Is it possible for my child to become addicted to games?

People play games because they enjoy them; and some people enjoy them more than others. A casual book reader will read books as part of their daily activities, and may well exercise or socialise as well. A person who absolutely loves books may be blinkered to everything else that goes on around them (the same goes for people who watch too many movies, or too much television). Playing video games is simply another daily activity that can give people pleasure. If they don't enjoy the games, they won't play them. If they do, they may play them occasionally, a lot or as much as possible. Playing computer and video games is not a physical addiction.

Can computer games cause epilepsy?

No. The Consumer Safety Unit of the governmental department formally known as the Department of Trade and Industry, together with the National Epilepsy Society, has carried out exhaustive study into this area, which found that epilepsy cannot be caused by playing computer games.

The report has shown that an extremely small number of people, who already have Photosensitive Epilepsy, might discover their condition by playing games, just as they could discover it by watching television, from disco lights, or light flickering through trees. Symptoms may include light-headedness, altered vision, eye or face twitching, jerking of arms or legs, disorientation, confusion, or momentary loss of awareness. Seizures may also cause loss of consciousness or convulsions that can lead to injury from falling or striking nearby objects. 

It is recommended that you immediately stop playing and consult a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Parents should watch for or ask their children about the above symptoms. Children and teenagers are more likely than adults to experience these seizures.

To reduce the risk of Photosensitive Epileptic seizures please:
· Consult your doctor prior to playing videogames if there is a history of Photosensitive Epilepsy in your family
· Sit farther from the television screen
· Use a smaller television screen
· Play in a well-lit room
· Avoid playing when you feel drowsy or fatigued

When playing computer games for a long time, I get a really bad headache. What is this caused by?

You are perhaps playing for too long in a single sitting, or maybe you are playing in a poorly lit room or sitting too close to the television set.

Will computer games affect my child’s behaviour?

Research undertaken by ULTRALAB at the Anglia Polytechnic has shown that children can very clearly distinguish the difference between violence in computer games and the types of violence they hear about on the news. Computer games have been in the home for more than 20 years, and there has not been a single proven case that they are causing children to become violent.

Can playing computer games cause DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)?

Studies suggest that any situation in which someone spends hours sitting in one place can increase the risk of a Deep Vein Thrombosis. But this can happen with any stationary leisure activity - including watching television, listening to music or reading a book. 

What, if any, are the health risks/side effects posed to regular gamers?

Neurologically there has been no evidence of a biological addiction to games, and therefore the industry believes that games should not be judged separately from any other leisure activity that brings people enjoyment. For example, a casual book reader will read books as part of his or her daily activities while balancing a number of other pursuits. At the same time, an avid book reader, or television viewer, music lover, film buff or keen video gamer, may choose to engage with that activity more than any other. As with these other hobbies, the industry emphasises that playing with interactive software is one of a selection of daily activities which gives people pleasure.