Chapter 1 Introduction 1.

1 Background of the Study Online gaming is playing video-stimulated games through with dependence to web connection. According to Douglas A. Gentile, Ph.D. , expert from

http://www.pedsforparents.com/articles/2791.shtml , similar to earlier studies about television, the data about children's video game habits are correlated with risk factors for health and with poorer academic performance. When video game play is analyzed for violent content, additional risk factors are observed for aggressive behavior and desensitization to violence.

Physical consequences of gaming addiction includes vulnerability to diseases and poor personal hygiene. Some of the physical consequences of video game addiction can lead to social consequences as well. For example, an addicted gamer who loses sleep because hes playing so much simply doesnt have the energy to invest i n relationships. Lack of sleep may also make him irritable and difficult to be around.

There are ways to control the time span of playing online games and to potentially reduce the chances of inheriting bad habits and negative effects of online gaming. Finding alternative activities to online gaming is one of the best possible solution to the massively influential trend.

1.2 Statement of the Problem Large percentage of individuals are playing online games to the extent of being addicted. Addicted gamers spend so much time playing that their personal relationships get neglected and sometimes disappear altogether. Addicted gamers also neglect the responsibilities of everyday life such as school and work. This lack of social interaction that results from obsessive gaming can have longterm social consequences. An addicted teenager wont develop effective social skills, which will hinder his ability to develop and maintain healthy relationships in college and beyond. Some of the physical consequences of video game addiction can lead to social consequences as well. For instance, an addicted gamer who loses sleep because hes playing so much simply doesnt have the energy to invest in relationships. Lack of sleep may also make him irritable and difficult to be around.

1.3 Scope and Delimitation The study limits its coverage to Notre Dame of Marbel University students only. Its main purpose is to perform a survey to identify what and which alternative activities to online gaming are preferred by the NDMU students. The study considers the effects of online gaming, dealing more on the negative effect involving addiction to online gaming. Each of the respondents are given the same survey questionnaires. The results will be focused on what alternative activities can be a substitute or replacement to online gaming.

1.4 Relevance of the Study The primary purpose of the study is to have alternative activities as a substitute on playing online games. Undoubtedly, most people are involve to online gaming due to trends. The result of the study will benefit people all around the world, for there are massive number of individuals are into online gaming. The study will serve as a guide to individuals who wanted to balance their time on different activities. It will also help the gamers who wanted to change their negative habit of being addicted to online games. The study will help even the parents/guardians of their children to help their child develop a balanced daily routine. Furthermore, this study will also be basis of other research activities to be conducted by others. The study can give ideas to other researchers which are in pursuit of topics related to the said conducted research title, Alternative Activities to Online Gaming.

1.5 Definition of Terms Online controlled by or connected to another computer or to a network. Network a group or system of interconnected people or things. Internet a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange. Online gaming An online game is a video game played over some form of computer network MMORPG Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game is a genre of roleplaying video games or web browser-based games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world. Alternative (of one or more things) available as another possibility. RPG Role Playing Game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Video games a game played by electronically manipulating images produced by a computer program on a television screen or other display screen.