'Candy Crush Saga': Why Is It So Addicting? [VIDEO]

CREDIT: YouTube/ MobileGamez6

Why is the popular game "Candy Crush Saga" so addicting? Various experts in psychology, psychiatry, marketing, design and gaming weigh in the matter, including one of the "Candy Crush Saga" game designers Tommy Palm and Dr. Kimberly Young, an expert on Internet and gaming addiction.

"Candy Crush Saga" is a game developed by King, which is a casual-social games company that is the biggest developer of Facebook games. The online games was released in Facebook April 12, 2012 but appreared on smartphones Nov. 14, 2012.

According to AppData, an App Analytics Web site that helps financial firms and developers analyze mobile apps across several platforms such as Facebook, Google Play and Apple iOS, "Candy Crush Saga" has beaten the once popular Facebook game "FarmVille 2."

A variation of the game "Candy Crush," it can be played on the social network Web site Facebook and mobile gadgets like iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) and Android devices.

It has been a year since "Candy Crush Saga" was launched and a lot of people are still very much into playing it, to the point of being addicted to it where no day goes by that they do not play it. If they don't play it, they feel like there's something lacking. Some people even play it for about 8 hours every day!

According to a TIME report, a survey from Ask Your Target Market (AYTM) polled "Candy Crush Saga" players and discovered that 30% said they were "addicted" to the game.

It's fascinating how addicting "Candy Crush Saga" truly is. What sets it apart from all the other games out there?

Below are 9 reasons why various experts in psychology, psychiatry, marketing, design and gaming think that "Candy Crush Saga" is so addicting:

1. It Makes You Wait - You can't just play this game continuously. Once you run out of lives, you have to wait until you can play it again. Or, if you can't wait any longer, your other option is to shell out some money to have access to it.

"I think it makes the game more fun long term," Game Designer Palm said in the TIME report.

"If you have a game that consumes a lot of mental bandwidth, you will continue playing it without noticing that you're hungry or need to go to the bathroom. But then you binge and eventually you stop playing. It's much better from an entertainment point of view to create a more balanced experience where you have natural breaks."

2. We're All Suckers For Sweet Talk - A voice that says "Sweet" or "Delicious" feels like positive reinforcement for some players.

"Positive rewards are the main reasons people become addicted to things," Internet and Gaming Addiction Expert Dr. Kimberly Young said in the TIME report.

"When you play the game, you feel better about yourself," she added.

3. You Can Play With One Hand - You can also play it offline which makes it all the more addicting because it's easy to play and you can play without being connected to the Internet.

4. It's Social - It uses your social network to advance in the game. Friends help out friends by giving tickets to those who are asking. They also get sent tickets to progress in the game. Plus, it has become a common topic in conversations, like what level are the players currently in etc.

5. You Don't Have to Pay - (but if You Want to, It's Easy)

6. There's Always More - A lot of levels (544 levels) make this game seem never-ending and even more fun, challenging and addicting as you get to the higher levels.

7. It Grows on You

8. It's an Escape

9. It Taps Into Our Inner Child - All the colorful candy seems to make a lot of people feel like a kid again. They feel happy and in turn they continue to play the game over and over.

For "Candy Crush Saga" fans, check this out: Quiz: How Addicted Are You to Candy Crush?