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This is an interesting article that speaks to the result of over-engagement. I wonder if this problem is specific to Korea and less so in other countries (if so, what is it about that environment that makes video games so addictive) or if it's only been studied in Korea but could be a similar problem in other parts of the world.

The author talks about society's addiction to "stupid" mini-games (e.g. Angry Birds), which have minimal learning objectives but help us compartmentalize our lives.

Touting how addictive a video game can become for players is an interesting selling point. I am thinking it means, fast highs, quick death (of avatar, etc) and replayability. I would describe THE MORON TEST available on iTunes as having those addictive qualities.

A Parent's Struggle With a Child's iPad Addiction

This is a blog about a mother's concern for her 6-year-old child's iPad addiction. I saw a similar experience when I visited my 3-year-old and 1-year-old nieces over break. They constantly asked for their mother's iPad and iPhone. It was shocking to see how they could navigate, select songs/videos, and yes, download apps! Moreover, they would spend hours playing with them. It's simply amazing to see how quickly a child can learn a particular piece of technology if they are engaged and motivated to use it.

Although this study is just correlative, it still poses some interesting questions about video games and academic achievement.

Potential Risks of Videogame Addiction

On a study break, I rediscovered this quite addictive, simple game that I think captures the ideas of flow quite nicely. I think the simple design, exponential scoring, soothing music, great art, and realistic physics make it quite immersive (for better or for worse!)

The music, the challenge of hitting the bells, the fact that the bells actually add some 'harmony' to the music, the high score at the end of the game. Simply brilliant. Thanks for sharing it!

Here's another perspective on engagement: how to make games more addictive (or compulsive?) by creating "smarter game loops" with fewer exit points. The example discussed is "Game Dev Story," a management simulation for a game development studio.

Here is an ethnographer's in-depth look into World of Warcraft. From this site you can read the full book online, read an interview with the author, or listen to a podcast. The author "introduces us to her research strategy and the history, structure, and culture of Warcraft; argues for applying activity theory and theories of aesthetic experience to the study of gaming and play; and educates us on issues of gender, culture, and addiction as part of the play experience."

No game noises made the list, but still an interesting thing to think about when it comes to design, marketing, and even possibly engagement

There's been a lot of buzz about whether video games are habit-forming, and whether parents are exaggerating when they say their teenagers are "addicted" to game playing. Now new research on children who are heavy gamers suggests parents may have something else to worry about: depression.

A book that argues video games are the key to human happiness?