The games may be fiction, but the consequences are real.
Akin to pathological gambling, there are concerns children are being addicted to online gaming, with serious financial consequences.
The Government says it’s looking to make changes to the law with some experts calling for New Zealand to follow the United Kingdom and bring in tighter restrictions on online game purchases.
In Britain, video game boxes will now carry warning labels alerting parents of the potential for in-game purchases. It’s estimated 40 per cent of parents allow their children to buy things like virtual skills, weapons and outfits.
A recent documentary by Australia’s 60 Minutes discovered children as young as 14 are missing school to just play video games.
New Zealand’s Problem Gambling Foundation says if it’s happening in Australia, it’s likely to be happening here too.
Its chief executive Paula Snowden says the addiction is like gambling.
“The excitement, the anticipation, the lights, the colours, [and] the sounds… all of that builds a false world of engagement and those random awards keep people addicted - exactly like a pokie machine works,” she says.
This week, to raise gambling awareness, over 60 places across New Zealand are shutting off their pokie machines for one hour. While it’s only symbolic, Paula Snowden says there are other more permanent things the Government can do.
“There are ways to limit use, time limitations on games, [and] money limitations on what you can participate online,” she says.
The Internal Affairs Minister, Tracey Martin, agrees the country’s laws are out-of-date and says international research is alarming.
“Games inside of a game had the same characteristics as those paedophiles grooming their victims, or those who make extreme terrorists - I mean that’s pretty intense stuff,” she says.
And gamers could see changes soon, with a discussion paper going to cabinet in the next few weeks.
SHARE ME