Addiction Gets in the Game

Reality television may be all the rage these days across linear networks, but drug addiction has come to virtual worlds, throwing players into a tizzy, according to this Slashdot thread.

The online Multi-User Dungeon (MUD) Achea introduced a plot twist to its game. Players can take a drug called Gleam that increases their characters attributes, which makes playing the game easier. The downside, though, is that the drug turns characters into addicts.

The most difficult part of being a gleam user is becoming hooked. Once you're addicted, you must have gleam every now and then or you'll go into withdrawal. Withdrawal is highly unpleasant, with chronic vomiting, shivering, a feeling of your skin crawling, and more.

In the case of serious gleam addicts, withdrawal can take up to twenty five Achaean days of playing time. Please exercise caution if you choose to dabble in gleam.

Obviously, the question of how real is too real has come up repeatedly in gaming over the last twenty years. However, many of the naysayes have been outsiders who know very little about game communities. This particular game tweak has in-game players debating whether or not video games should mirror real-life issues.