Some games are based on role-playing of a particularly violent and inhumane sort: characters rip out their opponents' organs; points are earned by driving at high speeds and knocking down people or animals; players sit in pseudo electric chairs and give themselves virtual electric shocks. There are games which communicate electronically with specially created television programmes, enabling players to "kill" onscreen villains and join in battles with those depicted on the television.
2. Although games are intrinsically addictive, it is the fact that they encourage people to neglect other forms of social interaction that is of greater import because the addiction hinders personal development and prevents the person from doing anything else with his life. He will not be using his own imagination, but locking himself inside the flimsy, collective fantasy of a group of former games fanatics. There is little of value to be learnt from the best-selling games. When game-playing is eventually abandoned, the person has then to backtrack to an earlier emotional age.
2. Addiction to video games ensures that children are occupied for long periods of time where they might otherwise be tempted to roam the streets and explore more anti-social activities.
3. There is no question but that computer games can enhance "flow", a state of deep concentration, total absorption and intellectual peak performance. Playing computer games can therefore be a possible contributing factor to higher IQ scores.