Immersion Cross-Over

I must say, I do find diegetic immersion and situated immersion easier to differentiate after today's lecture. What confused me at the start while going through the readings for immersion and viewpoint was how easily the two immersions could be mixed up. Without it being explained to me, I was sitting there thinking, but 'Laurie Taylor, you have just said about situated immersion the exact same thing for diegetic immersion, what on earth are you doing'. And then my head started hurting.

However, after today's lecture, I find it interesting how a small variation in detail can change the meaning of an entire idea. I always knew when playing video games, I did pay close attention to the details and would get lost in the storyline and plot and eventually I would not even notice that I was being called to dinner. Once I knew about the 2 different meanings, it amazed me how they can cross-over and one would not even realise it until something is brought to their attention and it snaps them out of their...'trance' (for want of a better word).

But this sort of thing has led me to wonder if immersion, both diegetic and situated, could be one of the starting basis for addiction. I mean, if you become so engrossed while playing a video game, and then you have to stop for some reason, would it not be your determination and/or curiosity as to what happens next or what would happen if you made 'this' or 'that' your next action or move, that would lead you back the following day or in the next couple of hours to continue on your quest or adventure? I could be wrong but if a person is playing a game that completely takes over their whole world by situated immersion and then are forced to suddenly stop for a series of time, they would be itching to go back and continue, or at least, that's how I saw it.

Never again shall I underestimate the power of ones video game.
Jenni M.