Topic: I have an uncontrollable desire to buy video games...AND I WANT IT TO STOP!

Thanks,Stuffgamer1,at least I'm not the only gamer going through this.

This sounds more like a shopping addiction than a game addiction if you're buying games you don't play. You may want to check out Shopaholics Anonymous or do a search on the web for that and see what tips you can find to control your buying habits. I think probably ways other people have suggested (like cutting up credit cards, no longer buying online, or not bringing enough cash to work to buy a game after your shift) to make buying games inconvenient is a good place to start. This is something that's not too uncommon though, so if you want help, but can't pay for a professional, you can probably find some pretty helpful stuff.

As far as alex says, people can have addictions to things that aren't physical, but still have a really negative effect on their lives and others', such as games (check out some wow widows forums online and you'll see a whole lot of people who know someone with a problem), shopping... I knew someone who went through $10,000 in savings and into debt playing online poker in about 2 months. Financially, that's just about up there with a coke habit, even if they're not having physical withdrawal symptoms, so I would say it's an addiction. I don't know if anybody on this thread has a legit addiction, but I don't see anything wrong with recognizing a behavior that you don't like and looking for some support or help to change it. Better to nip it in the bud before it becomes an addiction.

Anyway, now back to some of the games I've bought, but never gotten around to playing...

I agree with what was said here. You have a shopping habit, not addiction, but habit. There's a difference. An addiction is something that's considered "uncontrollable", where as a habit is something you do simply because it's a lifestyle you've accustomed yourself to.

I too buy games that I never play, but do plan on getting around to someday. With kids, work, wife, house, cars, yardwork, and life in general, I sometimes over step my time contraints. However, it's still something that gives me joy, even if I don't get to them today.

If I could make one comment to you it would be this. "You play the games. Don't let the games play you." Sounds corny, but you've got to start somewhere.

I have muchly the same problem. My case is more that I seek out the cheapest price I can get; I have a backlog of a dozen great games that probably didn't cost me more than the cost of a new retail game. I'm also selling a lot of old games. Check out cheapassgamer.com for a great resource for both of these.

One system I've heard of is to buy one game for every two you play. Not only does this work down your backlog pretty quickly, but after your backlog is down, it encourages you to replay games over and over, and really appreciate them and get the full mileage out of them. Keeps you from the 'buy game, play for week, buy another game' play-to-credits-then-drop syndrome.

When you feel the need to buy, you need to distract yourself from the situation.

No, you couldn't be more wrong, and that's a bad way of thinking about problems. There are non-substance related addictions, and shopping is quite definitely something that people become addicted to. An addiction is NOT uncontrollable. This is how you can have ex-addicts with drugs, alcohol, and anything else anyone is addicted to. They got it under control. An addition IS an abnormal craving, dependence, obsession for something. This is how people become addicted to things like shopping, the internet and video games, food (overeating), and so on. They get to the point where, if they don't do it, they crave it, and even psychological addictions can cause physical symptoms (insomnia, depression, anxiety, nausea).

If I may butt in (hehe, butt), I think the overanalysis of the use of the word "addiction" in place of "habit" or whatever has gone far enough. No need to split hairs when every one knows precisely what he meant: He has a problem with buying too many games and can't seem to stop himself. Addiction, habit; tomato, tomahto; let's call the whole thing off.

The thing is, it is a serious issue; this may not be a bad problem, but there are a lot of people out there with serious addictions who don't get the help they need because people don't understand and belittle their issue. And likewise, there are a lot of people with addictions who are considered hopeless because it's a chemical dependency, even when they could correct it. Buying too many video games will probably give you problems with debt at worst. But misunderstandings and confusion with regard to medical conditions can tear families apart and lead to people dying very easily.

Dude I gots it....You can just have Microsoft games and only Microsoft games so within about a year you will be so sick of gaming you will not want to be a gamer anymore. No more buying games so problem solved =)

@ Feba
He's already changed the topic title. What more can be asked of him? If anyone actually thought he was belittling addicts before, he's certainly not now.

I'm not talking about the OP, I'm talking about the people who are replying saying that because he's buying video games and not snorting cocaine, he can't have an addiction-- the people saying that someone who could have a very real problem with controlling spending and debt should get a mortgage, not thinking about if it is an addiction (not just having too much spending money and no idea how to save it) and how badly that could end (bankruptcy, etc.)

