Civ3, Addiction, Disclaimer, and Informed Consent

[Willem]

Re: Self-control timer

Originally posted by Explorer579

Example:
Set date and time: 11/272002 11 pm
Set rest duration: 8 hours

As I start playing at 8 pm and set it to stop at 11 pm, at 11 pm there is no way i can play more turns before 8 hours lapse (that is 7 am)! The game will stop after the end of the current turn or even suddenly in the middle of a battle!

Wouldn't work, all you'd have to do is reset the clock in your BIOS.

[punkbass2000]

I think you may have just ruined this man's life.

[Dr. A. Cula]

Originally posted by Tiberius
Hey Doc, where are you from? (I mean the city name, please!)

Btw, greetings from Timisoara!

Craiova, but living in Bucharest. Sorry for the delay, work induced stress overcame "lack of Civ"-induced stress.

[ChaotikVisions]

I'm not addicted, I could stop any time, really. All I want is to see all of the world under Ottoman control, and failing that nobody gets it. *presses the big red button*

[Explorer579]

Re: Re: Self-control timer

Originally posted by Willem


Wouldn't work, all you'd have to do is reset the clock in your BIOS.

Believe me, Fyraxis programmers could do it. I did it for a software i published. Combinations of encrypted last used date and registry. You can't edit these encrypted files.

If somebody sets the clock back, it does not matter! it goes by the encrypted last used date and not by the computer's clock!

There are more rigorous schemes but more complex to explain here -or to implement.

Read previous posts about this subject in this forum.

[Sheik]

Firaxis has a diclaimer (I believe there is one with PTW) and setting a clock would be ridiculous. Someone who is truly addicted wont use the clock.

[badams52]

My friend's solution, uninstall the game. Wouldn't work for some people

[Explorer579]

Originally posted by Sheik
Firaxis has a diclaimer (I believe there is one with PTW) and setting a clock would be ridiculous. Someone who is truly addicted wont use the clock.

Firaxis' disclaimer does not include a warning about the addictive nature of the game. It specifically covers:
1) Epilepsy warning
2) Repetitve movement warning
3) Motion sickness warning.

It is like warning you about the effects/symptoms of heroine withdrawal but not about its addictive nature!

Disclaimer should be extended to include addictivness. Addiction control measures should be given to those who are addicted and cannot stop the game and keep playing hour after hour.

Some do not have a problem with alcohol. Others are alcoholic. Addiction control measures are designed for the latter and not for the former. If you are not an addict and can stop the game after x hours, good for you! I am talking about the civaholics.

If Firaxis denies that the game is addictive and fails to warn us, they are not managing their risk appropriately. It is a simple disclaimer statement. It may affects sales - slightly I would guess. But they will sleep better. That is what risk management and informed concent are about.

[Sheik]

Firaxis does not need a disclaimer. So what if the game is addictive?

[steven8r]

Be responsible for yourself man!!

Explorer,

It is not Firaxis' 'duty, obligation, nor responsibllity' to try and influence/control your own weakness. (Nor is it the responsibility of the tobacco companies, but I guess that's not how some would see it.)

Yes, Civ is a fun game, and is easily played longer than one might originally intend. The point is, "YOU NOW KNOW THIS." Act accordingly.

Take responsibility for yourself, or someone else will. Do you really want someone else to be in charge of your destiny????

My personal opinion is that a lot of problems in our society can be traced back to some point where someone wanted to shirk their own responsibility and become a 'victim'. With this new 'victim' status, a man doesn't have to think for himself, he has a government to do that for him.

Be responsible--not a victim

[Trifna]

Nevermind, disclaimers aren't there to help with anything but inform people. I think we all already know it so maybe some other solution should go with it too :P

[Explorer579]

Re: Be responsible for yourself man!!

Originally posted by steven8r
Explorer,

It is not Firaxis' 'duty, obligation, nor responsibllity' to try and influence/control your own weakness. (Nor is it the responsibility of the tobacco companies, but I guess that's not how some would see it.)

It is Firaxis's duty to inform of an existing risk like tobacco companies have now a duty to inform you of the risk on their products.

After you have been informed, you are free to do whatever you want even if this leads to your death!

Doctors use the informed consent concept too. They inform you of risks and benefits of surgery or of doing nothing to treat the condition. After that, you are a free person to decide. But doctors, companies, and Firaxis are liable for failure to inform!

Tobacco companies got in trouble not because addicts killed themselves with cigarettes, but because the tobacco companies knew the nicontine risks but denied them and did not inform people that nicotine is addictive.

After I convince Firaxis to manage its risk through informed consent, I am going to take on substance abuse: It is OK if a person experiments with drug as long as he/she is systematically informed about the risks then sign about understanding all of the risks.

About signing: Most good licensing agreements (which people don't read anyway), have the mandatory check here for "I agree" button, which acts as informed consent. Firaxis problem now is some warnings are missing. Am I more at risk of having seizure and motion sickness, or of being addicted to the game and being late to work because it is soooooo fun to play? Need to add that warning Firaxis... Is anybody listening there?

[Explorer579]

I am surviving

I have un-installed civ III about a month ago. And I am surviving so far.

[Shr3dZ]

There could be a couple very easy solutions:

Have an in-game alarm clock- "You have now been playing for 6 hours straight, would you like to continue?"
And also to follow-up with that, perhaps a notpad that pops-up so that you can jot down some ideas. The main reason I just hafta play 'one more turn' is b/c 'if I quit now, Ill forget what my specific plans were'. My train of thought must not be hindered!

[Explorer579]

Still surviving

I am still surviving without Civ III. I think about it though.. I will try again sometimes.. when it is less addictive..