In these cases (games) it's not the games that are addicting, it the fact that some people have a definite lack of self control. There is nothing in games that triggers a physical addiction.
Yea, rather than asking if "games are addicting" (for assorted value of addicting), the question is "are games more or less addicting than other activities".
Computers games, particularly MMO's, have effectively replaced other activities, notably TV, where people were spending just as much of their free time.
However, the key element of MMO's, specifically, that may make them more so is their combination of time based achievement, goal seeking and success, social interaction, gambling, and competition. (The Gambling in MMOs can be particularly powerful. By gambling I mean random loot tables, "boss drops", etc.) TV and books, for example, are much more passive in these regards, but many can readily escape in to those media.
I remember going out to lunch somewhere, and there was a table with two ladies, obviously together and eating lunch. But the interesting thing was they were both reading books. They weren't interacting with each other at all. It was like they were perhaps sitting at home, reading, and one says "Hey, lets get something to eat", and off they go.
I can't imagine something like "solo traveller" play being "addictive" in any way. There's simply not enough there, simply not enough challenge and reward. Not in solo play.
Competitive play, against a computer even, perhaps. Social play most certainly. Gamers at game cons and at our game clubs in the past were certainly not all in the mainstream of society. We most certainly had our share of different personalities.
But they were social and well behaved enough to, well, "play well with others". And gaming was a primary social outlet for these folks that perhaps didn't really have a better outlet.
I can even see someone here, working at home, alone, on some project who's primary reward is a combination of the work itself as well as, ideally, recognition by the community for their work. That's a powerful driver for folks, where the recognition is more important than the accomplishment itself.
If nothing else, gaming can readily impose a nice set of structure through their rule systems and level the playing ground for some who feel disaffected by lifes "other" rules.
Science Fiction Conventions, game conventions, comic book stores all attract "odd ducks".
But it's no different than a Gun Show, or a Model Train Show, Cat Show, or a Postcard collecting show (all 4 of which I've been to in the past year). The postcard show was an interesting little slice of society I hadn't crossed before. So was the Cat Show.
At these congregations where folks are more dedicated and committed (for whatever reason) to some fixed hobby or activity and they cross paths with the casual consumer, you're going to see "extremes" of all kinds.
We got the pointer to the postcard show from the Button Store Guy. There's a guy who owns a button/antique store near us. He's had the store for 20 years. A certified button expert. Did you know there were button experts? Did you know you could earn a living, with a storefront, selling and buying old buttons? Did you know there were "crazy button people"? I can GUARANTEE there are "Crazy Button People". I didn't know any of these things until we stumbled upon the Button guy at the button store.
This is guy is neither. He's just the button guy and he sells old postcards, and my wife wanted to get some more, so we went to a postcard store as casual consumers. He's a really nice guy, and effectively a historian.
Gamers, Gunners, Coin Collectors, Stamp Collectors, Gardeners, "Cat Ladies", Goth, KISS fans, whatever.
We're all bent in our own way. Some folks bend farther. Our communities just happen to be small enough that the "crazies" stand out more.
Others are programmed such that they can't distinguish it from reality (though that's more of a hard-wire problem; i.e. the grey-matter circuits aren't connected properly). Other people, like the D&D addict who works at the local bookstore, have emotional problems to start; psychological and not so much psychiatric. Those types throw themselves into the environment for reasons other than being with their friends for a round of "pretend".
