If you are concerned about someone you care about who spends too much time on video games or the Internet, get in touch in complete confidence today.

Farmville Addiction

Many video games, especially massively multiplayer online roleplaying games and Facebook RPGs, give people a feeling of godlike power and progress rapidly from a diverting hobby into a serious addiction. Addiction to a game like Farmville can start as innocuously as deciding to try out the game on Facebook to join in with friends who are already playing, but addicts can see their lives spiral out of control as their online gaming fix becomes the single most controlling influence in their lives.

Farmville is a hugely successful online RPG based on Facebook which encourages the use of the social features to share successes and take on tasks in the game with friends. Set in a fun and cutesy cartoon world, it draws players into management and care of their farm fields and animals while encouraging “microtransactions” in the form of small cash payments in order to obtain bonus items or progress faster. Many people will sit alone in their rooms for many hours at a time, leaving rarely – if at all – to eat, drink or take care of other bodily functions. Sleep deprivation is common.

Symptoms of Farmville Addiction

If you are concerned about the behaviour of someone you care about who may be suffering from an addiction to Farmville?

• Do they seem happy or content while playing Farmville but become angry or upset if they have to stop?
• Are they constantly talking about or distracted by Farmville even during other things like work or family time?
• Do they seem to spend every free moment they have going online to play Farmville ?
• If you ask what they have been doing recently do they change the subject or try to “laugh off” their time spend playing Farmville ?
• Have you ever seen them getting up or still playing Farmville at odd hours of the day, even in the middle of the night?

Farmville was one of the first Facebook games to really take off worldwide and has spawned many imitators who find the micropayment model works very well for tricking people into spending quite large amounts of money on the game. The social aspect of it also gives a level of interaction which feeds addicts and many people commonly lose track of time while playing. While it is possible for people to enjoy Farmville without developing an addiction there is a significant risk amongst those who spend many hours playing. Although the game is free, addiction to Farmville can destroy a person’s work and family life by consuming enormous volumes of their time and money as they accumulate more bonuses from many small transactions, and cause them to neglect more important aspects of their everyday life, even up to such basic necessities as eating and bathing.

If you or someone you care about is having trouble breaking out of an addictive playing pattern with video games that you used to control but which now seem to control you, call our free advice line today on 08000 886 686 in complete confidence to see how we can help you get back on track.