With Skyrim’s drop in November, many red eyed, sleep deprived gamers have been showing up to work – or not – and have seen their game play impact on their wakefulness in different aspects of their life.
An engrossing gaming experience such as the above mentioned epic isn’t the only problem however. What’s far more alarming is the number of those immersive games that dropped recently. In effect, a gamer’s “to finish” pile is stacking up and the results aren’t pretty.
It’s an epidemic. The condition: Game Saturation Syndrome or G.S.S. It is too many games to play in too little time.
An engrossing gaming experience such as the above mentioned epic isn’t the only problem however. What’s far more alarming is the number of those immersive games that dropped recently. In effect, a gamer’s “to finish” pile is stacking up and the results aren’t pretty.
It’s an epidemic. The condition: Game Saturation Syndrome or G.S.S. It is too many games to play in too little time.
If you have more than two games waiting to be played on the side lines, you may be at risk. Also, if “completing” a game means finishing every side quest, exploring every nook and cranny, and getting all trophies... you might be at risk. If your idea of a solution to “catch up” on gaming is to pull a few “all-nighters” then you may be at risk. If in between games, you get side tracked into pulling out and completing (for the hundredth time) a classic Ps1, N64, SNES or NES game... then you may be at risk. If you are playing multiple games at once to decrease boredom and increase your progress through your game stack, then you might be at risk. If you’ve pre-ordered and are excited about the eminent release of another game though you haven’t already finished the one you’re got... then you may be at risk.
Signs you or your loved one might be lost to G.S.S are:
You actually feel anxious, burdened, exhausted, displeased, embarrassed or
ashamed when you look at the pile of games still yet to be play.
Getting a new game, while exciting is accompanied by pressure to finish other
games to get to playing it.
You’ve pulled more than one “all-nighter” in the last two weeks to complete a
game and move on to the next.
You were irritable with someone who delayed game progress. This includes any
attempt you made to involve others in gaming because you initially thought it
would be fun, but found they simply just can’t play the game right.
You think and strategize over next moves in a game even while you aren’t playing
so that you don’t waste any time when you “get down to business”.
You refer to gaming as “getting down to business”.
You’ve cut out some things from your day to maximize gaming (such as dressing,
washing, talking to others and preparing anything to eat that is more complicated
than making kraft dinner.).
The talk time you do spend with others is a poorly balanced attempt to listen
and game simultaneously.
Lack of sleep, poor nutrition and hygiene have got you looking and smelling the
part of a “walking dead” extra.
You’ve consumed more energy drinks and/or caffeine than anything else you’ve
drank... or eaten.
Beating a game is a celebration, but only a brief one - you have others to conquer.
G.S.S. Treatments are in the works, while support groups for those with afflicted loved ones are cropping up everywhere. There is help on the way.
Signs you or your loved one might be lost to G.S.S are:
You actually feel anxious, burdened, exhausted, displeased, embarrassed or
ashamed when you look at the pile of games still yet to be play.
Getting a new game, while exciting is accompanied by pressure to finish other
games to get to playing it.
You’ve pulled more than one “all-nighter” in the last two weeks to complete a
game and move on to the next.
You were irritable with someone who delayed game progress. This includes any
attempt you made to involve others in gaming because you initially thought it
would be fun, but found they simply just can’t play the game right.
You think and strategize over next moves in a game even while you aren’t playing
so that you don’t waste any time when you “get down to business”.
You refer to gaming as “getting down to business”.
You’ve cut out some things from your day to maximize gaming (such as dressing,
washing, talking to others and preparing anything to eat that is more complicated
than making kraft dinner.).
The talk time you do spend with others is a poorly balanced attempt to listen
and game simultaneously.
Lack of sleep, poor nutrition and hygiene have got you looking and smelling the
part of a “walking dead” extra.
You’ve consumed more energy drinks and/or caffeine than anything else you’ve
drank... or eaten.
Beating a game is a celebration, but only a brief one - you have others to conquer.
G.S.S. Treatments are in the works, while support groups for those with afflicted loved ones are cropping up everywhere. There is help on the way.
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