The Generation of Esports and Video Game Addiction
Esports is just like traditional sports. Fans come together and support their favorite teams, and watch matches and grand finals. Ever since the late 1900s, video games and the esports community has risen in popularity all over the world. In 2013, the League of Legends finals was streamed by 33 million people on Twitch, showing that video game streams can compete with rival TV in terms of scale and reach. 8.5 million viewers watched the League of Legend finals at the same time compared to the 2012 Olympics Youtube stream that peaked at 500,000 viewers watching at once. Big-name television networks such as ESPN, TBS, SyFy, and Telemundo have broadcast esports events and games.
Some of the most popular esports leagues are Overwatch, Fortnite, PUBG, League of Legends, Valorant, and DOTA 2. DOTA 2 being one of the larges, has 59 active teams #35 million dollars worth of championship prize money and peaks at 15 million viewers.
Esports players can make a rough estimate of a minimum of $12,000 to a maximum of $60,000 a year excluding tournament prize money. The top players can make up $35,000 a month which is $420,000 a year.
Big streaming sites such as twitch have helped esports popularity. The site allows users to watch other people including professional players, play various video games.
Video Game Addiction and Harm
While gaming brings lots of fun and pleasure to people, it does have its own downfalls. A doctor in South Korea, Dr. Kim Hyun-soo is known for treating those who are addicted to video games. He once treated a patient who took it to the extreme. Dr. Kim Hyun-soo states that “I treated him for six months and thought he was cured.” But he killed himself two months after completion of the treatment. “We realized he had wanted to keep the relationship with his gaming friends but he was chucked out of that community. The fact that he thought he had lost all his social relationships led to his suicide.” Younger and younger kids are becoming addicted to video games. Dr. Kim Hyun-soo said that he has seen children as young as six-years-old refusing to attend school because of addiction to mobile app games.
The most popular League of Legends player, Faker, is known to practice 12 to 15 hours a day. Sitting in a chair and staring at a screen all day is not good for mental, social, and physical health. Too much screen time has been linked to, loss of social skills, poor sleep, depression, eye strain, obesity, and anxiety. When a person plays a video game, their brain processes and reacts to the sensory input as if it were happening to them. The excessive use of video games can lead to the brain being revved up in a constant state of hyperarousal. Hyperarousal could include difficulties with paying attention, managing emotions, controlling impulses, following directions, and tolerating frustration. It can also have physical effects such as decreased immune function, jittery feelings, and depression.
Video games can become so addicting because of dopamine. The brain releases dopamine when a person experiences hyperarousal and pleasure. The person then seeks out to experience that same happy feeling again and again.
I interviewed my friend Kyle Rojas, The Team Coordinator and player for the WCU Valorant Team to get his opinion on video game addiction.
I am a Team Coordinator and player for the WCU Valorant team. As a team coordinator, I manage all three of our Valorant teams. It is my duty to schedule practice times and matches against other schools. This semester we have had the privilege to play against the Univerity of Southern Florida band Temple Univerity. As a player, it is my duty to show up to practice and play to the best of my abilities. I think that there is a huge potential for anyone to become addicted to video games. Without proper self-discipline, video games can become a distraction that can put a pause on chasing dreams and goals outside of the console or computer. Of course, video games can be used for stress relief or relaxation. However, like Ray Bradbury once said, “too much of anything isn’t good for anyone.”
I also interviewed two of my friends who are avid players of video games. I wanted to get an insight into why they think video games are addicting.
Grace, West Chester University sophomore.
I started playing Overwatch about two years ago. The thrill the game gives me makes me keep on coming back to it. Any free time when I’m not hanging out with my friends or boyfreind, I’m usually playing Overwatch. Some nights I’ve stayed up until 3:00 am playing the game. I can’t end on a loss, so I keep playing until I win. I think video games are so addicting because it gives a boost of serotonin especially when winning. Overwatch has a ranking system, so I want to keep playing until I’m better and a higher rank. The process of improving is super fun and one of my favorite parts of playing video games.
Matt, West Chester University senior.
I mostly play Fortnite and NBA 2K21. I’ve spent more money than I would like to admit on Fortnite. There are constantly new skins and emotes that are released that I’ve been compelled to buy. The more I play the more I level up which also has its own benefits. Winning always feels great and being able to play with my friends is a plus. When I had COVID-19 I played Fortnite every day with my friends which kept me somewhat sane while being trapped in my room for ten days. NBA 2K21 is a story-based game so you have to keep playing in order to advance in the story. I think that is one of the reasons why games like NBA 2K21 and other story mode games are addicting. To move along in the story you have to keep on playing.
I personally have played a few different video games throughout my life. During the time I played those games I found myself looking forward to playing every day as if it almost became a routine. Even just watching someone else play video games becomes addicting without even noticing. Seeing other people do well or have a hard time affects emotions subconsciously.
