rofl, oops, I WAS quoted in PC Gamer
So I actually was quoted in PC Gamer back in June, but it was the UK version of the magazine! It was kind of funny, I had been keeping an eye on the newsstands here, and figured that I just hadn’t made it into the US PC Gamer’s July article on ‘MMO addiction.’ Shavaun Scott had, and she’s the co-author of the addiction book we’re writing, so there was still much rejoicing. Then just last night, John Walker, the author of the addiction article which ran in Britain, was kind enough to send me a copy of the article.
Walker was also kind enough to really look deeply into the issue at hand. While the article featured some of my older ideas, it was very well-written, and had very sound conclusions. At the article’s close, Walker wrote that,
Denying the existence of, or ignoring the consequences of gaming addiction can only harm those who suffer. In facing up to the issue, we can conquer it.
What an awesome thing to hear. This article broke free from the hyperbole and reactionary blaming or defending of games found in nearly every article that has ever been written on gaming addiction. In so doing, it took the first step in truly changing the societal misconceptions which have held back real, useful research.
Then again I could very well be biased. =P This is, after all, the first time that I’ve ever really been quoted in such a respected or international magazine. This article featured me next to researchers like Dr. Richard Wood, whose paper on structural characteristics served as a foundation to my research, as well as how I think about games generally. And thusly, I say woot.
I really love my coverage in the article, too, as the “games researcher and self-diagnosed gaming addict Neils Clark.” My favorite quote from the article probably has to do with a little bingy behavior that John and I talked about over the interview,
Now he is off games, having managed to play sensibly for a couple of months - until a recent collapse resulting in a 19-hour Civilization binge.
True story.
