My initial reaction to the slew of articles and reports on a recent study stating that about 10 percent of young American video gamers are addicted to video games: you think? Seriously, we know how attached children are these days on video games. We do not really need a study to tell us this!

Still, researchers somehow deemed it important to actually conduct a formal study on the subject. This is what they discovered:

• Spent 24 hours a week playing video games: about twice as much time as non-pathological gamers.
• Were more likely to have video game systems in their bedrooms.
• Were more likely to report having problems paying attention at school.
• Were more likely to have received a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
• Received poorer school grades.
• Had poorer health.
• Were more likely to say they felt “addicted” to their habit.
• Stole to support their habit.

How exactly did they conduct the study?

Using clinical-style criteria similar to that for measuring gambling behaviour, a new study confirmed what many parents already believe, that not only is it possible for children to become “addicted” to video games but nearly 10 per cent of American youngsters actually are.

The study was the work of Iowa State University’s Assistant Professor of Psychology, Dr Douglas Gentile, and was published online on 13 April in the journal Psychological Science.

I’d say that we already knew this. The more important question is how we can address the issue. What do you think?

You’ve heard of smello-vision. It’s a really old joke; but have you ever thought that you could one day play video games and experience the various odors that different scenarios can offer?

This is what Professor Bob Stone is working on. Together with other scientists, Stone is working on a project that may one day bring smell to video games. They are developing technology that will release relevant odors in specific video game scenarios. As of the moment, their research is being conducted at Birmingham University and is being funded by the Ministry of Defence. As such, they are focusing on games of the more “serious” nature; you know, those that are used as simulation exercises by the military.

Dubbed the scent delivery system, or SDS, this technology is made of eight chambers, all of which are sealed. Each chamber contains wax of a distinct odor. The wax is actually available from an educational supplies company for $25 each. Anyhow, at a click of a button, odor can be released by hot air blowing through the relevant chamber.

It is easy to see how, coupled with other effects such as sound and vision, the released odor can make any video game more realistic. Furthermore, we can see how important this is for military simulation exercises. As for “for fun” video games, the added dimension of smell will definitely make the experience all the more fun.

My only question is this: will eight scents be enough to cover all the possible smells? I doubt it, but I am sure they will find a way to deal with this.

I ashamed to say that I never even heard about this game until today! I was just aimlessly surfing the web when I ran across a review over at The USA Today. Apparently, there is a new Riddick game! (Bashing myself now, me the self-proclaimed Riddick fan!)

So what does Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena have to offer? Is it any good? (I think anything that has Riddick in it will have its own merits.) Brett Molina offers these insights on the game:

Once again, Riddick finds himself in need of escape after the mercenary spaceship Dark Athena captures his vessel. While Chronicles of Riddick is often identified as a first-person shooter, the game feels more like first-person action, combining stealth combat and platforming along with the firepower.

Riddick’s eyes are his signature physical feature. His “eyeshine” — a surgical procedure — makes him sensitive to daylight, but allows him to see clearly in the dark.

He compares the game to others in the genre:

Compared to other first-person games, the presentation is average, particularly the visual details in characters. And while the story is pretty interesting, Riddick’s dialogue is absolutely cheesy, delivering bizarre lines such has “I’m either doing, or I’m not.”

Now how can they ruin Riddick like that? But to the developer’s credit, Molina says:

Fortunately, the campaign feels really well balanced between intense firefights against drones and giant mechs as well as platforming. The most satisfying moments are when Riddick lunges from the shadows to quietly take down unsuspecting foes.

So there we have it. While the game might not be a perfect tribute to the awesomeness of Riddick, it is still worth playing. Now I’m off to see where I can get a copy.

The video game industry is no stranger to controversy, but I think that in the case of Six Days In Fallujah, the controversy just might reach a whole new level. If you have not heard of the game yet, it is currently being developed by Atomic Games, a company based in North Caroline. The game, as its title implies, is all about one of the key conflicts in the Iraq War.

In case your memory is not functioning properly, or you just didn’t pay attention to the details of the Iraq War, Fallujah is a city in Iraq, which was held by the al-Qaeda together with its ally, the Sunnis. In November of 2004, the US troops – 10,000 strong – stormed the city.

What is so controversial about this particular battle? One, it is believed that the storming of the city cost the lives of about 6,000 Iraqi civilians. Two, a US Marine has been charged with the murder of an unarmed Iraqi, which was supposed to have taken place during this battle. Knowing what we know about the Iraqi War, and how it has been questioned right from the start, it is easy to see how the battle in Fallujah – and thus the game – is controversial.

According to Peter Tamte (president of Atomic Games), however, “It’s time for video games to do what movies, music and television have done: give people insight into this war that is shaping our world.” I totally agree with his statement. Sometimes, controversy is needed to open our eyes to certain things.