The Addiction to Beating Games: Where Do We Draw the Line?

As we indulge in our favorite video games, it's hard not to wonder if we're doing anything differently than Little Gray, a Taiwanese World of Warcraft player who recently made headlines by collecting 986 Achievements. In fact, many gamers can relate to sacrificing hours of their lives to accomplish impressive feats within their chosen game. But is there a point where this dedication becomes worrying?

Take Mike, for example, who spent three years playing Bejeweled 2, clocking in an astonishing 2,200 hours. His hard work paid off when he finally beat the game, but not without some technical issues. According to Brian Fiete, co-creator and PopCap chief technology officer, 'We had to give the game some sort of maximum displayable score, and figured that was high enough, no one would ever get that many points.' However, Mike's achievement far exceeded even this maximum score, causing his score to flip around to a negative number.

It's hard not to chuckle at Mike's dedication, but it also raises an important question: where do we draw the line between impressive and worrying? As gamers, are we any better than those who raid WoW dungeons for hours on end? Or is it all just a matter of perspective?

For many, beating games becomes an achievement in itself. We spend hours upon hours mastering levels, collecting items, or completing quests, only to relive the same experience time and again. Is this really any different from Little Gray's dedication to WoW? Perhaps not.

In fact, some might argue that it's less sad for us to pour our days into Halo or Call of Duty than it is for someone like Mike to spend three years on Bejeweled 2. But isn't that just a matter of semantics? Aren't we all, in some way, sacrificing hours of our lives to accomplish something within the digital realm?

Ultimately, what makes one gamer's dedication impressive while another's is worrying? Is it the amount of time spent playing, or the end goal achieved? Perhaps it's a combination of both.

As gamers, we can't help but admire Little Gray's achievement in WoW and Mike's dedication to Bejeweled 2. But let's not forget that there's more to life than beating games – and maybe it's time we started drawing some boundaries between our love for gaming and the rest of our lives.

Bejeweled 2 screen game play