Okay, I’ll admit it. I play Candy Crush. Yes, I probably
play it daily. Yes, I’ve purchased my “tickets” to the next level. Yes, I’ve
bought extra moves to finish a level. Yes, I’m addicted. But, how bad is this
addiction? Is it really as harmful as alcohol or drugs?
While the game was just launched in April 2012, there are no
formal academic studies that suggest this is a major addiction. But, just this
month, the United Kingdom’s Daily Mail
reported that it has been affecting a significant number of people every day –
especially women – from financial, personal, and health perspectives.
Looking at this more closely, apparently several people have
reported serious back injuries from bending over their electronic device playing
Candy Crush, the game which can be played on any mobile device such as an iPad,
iPhone, and Android. It can also be played on your computer. The game comprises
a board of various colored “candy” in which you must line up three, four or
five of the same types in a row in order to clear it from the board. The more
you clear, the more points you score. Then, there are more challenging levels
that include fruit, chocolate squares, balloon bombs, and other obstacles that
keep you from lining up your candies and clearing the next level.
According to research from the Daily Mail, 700 million games of Candy Crush are played daily on
various mobile devices, and the largest demographic playing the game are women
between ages 25 and 55. (Yup, I fall into that category.) Researchers at the
International Gaming Research Unit (IGRU) at Nottingham Trent University noted
that the game appeals to this audience because it’s not violent yet it involves
thought and full attention, and of course, is colorful and enjoyable.
While the game is free to download and play through the
first 30 or so levels, it does charge a small fee of 99 cents to continue for
another 20 levels, then another 99 cents for 20 more and so on up to over 400
levels. Plus, there are extra premiums such as a lollipop hammer that can be
purchased to help clear that level faster.
While each premium costs about 99
cents, the money can truly add up for the Candy Crush addict.
ThinkGaming noted that its Candy Crush app pulls in close to
$850,000 in American dollars daily. In the UK, the Office of Fair Trading has
voiced their concern that this is a highly exploitative move against young
users of the mobile app. A quick search of the US’s Federal Trade Commission
showed there were no indications of exploitation with this game. In fact, a
search of the site revealed nothing, indicating that the FTC is not concerned
about fair practices with this app.
Regardless, the effects of the Candy Crush addiction mimic
those of gambling. The IGRU noted that even when people do not spend money for
level advancements or premiums, Candy Crush introduces users to the concepts of
gambling, mainly because of the consistent, repetitive behaviors applied to the
game. Some addicts have indicated they play the game for hours at a time, putting
their health, job, and family at risk.
Online gaming has been studied for several years with
results showing that excessive gaming points to underlying psychological issues
in individuals. The same issue can be said for gambling. Candy Crush has both
of these elements: online gaming and gambling. It could lead to job loss, bankruptcy,
poor health, unresponsiveness to family needs, and a plethora of other issues.
While Candy Crush is currently not on the radar for US public
health professionals, it certainly may be in the future. The game was designed
to be a habit, according to psychologists. It becomes easy to play anywhere: at
the breakfast table, at Starbucks, on the bus ride to work, on your lunch
break, during your coffee break, and so on. Then, you have those who will
likely be playing it while driving! It apparently becomes hard to tear away
from. That in itself becomes a danger.
At one point, there were rumors of a Candy Crush
Rehabilitation Center located in the UK. The center still has a Facebook page,
but the center does not exist. Yet, the question remains: should it? Online
gaming is highly addictive. Your health and life could be at risk if you become
obsessive, addicted.
For all you Candy Crush players out there: Be careful. You
might want to set a time limit for game playing. You might want to consider just
enjoying the freebees and avoid forking out money just to play 20 more levels. (Those
are my choices.) Or, you might want to simply consider discarding it from your
phone. It’s your life and your health; choose wisely.
References:
CNET. (2013). Candy Crush: You play, you’re hooked. Now
what? Retrieved from http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/candy-crush-play-hooked-now-165651854.html.
Foster, J. (2013). How women blow £400,000 a day playing
Candy Crush, the most addictive online game ever. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2463636/How-women-blow-400-000-day-playing-Candy-Crush-addictive-online-game-ever.html.
Kuss, D. J., Louws, J., and Wiers, R. W. (2012). Online
gaming addiction? Motives predict addictive play behavior in massively multiplayer
online role-playing games. Cyberpsychology,
Behavior, and Social Networking. 15, 480-485.
Lunau, K. (2013). We want candy. Lots of it. Candy Crush
Saga is not just a video game, it’s a compulsive daily addiction. MacLean’s 126(27), 63.
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