Those wicked MMO'sFollow

The cases of people dieing from playing mmorpg or other online games is when the person was so addicted to the game that they ignored the needs of their bodies, such as food etc. I wouldn't exactly say that this is the fault of a video game, but that of a obsessive compulsive disorder. A regular player does not ignore their needs (food, sleep, etc), or their obligations (school, work, friend, family, etc). It is only a problem when the person choses to ignore those needs and obligations and allow themselves to become addicted. This is no different the people addicted to alcohol, TV, gambling, etc. None of the listed examples are necissarly bad things so long as the person does them responsibly. Its just that video games have been given a bad rep in the past (example: Grand Thieft Auto) and blaimed for people's actions in society.

Instead of the media potraying video games the root of problems in society, they should be educating the responsible use of such sources of entertainment, and teaching the signs of abuse to anything that could be labeled as an addictive passtime, and opening support groups for people who can't control their obsessive instincts.

The one good point the article does point out is that its also societies view on video games vs. other passtimes, their exampls was reading. Any passtime can become a negative obsession if the person allows it to take over their life. Instead of blaiming the activity (as a few interviewed people in the atricle blaim video games, which is obviously their fualt, not the game) they should seek support in some sort of addiction support group, or in extream cases seek psycological help.