1 in 9 MMO players is an addict [Updated!]

Gamespot brings us a story on a poll recently conducted by the International Gaming Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University that states that 1 in 9 MMO players exhibits “at least three of the diagnostic criteria of addiction as outlined by the World Health Organisation”. These symptoms include cravings, withdrawl symptoms, loss of control, and neglect of other activities. Those of you who have spent any amount of time in an MMO know exactly what they’re talking about. 

Professor Mark Griffiths, also points out though, that MMO’s are an excellent form of therapy in that they can be used as “distractor tasks” during painful procedures such as Chemotherapy, and physiotherapy. 

So are MMO’s the new digital smack? What was the old digital smack? Are we all just a bunch of pussies who aren’t man enough to strap in like the bloke in the above picture? Let us know in the comments. We want horror stories.

[UPDATE: Nex is dyslexic and can barely feed himself. It was supposed to be 1 of every 9 (12%), not 1 of every 12 (9%). You’re all a bunch of junkies.]