Video Game Addiction Attorneys
Standing Up to Game Developers Who Target Children
New psychological studies and definitions indicate that a child can become addicted to playing video games to the point that it interrupts their development or impacts them negatively as adults. Furthermore, new trends in the video game industry encourage addiction by including pseudo-gambling mechanics in games that entice kids to spend more and more real money, as well as mechanics that reward players who spend many hours a day playing.
The trial attorneys of Matthews & Associates, serving clients nationwide, are here to stand up for your family’s rights if your child was harmed by video game addiction or if you became addicted to video games as a child. We are ready to challenge even the biggest video game developers in the world who have made intentionally addictive products without any thought on the potential consequences to consumers.
Our video game addiction lawyers can bring claims against any video game studio, including those that have been recently accused of making intentionally addictive games, such as:
- Activision Blizzard
- Epic Games
- Roblox Corporation
- Rockstar Games
Talk to our video game addiction attorneys about possibly starting a claim. Call (888) 923-7001 or fill out an online contact form now.
What Is Video Game Addiction?
Since the ‘90s, some mental health professionals have thought that video game addiction could be real and harmful to children. However, it was not until 2018 that the World Health Organization (WHO) added “internet gaming disorder” to its list of International Classification of Diseases. The term is considered interchangeable with video game addiction, even though many addictive games do not involve internet use or online play.
Under the WHO’s definition, video game addiction is usually characterized by a strong or pathological urge to play a video game to the point that it becomes disruptive to the individual’s well-being or functioning. Any video game can become addictive to a specific person, so the focus on video game addiction so far has been on games that are intentionally addictive or that include in-game transactions or gambling mechanics.
Video games that have been at the center of video game addiction conversations in recent years are:
- Counter-Strike
- FIFA
- Fortnite
- League of Legends
- Overwatch
- Roblox
More About Video Game Addiction
You might have heard some people try to overlook video game addiction by saying it “isn’t real.” The truth is that more and more evidence shows that it is real and harmful. Our attorneys are especially interested in cases in which video game addiction might have harmed the mental development of a child or adolescent.
According to different studies on video game addiction worldwide:
- Nearly 15% of young South Korean students were at risk of video game addiction in 2000 when the disorder was getting more attention.
- BYU researchers found that 10% of gamers in the US were likely addicted to video games, based on the results of a six-year study.
- Young and teenage boys are the most likely to show signs of video game addiction, averaging 15 hours of video game time a week.
Are You Addicted to Video Games?
People who have video game addiction tend to show these signs:
- Constantly thinking about playing a video game
- Feeling anger or sadness when unable to play a video game
- Intentionally understating how many hours are spent each week playing video games
- Losing school or work opportunities due to playing video games so often
- Abandoning any activity or interest that isn’t video game-related
- Trying but failing to reduce weekly hours spent playing video games
Is Video Game Addiction Harmful?
The greatest concern about video game addiction is how it might be harming young, developing minds. An addiction to anything, whether a substance or an activity, has been shown to be problematic for children and teenagers. Video game addiction is no exception.
Mental health issues that could be linked to video game addiction include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Memory loss or troubles
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Mental fatigue
Parents should also be concerned about the possible financial impacts caused by video game addiction. Many of the games that have been in the news for being potentially addictive to children (see above) include microtransactions that allow gamers to buy an in-game item or service for real-world money. If a child or teenager doesn’t fully understand the microtransaction process, they could unknowingly spend hundreds or thousands of dollars of their parents’ income in a few weeks or even days. Loot boxes or “gacha game” mechanics in video games are even more financially damaging because they are essentially digital slot machines; the legality of loot boxes in video games has been brought into question many times.
Want to Start a Video Game Addiction Case? Call Now
Has your child shown the signs of video game addiction? Do you think you became addicted to video games as a child but only noticed how much it has harmed your well-being recently? In either case, you might have the grounds to file a video game addiction claim or join a class action lawsuit comprised of gamers in the same situation. Let Matthews & Associates help you understand and utilize your legal options. We are nationwide trial attorneys who can help clients throughout the country.
Request a free case review with our team – call (888) 923-7001 now.
Resources & Information About Video Game Addiction
We may file or settle a claim individually or as part of a group on a case-by-case basis.
Whether your claim is filed individually or as part of a group fighting the same defendant, our goal is always to provide each of our clients with individual attention.
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