The following article by Joan Garret was published on the front page of today's (1/9/2012) Chattanooga Times Free-Press. Ms. Garret is a staff writer for the Chattanooga newspaper. The headline is "Skyrim Video Game Becomes Obsession for Many"



Caleb Powell waited as long as he could before he bought "Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim."
He knew what would happen to him once the video game was in the console. People were rumored to disappear for weeks in the game's world where they could do anything, be anyone and go anywhere.
The first night he was so excited he ignored what the game told him to do -- fight dragons and stop the end of the world -- and instead ran off and became a werewolf. He played so long, he fell asleep on the controller.
The next day he logged eight hours straight, and every day since he has played as much as he can with a full-time job, four hours a night, six to eight a day on weekends.
"It's fantastic, and it's quite addicting," said the 27-year-old from East Ridge. He planned to play six hours later in the day.
For true gamers, the ones who count down to buzzed-about releases and rip into them with the ferocity of a lion on a carcass, Powell's initial enthusiasm is run of the mill. But with "Skyrim," that first-taste obsession could spill into weeks and months of play. The game maker says it contains 300 hours of play and more.
"It's the best game I have ever played, period," said Michael Dixon, from Chattanooga, who's been playing it for nearly two months, some nights until dawn, when his wife and baby are asleep. "It consumes my soul. ... It's the most living, breathing, vibrant atmosphere I've seen."
The spouses and significant others of the players are being called Skyrim widows and widowers. On a national Facebook group for those left behind, people complain about chores going undone, missing their favorite shows for weeks because the television is taken and neglected pets.
Unlike many other games, where there is a finite mission, exploring Skyrim can feel limitless. Whole books, written by the game developers about the lure and history of the fictional world Tamriel, can be read and collected inside the game.
And the characters inside are charged with unpredictable artificial intelligence. No two people will experience the same Skyrim.
"I've talked about starting a blog called 'My Life in Skyrim,'" said Danny Butler, a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga who has been playing Skyrim for nearly two months.
Skryim, developed by Bethesda Game Studio, has been flying off the shelves at local video game stores since its release Nov. 11.
Powell didn't get it for Christmas, but his cousin, father and best friend did.
The developers shipped 10 million units of Skyrim, rated M for mature, by mid-December for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, marking sales of $620 million since its release, according to ZeniMax, the parent company.
Stores like Packard's Games and Movies in Chattanooga sold out of their initial stock, 20 or so copies, in the first two days, and at $58.99 it's still one of the most popular role-playing games on the market.
Last month, gamer network Raptr named Skyrim the most-played game of 2011, over the popular shooter game "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3," based on stats including average individual playtime and average session length.
"Some of our regular customers clocked over 100 hours playing it in the first week," said Mark Black, district manager for Packard's. "I have guys who are still playing it and talking about the dragon they just fought."
There are nine major city-states in Skyrim, with many more towns inside to explore.
Players can do just about anything, from picking mushrooms to buying a house to reading books to chasing butterflies to creating their own armor. For example, Powell trained his character in magic and now likes to cast spells that enrage people to start bar fights.
"I also like to go into people's houses and steal their clothes," he said about his escapades inside the game. "I think it's hilarious."
Or players can play the main story line of the game and defeat the enormous dragon, Alduin, the firstborn of Tamriel's primary deity Akatosh.
Characters and the story are molded by the players' choices in the game. Hundreds of characters with real voices interact with the player just like in real life.
"You can lose yourself easy if you aren't paying attention," said Dixon. "It's a blessing and a curse."

[snip] in 4, 3, 2, 1...

I saw this as well, just last night. As I was playing Skyrim till about midnight. It was a mission, but I did manage to get out of my work clothes and bathe. Also managed to actually eat some food, but the food was noodles, not sure if that qualifies as food. There was some noodle juice with the noodles though.

Seriously though - it's pretty darn addictive. No one at my work plays it, but do know of other places where a huge percentage of a company plays the game.

Nice article. I would like to point out one very specific thing I have a distinct problem with in it though...it's not addictive.

