INTRODUCTION - GAMING ISSUES

Introduction 

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Any software application that can be played on a computing device, such as a personal computer, gaming console, or mobile device, is referred to as a video game. Video games have been around since the early 1970s and have grown in popularity across a variety of platforms, including mobile (smart phones, tablets) and stationary (computer or console). Social networks and group gaming have sprung up as a result of technological advancements, notably on mobile devices.

Despite the fact that gaming does not demand physical stamina and so is not restricted by age, gender, or fitness, it is most popular among teens. Gaming disorder was classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in their International Classification of Diseases in 2018. (ICD-11). The International Classification of Diseases and Medical Conditions (ICD-11) is a classification of diseases and medical conditions that helps health professionals make diagnosis and treatment strategies for people with various problems. It should be mentioned that WHO's inclusion of gaming disorder in the ICD-11 has sparked heated and sometimes acrimonious debate and discussion among medical and mental health professionals. Although Gaming Disease is recognised as a clinical interest, the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) indicates that additional clinical study is needed before it is formally classified as a psychiatric disorder. The inclusion of gaming disorder in ICD-11, according to the WHO, will promote greater study into excessive gaming behaviour, including prevention and therapy.

Gaming as meaningful & purposeful

Playing video games is a significant and purposeful activity, according to participants, and it has a role in numerous aspects of their lives. Friendships are built around games, for example, since it is something they enjoy doing, and some of them desire to work in the video game industry in the future. They also spend time thinking about games. The subthemes connected to gaming as a meaningful and purposeful activity will be discussed in this section: gaming as a part of life, the gaming community as a subculture, and the role gaming plays in gamers' lives.

Gaming as part of life

I'm always going to love video games … they're so big a part of my life that I'm a completely different person because of them.

Adam's quote was his response to being asked about whether he feels like he needs to cut down on gaming. Surprisingly, all of the participants said they grew up playing video games because a family member pushed them to or they observed a family member play. Participants stated that gaming is a part of who they are and a part of their lives because they grew up with video games. Gamers said they have incorporated gaming into their daily routines. Gaming not only allows them to pass the time, but it also gives them a sense of accomplishment and allows them to interact with their social circle. When people are bored or have nothing better to do, they frequently turn to gaming.

 Participant characteristics

Sixteen participants (11 male; 5 female) aged 16–35 years old were interviewed for this study. Their mean score on the PVP was seven out of nine. According to their activity logs, the participants played a mean of 30.85 h of video games per week, ranging from 10 h to 62.5 h per week. Three people did not fully complete the activity log and were excluded from the calculations. However, actual gaming hours may have been higher due to interview reports that: 1) they were gaming while performing other activities, 2) missing data in logs may have been time spent gaming and, 3) two participants were travelling during the time of log completion so it was not a typical week. Furthermore, time spent on other gaming related activities that did not involve physical game-play from the participants were also not included in the mean hours per week calculation. These gaming-related activities included: 1) watching others play via live streams, 2) reading strategy guides, 3) reading fan-fiction, 4) thinking about games, and 5) fixing/building a computer.

 Gaming as a purposeful activity

 According to the participants, video games provide opportunity to relax, take control, be challenged, and attain goals in their lives. They said that playing games after work helps them de-stress and unwind. After returning to the comfort of his home, Mark said that games helped him "relax." Participants also stated that they played games because they were fun and gave them a sense of control. They controlled in-game characters and made "many choices," as Kurt put it, where "your actions actually come into play." Some participants asserted that gaming was an activity that can be done alone or in the company of friends (online or in person). It was also conveyed that games offered adventure through role-playing and stimulated creativity. One participant confided that games inspired her art work: [Video games] make me want to draw more or, like, have ideas to make other stuff because I craft a lot too. The most dominant role of games reported by participants was the challenge and sense of achievement they provided. Games were not viewed as a passive activity, but rather, one where participants were motivated by challenge and game related self-improvement as Bernard described:

You can improve yourself in a sense of the game … And that feeling of being able to be faster than them and more clever than them, you know, that's really, really enticing.

Participants discussed feeling a sense of achievement when they won or accomplished something within the game, especially in games with skill ratings and rankings for each individual player. The gamers described a “sense of exhilaration” and feeling “validated” through gameplay.

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