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10/25/2002 Archived Entry: "Videogames will eat your children"

Videogames will eat your children

I'm repeatedly suckered into turning on the TV, even though it seems I'm dumber for every show I watch. One of the saddest pieces I was lured into watching this week was CBCs embarassing "investigative report" on Everquest. Talk about thinkful! From dredging up some poor greiving mother desparately attempting to make some sense of the tragic suicide of her depressed son, to getting a scientist to claim on TV that completing a challenge in Everquest releases dopamine in the brain. Oh god, just like drug addiction! I was so frightened I've now officially given up all challenges, just to be on the safe side. By the end of the month, I hope to phase out pleasure altogether.

I'd like to offer up Wendy Mesley's attempt to browbeat the Executive Director of the Canadian Digital Software Association as the lowpoint of Canadian journalism:


Wendy Mesley: Because we got this off Sony Web sites and some of the marketing material – and look at this, this is Sony material – "let Sony feed your online addiction," another here – "online games for hours of addicting game play." Here’s another one: “maintaining highly-addictive immersive and persistent gaming environments.”


Harvey Nightengale: I’m sure somebody said that, that’s what they say in their literature. I have no doubt it’s part of their marketing tool.


Wendy Mesley: But, this would suggest that Sony knows that EverQuest is addictive.

Actually, I'm glad we've set this historic precident. I will argue that the journalistic integrity of CBC's Marketplace is "depressing"-- as such, I hope to be compensated for any medical costs incurred in treating any future clinical depression.