The Traps of Gaming

I think by recognizing why and how video games are addictive, we can better avoid falling into their traps. Mobile devices are making casual gaming more popular and lucrative than ever. Even initially free game applications generate large revenues, especially for designers who know how to keep us playing. Games like Candy Crush are addictive because we have limited turns for a given amount of time. This encourages us to return in short bursts throughout the day, creating a habit. We may be so caught up that we start paying for extra turns. Once we realize this strategy, we can take a step back and look at the game for what it really is, rather than being clouded by how we feel while playing it. We can still enjoy these games, but should think critically about how they manipulate us; this usually makes it easier to limit our time spent playing.