Do you think I use too much gel? GameGossip Baby! Are you looking at my ass? :: News :: :: Articles :: :: Games :: :: Interviews ::
Set Homepage Set Homepage  Set Bookmark Add Bookmark  Submit News Submit News
Username: Password:
Join GameGossip! :: Forgot Login :: 30,000+ Members!
 
 
 
:: Advertise With Us ::
:: Latest News Headlines :: :: Latest Hot Stories :: :: Current Poll ::
   Morning Brief - Halloween Edition
 LittleBigPlanet Sackboy Pricing Revealed
 Electronic Arts Makes 600 Jobs Redundant
 Mirror's Edge Demo Released (PSN); XBLA ...
 Beatles Video-Game Details Released
 New Sackboy Clothing Released (JPN PSN)
 Morning Brief - Failure of a Gamer Edition
 Morning Brief - Hump Day Edition
 Tomb Raider: Underworld Demo Released
 Morning Brief - Should Be Getting LittleBigP...
 Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard Voic...
 Wiikly Update: Strong Bad Episode 3 and ...
 LittleBigPlanet Servers Are Live
 Morning Brief - A Ton Of Games Edition
 Morning Brief - Dead Space Edition
 
Gamegossip is Back!(1)
PS3 60GB SKU Being Phased Out? PS3 Still...(13)
Black Xbox 360 is Teh Reals: 120GB HDD a...(12)
Forums & Comments Online(9)
Official "Forums are Down and I hate Lif...(272)
Get Your Pubescent Gay On in Bully(11)
The Little Halo That Couldn't: Fi...(28)
PS3 IS In Production(15)
ESA Issues E3 2007 Statement(11)
AMD Acquires ATI(17)
Video Game ... Detox Centers?(10)
Halo 3 Announcement Trailer(21)
Microsoft Supports Nintendo?(31)
Microsoft Acquires Lionhead(18)
PS3 Delayed?(23)
 
Polls! We don't need no stinking polls!
 
Network:
Current
Search
Customize
Newsletter
Archive
Press Releases
Submit

Articles
Demos
Game Servers
Interviews
Poll Archive
Screenshots
Stock Market
Gaming Charts

Syndication
About Us
Advertise
Link Us

 
Video Game ... Detox Centers? (HOT ITEM)
Andrew 'Talon' Wilson :: 10:56 PM @ June 10th, 2006 :: General Gaming
:: Print This Article :::: Send This Article To A Friend ::
In a story that's sure to come in handy for all the apparent junkies that are on the Internet, a story was run the other day by the Associated Press (via Yahoo), reporting that in Amsterdam the first addiction center is opening for ... of all things, video games. Run by Amsterdam-based Smith & Jones Addiction Consultants, the center will open in July, running in four to eight week "detox" (we can't make this stuff up), programs. Apparently the center will include discussions with therapists, in an attempt to build patients interests in other activities. For those not already really, really, confused, below is a couple interesting quotes on the matter.
"We have kids who don't know how to communicate with people face-to-face because they've spent the last three years talking to somebody in Korea through a computer," Bakker said. "Their social network has completely disappeared."

Hyke van der Heijden, 28, a graduate of the Amsterdam program, started playing video games 20 years ago. By the time he was in college he was gaming about 14 hours a day and using drugs to play longer.

"For me, one joint would never be enough, or five minutes of gaming would never be enough," he said. "I would just keep going until I crashed out."

Of course, this begs the question: how DO you snort a video game? At any rate, see the link above for more information.

Latest Similar Story: Electronic Arts Makes 600 Jobs Redundant (10/30/08)

#1 - Whitelines - 06/11/06 @ 12:14 AM EST
If anyone can figure out how to snort WoW, i really need a hit bad.

Last Edited on 06/11/06 @ 12:14 AM EST
#2 - Pezman - 06/11/06 @ 04:11 AM EST
I think it is comedy that such centers are needed. What's the longest you've ever played video games straight? For me, I've toped out at about 10 hours.
#3 - Blindside - 06/11/06 @ 07:33 AM EST
This is less about video games and more about people with a dangerously low level of self-control and willpower. Addicted to videogames? Ok, sure. They could just as easily be addicted to anything else they might consider enjoyable. However since videogames are as accessible as they are, they're the perfect candidate for an addiction.
#4 - Cage - 06/11/06 @ 09:46 AM EST
The new Penny Arcade reminds me of a topic that has come up here a few times. Sales people who have a B.S. in stupidity.
#5 - Quickstriker - 06/11/06 @ 12:27 PM EST
I can see this for people who take it too far with video games. For me I play at least a max of six hours with breaks in between but I just don't have the interest to play the same games I got over and over and I have little money for more.
#6 - potter - 06/11/06 @ 01:07 PM EST
Damn, 6 hrs straight of gaming. I find that to be nuts. The most I play at one time is like 3 hrs. Usually from midnight till 3 in the morning. Oblivion has gotten me back into gaming. I stopped being able to play games for more than like 10 hrs total, but I've put a shit load of time into Oblivion.
#7 - Tre-ful Dead - 06/11/06 @ 03:56 PM EST
I'll play 6 hours sometimes. My girl and I will start playing halo around 10pm and finish around 4pm. Its not a nightly thing, but not often do we only play games for a few hours. We usually make a night of it, like anything.

Sex, going to bars, playing cards etc.
#8 - QWERTYUIOP - 06/11/06 @ 05:30 PM EST
lol I keep reading how little people play compared to me, perhaps I need to go to this place its kinda worrying D:
#9 - recce - 06/11/06 @ 11:16 PM EST
I've played FFVII nonstop for more than 20 hours straight and also many other RPG games at 10++ hrs straight.

And even further back, like 18 to 20 years back, I basically alternate between playing games and going to school (doing nothing else) for many months.

I was fully aware of this "addiction" and luckily when it's time for exams etc I'm still able to find time (though barely) for revisions among the gaming sessions.
#10 - nemarsde - 06/27/06 @ 08:34 AM EST
You know, I wish I could find a video game that was so good I needed video game detox. Honestly, are some gamers just easily pleased or maybe they literally have nothing else to do?
Username: Please Login or Join GameGossip!

We would love to hear your opinion on this news story but you must be a GameGossip member to post! - You Must Register! (It is easy and free!)

 
 
:: STAFF :: COPYRIGHT :: CREDITS :: ADVERTISE :: LINK US :: ::
:: advertise ::
 
Page Load Time: 0.1296 seconds
Can't connect to localhost: $!