Video games have come a long way since the rudimentary graphics and gameplay of early titles like Pong and Space Invaders. Modern video games are incredibly lifelike and immersive—so much so that many gamers become addicted and suffer mental health disorders and even physical injuries as a result of excessive playtime.
To make matters worse, some video game developers design their products to specifically target the dopamine reward system in the brain to make them as addictive as possible. These games are then targeted to children, adolescents, and teens, who are often the most vulnerable to video game addiction and the ensuing negative effects.
At Ferrer Poirot Feller, we believe that video game developers should be held liable when they knowingly create addictive games that can mentally and physically harm young people. If your child is suffering from the negative effects of excessive playtime and gaming addiction, we want to help. Contact us today for a free case review.
A 2023 study states that video game addiction leads to changes in the brain similar to those that occur in people with substance abuse and gambling addiction.
While all types of games can be addictive, multiplayer games are often the most addictive, especially for young people. Developers use different design principles to maximize this effect, including:
- Creating Personalized and Immersive Experiences: Advanced graphics, engaging storylines, and character customization create deep immersion, making reality feel less appealing than playing the game.
- Offering Endless and Unpredictable Gameplay: Many online games lack a clear stopping point, using infinite progression, daily challenges, and randomized rewards to keep players engaged for months or even years at a time.
- Targeting Reward Systems and Dopamine Release: Games use achievements, loot boxes, and progression systems that trigger dopamine release, creating a cycle of instant gratification and reinforcing playtime.
- Using Psychological Triggers: Games employ variable reward schedules (like slot machines) and time-limited events that encourage compulsive playing to avoid missing exclusive content.
- Utilizing Social Connectivity: Multiplayer games offer social interaction, peer competition, and teamwork, making it difficult for players to log off without feeling like they are missing out on team progression and socialization.
For many gamers, addiction goes far beyond simply spending an excessive amount of time playing. It can lead to serious mental health problems, including:
- ADD (Attention-Deficit Disorder)
- ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Anti-Social Disorder
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Gamers Rage
- Gamers Withdrawal
- ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder)
- Panic Disorder
- Social Phobia
- Suicide Attempt
Some gamers are officially diagnosed with Video Game Addiction/Internet Gaming Disorder by mental health professionals, which often requires either inpatient or outpatient treatment, depending on severity. In some cases, gamers suffering from addiction even receive Social Security Disability benefits for the debilitating effects the games have on their lives and ability to work.
The mental health effects of video games can also lead to reduced educational achievement, including dropping out of school, worsening grades, and even learning impairment.
Prolonged gaming sessions, especially when they occur daily, can wreak havoc on the body. Some of the most common physical injuries caused by gaming addiction include:
- Brain Changes Showing in CT or MRI Scans
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Computer Vision Syndrome
- De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis (Gamer’s Thumb)
- Digital Eye Strain
- Hypertension
- Neck Sprain or Herniation
- Seizures
- Tennis Elbow
While video games may seem like a harmless pastime or hobby, many are designed to lure users into their digital worlds for long stretches of time, day after day, for months or even years. Video game developers specifically create their games this way to boost player counts and profits from in-game transactions, often leaving a wake of destruction among affected individuals and families.
If you or a loved one is suffering from any of the above effects of video game addiction, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact us today to learn how we can help you hold the video game developers accountable for their negligence and get the compensation your family deserves.