@ Feba

Habit - an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary - customary practice or use.

Addiction - being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs) - an abnormally strong craving

Do you see where it says in the addiciton definition habit-forming? From everything I've read, I'd say he falls into the first catergory. I've studied both of these practices and if needed I could go into much further depth. However, I see (and nobody else does either) any reason to do so.

I had no clue so many people were going to make such a big deal about the word addiction. I will make sure the word addiction is never used on any of my future topics at Nintendo Life again. I don't have an addiction,more like an uncontrollable desire. No,I will not smoke or drink,that will be worse alternatives. But thanks for the advice so far,I think I will go the way of self-control and cut back on buying as many video games.

yes I agree it is ridiculous, I am sure many other people out there say statements like, "I am starving," or "I can't do something," or "i'm dead tired," or "That scared the poop out me." You see, its just another one of those sayings. Its not meant to offend anyone that is really starving out there, or that actually can't do something due to physical restrictions, or to offend someone that has passed away, or to offend people that poop themselves when they get really scared. It's just a way of proving a point. But anyways... does anyone know if there is an extension cord that I could plug in place of the game cube controller port on the back of my wii and just plug my N64 controller into it? I thought I heard something about this> Thanks and hope no one is any longer offended.

I'm trying to take some steps to cut back my buying. Picked out a few games I'll almost definitely never play to trade in, and canceled my Conduit preorder because I realized that if money's tight, I shouldn't be buying a game from one of my least favorite genres above a new Overlord title. Prioritizing games so you only buy the best of the best is a great help. Not so much when they ALL look great, but it can still help.

For the record, I DO use points cards and PSN cards exclusively (or I try to...the continued rarity of PSN cards has caused me to slip on that a couple times), but mostly because I get a discount on them.

No way I'd EVER take up smoking or drinking, as those could far too easily lead to more serious addictions, like SuperSonic alluded to.

I agree with Adam saying that I should get another job, because I do think that would help me avoid buying games. But it isn't exactly easy to get another job right now, especially since my travel options are limited. And as it stands, my game knowledge is still VERY valuable at Gamestop (whether they'll admit it or not), and I enjoy helping out customers, especially the clueless first-time Wii buyers (DON'T BUY THE SHOVELWARE!!!) So it's kind of a mixed deal with me, really.

Anyway, conversation here has been helpful to me, as it lead to the decisions in my first paragraph. Thanks to those of you who posted well-meaning, helpful posts.

"I have an uncontrollable desire. It's called buying too many games and not even playing all of them. Can somebody give me advice?"

I wish i could, but i suffer the same affliction. I spent £90 on wii points, tap, mama2 (4neice) & ferrari pixelvision today. Oh, and I'm unemployed. Ha! Tap rocks btw, best drunk game i've played in a while, altho' my sister in law has severely damaged one of my boxes, grrrr. Half 1 oops, goodnight.

ps. finish some of your old games before buying more, go all completion on 'em. Then my friend, you will deserve new game joy

I was just kidding about getting another job, Stuffy. Never give up on something you enjoy, even if it's just working at a game store. Sounds like a fun job to me.

Supersonic, if you really want self control, why not convert to Islam?

I thought about doing something like that myself, but I never followed through on that. My self-discipline is not the best. Anyway, yeah I had that "I need that game which was just released!" thing going on, too, for some time. It does seem though I've gotten a bit of a handle on that, though.

I just recently took a good look at all my Wii and DS games, making an assessment of whether I was going play this or that game again or even ever get to finish some; so I got rid of the ones I deemed expendable, which provided me with enough money to fund the games I really want - no more impulse purchases, thank you - for at least a few months if not half a year.

Doing that I'm still left with plenty of games to finish to last me a good while. So I'll have a better time enjoying the games I have, and, at the same time, I'll be able to save up my money towards that digital piano I've been drooling over for some time now. It represents a much better and longer-time investment than just games. It'll also carry the benefit that it most certainly will take a considerable chunk of time out of my gaming schedule, which is a good thing. I definitely have been gaming a bit too extensively over the last few years and I need to put a stop to that. It might be a little late, but better late than never to reassess what is important in my life. This is just the first step for me on a slightly different road.

Err, yeah... **stops rambling**

Go to university. You might still play some multiplayer games, but generally your interest will turn to alcohol and attractive people.