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The science behind addiction.

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:13 am
by Liviticus
So, we all know the classic game-addiction model which restricts when dopamine can be released by limiting play-time, such as clash of clans with their ridiculously long wait times, how this works is when we experience joy, dopamine gets released between neurons, when we get too much dopamine, we need more dopamine to stimulate ourselves to the same way.

For example, let's take a can of soda:

You drink a can of soda every day for a year, the first quarter you really like it, but nearing the end of the year it just isn't the same anymore- this is because the dopamine receptors have closed a little, allowing less dopamine to flow through and make you feel good , you now need more stimulation to reach the same effect (2 cans of soda)

After the 2nd year, the 2 sodas also start becoming dull, so you start drinking 3... untill you get diabetes that is.

This applies to games aswell, have you ever wondered why you are stabbing low-graphic shadows while call of duty is collecting dust? Why ganes are only fun for a month at best? It's not thr game thats boring, it's you that have over-stimulated your dopamine receptors by bombarding them with dopamine day and night for weeks, while on games like candy crush have things i like to call "restrictors" things that restrict how long you can play, restricting how much dopamine you recieve.

However, why doean't this happen in celtic heroes? I can level all day long, everyday and i'm still here, why aren't my dopamine receptors so overstimulated i'm disgusted by yhe game?

The social side of the game.
In a similar way i will never get tired of my best friend, i won't get tired of my best in-game friend.
If you are on my world or see my sig often, you will know i've beem this level for about half a year, why? Because i have found i'm not a "level and boss" type of player (although, i do like that and will hopefully return to that soon.) I'm a social player, i love the community, the players on my world, and being a moderator (although i admit i'm the worst one, and have alot to learn from my more senior mods, i love what i do.)

Thanks OTM for a great game, and thank you, the players, for enhancing the greatness.

Re: The science behind addiction.

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:52 am
by Voldemort
Pretty accurate!

The social side of an MMORPG is what makes it for me - besides, it's an MMO game for a reason! :P

Re: The science behind addiction.

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 12:46 pm
by Jazmin From Epona
I am such a genius without knowing this, 0: I explained it just like this to my mother by just guessing how it worked.

Re: The science behind addiction.

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 3:54 pm
by xvanguardx
I've never wondered why my cod is collecting dust cause cod sucks

Re: The science behind addiction.

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 7:24 pm
by AggyBrace :3
i actually did wonder why celtic heroes wasnt getting boring lol

Re: The science behind addiction.

Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 1:46 am
by MarcusD
My vote is cause its such a long dang game lol ;). And there is restrictors, towards the end of every update cycle is a restrictor.

Re: The science behind addiction.

Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 4:03 am
by 2hyped2
Well good theory an all but it doesn't apply to everythin . I've Been doin somethin once a day (usually solo) for the past 14 years and very rarely do I do It twice. Of coarse there's exceptions to the rule but once a day keeps me level headed for the most part ;)

Re: The science behind addiction.

Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 4:05 am
by Liviticus
Well good theory an all but it doesn't apply to everythin . I've Been doin somethin once a day (usually solo) for the past 14 years and very rarely do I do It twice. Of coarse there's exceptions to the rule but once a day keeps me level headed for the most part ;)
I think I know what you'r getting at... I too, only need one cup of coffee a day to remain safe around humans, but that may hace something to do with my strange sleep patterns.

Re: The science behind addiction.

Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 4:14 am
by Inertia
Well good theory an all but it doesn't apply to everythin . I've Been doin somethin once a day (usually solo) for the past 14 years and very rarely do I do It twice. Of coarse there's exceptions to the rule but once a day keeps me level headed for the most part ;)
I think I know what you'r getting at... I too, only need one cup of coffee a day to remain safe around humans.
Yeah... Its coffee we r talking about right now... Coffee...

Re: The science behind addiction.

Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 10:38 am
by Voldemort
Well good theory an all but it doesn't apply to everythin . I've Been doin somethin once a day (usually solo) for the past 14 years and very rarely do I do It twice. Of coarse there's exceptions to the rule but once a day keeps me level headed for the most part ;)
Our bodies are more complex that to just react to dopamine and get addicted! The activity I think you do once a day will release other neurotransmitters and chemicals that will play their part to reduce the "addiction". But why have you been doing it for 14 years? Because you are basically getting your hit of dopamine/other neurotransmitters every time so you keep going! When the restrictions come out of balance, people becomes obsessive and some people might do it multiple times a day.