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The character Human Death Knight in World of Warcraft |
Gaming addicts to face cyber shrinks!
Psychiatrists could go into hit computer game in bid to help socially withdrawn young people
A NEW force could soon be wandering among the orcs and night-elves of the virtual reality of computer game players – “cyber-therapists”.
Futuristic plans to send virtual psychiatrists into online game worlds are being considered by the country’s leading mental health clinic, where a consultant has warned some younger players are developing symptoms identical to hard drug addiction.
Dr Richard Graham, consultant psychiatrist at the Tavistock Centre in Belsize, believes games such as World of Warcraft (WoW), in which players assume the role of “avatars” who come together to live out virtual existences – are taking over the lives of some of his young patients, leaving them socially withdrawn and isolated in the real world.
Dr Graham, the clinical director of the Tavistock’s adolescent directorate, said: “Many Warcraft players are engineering their day, often in quite devious ways, so that they can be on a PC in all their spare time. It takes over their lives in a way that means nothing else really matters. It is similar to the signs of gambling and drug addiction.
“We have talked about ways of using the internet for therapy – we are looking at cyber therapists. We have got to look at delivering those services where people are.”
Sigmund Freud, the prophet father of the Tavistock Centre, believed everyone’s problems could be solved on the couch. But the founder of psychoanalysis, whose bronze bust stands outside the clinic in Swiss Cottage, could not have anticipated The Wrath of the Lich King. This latest WoW expansion package – with around 11.5 million players paying upgrade subscriptions each month worldwide – allows gamers to transform themselves into fantasy heroes battling dungeon demons and “questing” across the landscape of Azeroth in boats and Zeppelins.
Some of its bravest players have achieved legendary status among their peers. The exploits of American player Leeroy Jenkins has had 11 million hits on YouTube.
Bizarrely, Warcraft players often farm gold that can be sold for real money on eBay. But most of the game’s appeal comes through working together to pass levels with other groups of players, known in the game as “guilds”.
Dr Graham said: “This is one of the most fascinating aspects of Warcraft. Players are often expected to take part in raids at particular times – if you do not toe the line you are thrown out of the guild. I know of one person who was thrown out and became taken in by a guild of Christian players who were really supportive to him.”
Jack Elson, a former pupil of Acland Burghley School, who has been playing WoW for three years, said: “I can totally see what this guy is saying is true. If there was a way of fixing food and drink to come to your PC you would just play it for 24 hours, seven days a week.
“I don’t know why it is so addictive, but there was a stage when I was playing all day.
“Now it’s more like a couple of hours, doing some dungeon runs to help my character’s status. After a while you just think it’s time to go out and get some sunshine.”
Blizzard Entertainment Ltd, which makes the game, was unavailable for comment. |
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