

The Politics of Video Games, with Pete Etchells and Ros Urwin
Sep 6, 2019
In this engaging discussion, Pete Etchells, a researcher into the psychological effects of video games and author of *Lost In A Good Game*, is joined by journalist Ros Urwin. They explore the potential benefits video games offer, including emotional depth and community building, while dissecting the myths around gaming addiction. They highlight how games can foster empathy and even navigate moral dilemmas. Etchells also addresses concerns about violent video games, advocating for a balanced understanding of their impact on behavior.
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Gaming and Grief
- Pete Etchells discusses how video games helped him cope with his father's death from motor neurone disease.
- Playing games offered a form of escapism and allowed him to process his grief.
Gaming Addiction Research
- Current research on video game addiction is inconclusive and often based on gambling disorder models.
- Overdiagnosis or underdiagnosis can be problematic, potentially pathologizing normal gaming or missing genuine addiction cases.
Freemium Games and Loot Boxes
- Freemium games and loot boxes raise concerns about potential harm and exploitation, mimicking gambling mechanisms.
- Pete Etchells expresses concern over these monetization strategies and their potential impact on vulnerable players.