Research conducted by Douglas Gentile from Iowa State University -- he's also the director of research for the National Institute of Media and the Family (NIMF) -- led to some interesting results. According to the study, 8.5% of Americans between the ages of 8 and 18 (approx. 3 million people) are addicted to video games. 1,178 youths were polled to find out if they have symptoms of pathological gaming. Apparently, these symptoms include spending an excessive amount of time behind a controller and irritability when playtime is reduced.

Other symptoms are "escaping problems through play," ignoring homework in order to play games and stealing money to buy more games (ah, that pretty much describes the days of my childhood).

NIMF regarded the study as a "a wake-up call for families." Others do not agree with that. ESA senior vice president of communications Rich Taylor said:

"Like all forms of entertainment, computer and video games should be a part of a well-rounded lifestyle that includes healthy eating and exercise. It is up to parents to determine when and how often their children should play any game. For our part, the industry already provides a wide range of tools and information, including timers and parental controls, to help caregivers ensure that entertainment software is used appropriately."