/7, even though some of us would like to. While there are individuals who make money from playing video games, the vast majority of people don’t. And hey, even if you are on break or what not, you still need to take breaks to take care of your body to sleep, eat, and do whatever else.

Of course crossing over between simply having a habit to developing state of dependence represents a big jump so it’s not going to suddenly occur. And anyways, we know that most people out there have nothing to worry about. In the meantime, game on. Heck, I’m currently addicted to Hexic. No, I’m not on the verge of becoming dependent on rotating those hexagons to create clusters and watch as I wipe them from the board - but I’m having a damn good time trying to master the game.