Addiction infers that there is some sort of withdrawal symptom from a source or substance. With that in mind, I don't have any withdrawals when I leave the game because I become oblivious to the world outside of Tamriel. What addiction? ...I'm not an addict! ...quit talking to me, you people don't understand! I...gotta...get...that...stone! Where am I? Who's house is this?

I can't find my Battleaxe! ...huh? Work? Nah, just spent a few hours chopping wood, thanks...oh...bills...huh?

I've been addicted to certain online games, and most of my old friends still are. Can't imagine being addicted to a single player game though. Not in the literal sense.

Edit: Especially one so shallow as Skyrim.

Well i am addictedto skyrim.Yes.
But nobody has a problem with it,and i never forget about important stuff.And my girlfriend plays skyrim too,so she doesnt complain

And which elder scrolls games do you like?..only daggerfall?

That's a really good point, Koleman. The article says nothing about "addiction". That was an editorial mistake on my part when I carelessly wrote the topic title. I should have said "obsession" like the newspaper headline. "Addiction" and "obsession" are not the same thing. I wish I could change that.

Daggerfall is my favorite. I like Arena, Morrowind, Battlespire, and I used to hate Oblivion, but Skyrim made me appreciate what features Oblivion did have.

Edit: Still hate vanilla Oblivion though.

I'm a huge fan of Skyrim (i have a Bethedda account after all). Over christmas break, my dad saw me play and said "this game looks pretty cool". Before i know it, i see him playing it.
Now i can't get him to STOP playing. He plays more than I do. :/

Daggerfall is amazing,And morrowind is my favourite.And oblivion was a dissapointment.Modded oblivion was pretty good.But vanilla skyrim is much better then vanilla oblivion. at least for me skyrim brings me back to the old morrowind days,get that awesome feeling while playing it

I reckon that's the most awesome thing about this game - such a diverse range of people are enjoying it. Take a game like Doom - doesn't appeal to a huge audience, it's big, but these days, I wouldn't be interested in it (except maybe the next version - depends what's in it). Or racing games - I tend to get bored of them pretty quick. But with Skyrim, you've got young people playing it, middle aged people and older people.

It's just really cool to see so many people of different ages, male and female enjoying a game like this!

That is a great article. Good job, Joan Garrett.

I haven't played in two weeks. Last week I played was New Years weekend. I was too busy running around this past weekend. I don't play during the week because I have to watch my kids while my wife works. So, generally I only get to play on Saturday and Sunday and only for a few hours each day.

I miss Skyrim.

lol @ spoiler in the article.

I'd say I'm quite addicted (or obsessed or whatever) with the game, because it has so much to do and it's so in-depth. It's not very often that I get such a long lifespan out of a game these days. Plus I'm starting university in like 4 weeks' time, so I'm playing the crap out of it as much as I physically can before then

well. since skyrims release i've been playing it nearly every day. Managed to keep my job, go to work everyday and still pay the bills and omg my house and everything in it isn't neglected... gee skyrim sure does sound like a danger to mankind.

Definately going to be taking part in that lure tonight

There's no way I could become addicted, my GF wouldn't allow me

I know what you mean. I get about 10 hours/wk if I'm lucky. But think of it this way - we have more time to plan our movements precisely....

Why? Is she like my daughter? She is swearing to break her BF's disc of Skyrim.

I think video game "addiction" is just an expansion of one of the major parts of modern society. People can't tell the difference between a want and a need. You NEED to feed yourself to live. You WANT the food you eat to taste good.People REALLY WANT to play skyrim. But they don't NEED to. If someone is actually addicted to something then they can't grow bored of it. If you were really "addicted" to an mmo then you would still be playing it. Unless some outside force helped/made you stop. Thats what addiction is, the inability to stop.

*checks active effects screen*

Nope, nothing about obsession there. Is it a spell? If so, then I'm good as I'm at the magic res cap.

*goes back to Skyrim*

She just wants to keep me sane since I work and have college

Nobody would do that to me because I'd get a lawyer

I need to play Skyrim. It is my life-force. I eat Skyrim discs for breakfast.