| A Balanced View of Games Addiction Problem or | | | | MMORPGs with their wider social contact that lead |
| Not? We take a responsible look at Computer | | | | to more damaging instances of addiction; but not |
| Game Addiction | | | | always! |
| There is Plenty of Room for Optimism | | | | Keith Bakker, founder and chief of Europe's first |
| "Computer Gaming" is a generic term applicable to | | | | clinic to treat gaming addicts is of the opinion that |
| any gaming played on computers. It should be | | | | ninety percent of young people looking for |
| pointed out that there is a distinction between | | | | treatment are not in fact addicts at all, according |
| "Online gaming" and "Video Gaming". "Online | | | | to BBC News. |
| Gaming" invariably involves logging into a cyber | | | | Since 2006 when it opened, The Smith & Jones |
| arena and competing with several others, who | | | | Centre in Amsterdam has treated hundreds of |
| are quite possibly total strangers. There may | | | | young gamers from all over the world; but has |
| even be hundreds participating at any given | | | | changed its treatment methods since realizing that |
| moment. We see "Video Gaming" as gaming more | | | | compulsive computer gaming is not a psychological |
| likely played in the home on your own or with | | | | illness but a social one. |
| family and friends on a localized basis such as in | | | | Research was carried out in 2007 by The |
| your living room, playing video games bought | | | | American Psychological Association to find out if |
| from your local video games retailer or on eBay | | | | computer video game addiction should be |
| or perhaps downloaded or swapped with your | | | | recognized as a disorder for inclusion in the new |
| friends. Video Games have been around since the | | | | Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental |
| late 1960s and people of all generations will have | | | | Disorders due for publication in 2012. They |
| played one at some time but perhaps not so | | | | concluded that there was insufficient evidence to |
| MMORPGs. Research tends to show that it is the | | | | show that video game addiction is a disorder. |