How modern video games hook us, and kids, so completely

08/01/23 • 25 min

12 Listeners

Recently a feature story in Maclean's magazine described parents who were "losing their kids to Fortnite." While some gamers may hear that and see the kind of rhetoric that has followed video games around since their inception, others heard recognition and acknowledgement.

Many behaviours, including video games, can be addicting, usually to a very small subset of people. But what makes video games different is that they are constantly evolving, and rapidly—usually with the goal of increasing the time spent playing them. As technology has improved, so has game design, and games with an online element have a social aspect that can also offer Fear Of Missing Out. So are modern games more addicting than ever? And if they are, how do we recognize and deal with that?

GUEST: Luc Rinaldi, writing in Maclean's

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GUEST: Luc Rinaldi, writing in Maclean's

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

Through email at [email protected]

Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

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We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

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Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter