[TheAceOfHearts]

We create fake sub-games within the real world all the time, it's not limited to video games. You see this when people get really invested in petty office politics or other such nonsense, and they realize how little it matters when they walk away.

I think people in the real world often overvalue the significance of the games they're playing. If you make a mistake on live television a lot of production people will probably get upset and claim it's the end of the world, but most people really don't care and it doesn't actually matter that much. Sure you should be professional and try your best to avoid mistakes, but there's usually no significant real-world consequences.

Anyway, a while back I uninstalled League of Legends because it was sucking up all of my time and it wasn't even fun.

Have you considered playing with friends or your SO? I think turning video games into a more social activity can help clamp down on the addictive aspects without sacrificing connections. Heck, I've met tons of people thanks to playing competitive multiplayer video games.