Product Description

Authors Olivia and Kurt Bruner give parents what they need to know to save their kids from addiction to video games--before and after exposure.

One out of five kids becomes addicted to computer and video games, which are becoming increasingly more violent and are linked to violent and self-destructive behavior. The video industry continues to raise its revenue projections (expected to reach $33 billion by 2008) with the creation of newer, more advanced, and more addictive games, putting more children at risk. Spurred on by the patterns of addiction they saw developing in their own son, Olivia and Kurt Bruner arm other parents with hard facts about addiction and share personal stories of video game addicts to help parents identify the warning signs in their own children.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #309383 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

About the Author
Olivia and Kurt Bruner live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Customer Reviews

High school counselor and mom
This is a chilling book as it describes the addiction to video games that are of serious concern regardless of the good or bad content of individual games. Boys and young men are becoming addicted to games that are interferring with their high school and college years and even into their marriages. One of the chapters is appropriatly entitled "Lost Boys". I grieve for the lost potental stolen away by video and computer games. I recommend this book highly to parents who are struggling with trying to control video games in their homes and achieve balance with something that was supposed to be for recreation but is now taking over all of their kid's free time. The behavior that I have observed regarding my own sons, their friends, and students at school is accurately described in my book.

A Wake Up Call for Parents
This is not another false alarm from overly anxious 'experts'. The research is compelling: video games are highly addictive. I have four boys who play and I see the signs of addiction: loss of interest in other formerly enjoyed ctivities, inability to stop playing or set limits on their own behavior, willing to risk negative consequences for more play time (sneaking, whining, etc.). I see video games the same way I see alcohol. Many people can drink alcohol without becoming addicted. Many kids can play video games without becoming addicted. Regardless of which category you believe your kids are in, read this book. Educate your kids and parents of kids who clearly have a problem limiting their play. I'm returning all video games this Christmas and am giving my kids board games instead.

Experianced Gamer
I used to play many games all the way from the first Nintendo through to Playstation 2, and still feel the aftermath of addiction. Most of my gaming experience consisted of RPG's (Role Playing Games) and MMORPG's (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games). I am currently married and have a child on the way, and have many friends that play video games on a regular basis (When ever they are not at work). They shared much of the same enthusiasm as I did, and always talked about the newest games, and the amount of development their characters went through. I have mostly found that gaming allowed me to be someone I could not, in real life. Playstation Nation has helped me to realize most of the addictive qualities in the gaming industry. This should be no surprise considering Gamboling, Smoking, Drinking, and doing Drugs, are all Billion Dollar industries, and you look at the sticker on PC games: "40 Million Sold" (you would think they would add the same addictive qualities targeting children and adults alike).