BIRMINGHAM, Mich., April 28 /PRNewswire/ — Kevin Roberts, a Michigan educator who specializes in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and learning issues, is now conducting support groups for teens and adults who struggle with video game addiction. Roberts, himself a recovering video game addict, leads weekly groups which emphasize staying “sober,” setting goals and developing healthy behaviors.
Roberts’ meetings combine elements of 12-step groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous, with personal growth processes that stress accountability and responsibility.
Roberts encourages group members to support each other. “If you have an intense craving to play a game,” he tells his groups, “pick up the phone and call someone.” Roberts blames previous relapses in his own recovery from addictive gaming on his reluctance to seek support.
“Academic and professional failure await addicted gamers,” Roberts said, “even though many of them possess supremely imaginative minds. This vast waste of talent and potential is the great tragedy of video game addiction.”
In addition to leading support groups, Roberts facilitates family interventions. “Some video gamers spiral out of control,” Roberts said, “and many families need help to deal with the situation.” Roberts, who speaks at schools, conferences and community groups, discusses solutions and strategies in his forthcoming book, Video Game Junkie: a Recovering Addict Helps You Understand, due out late May, 2008.
Roberts was a teacher at the Roeper School for the gifted in Birmingham, Mich. and has been an ADD coach and educational consultant for ten years. He speaks five languages and has a one-man show, Confessions of a Self-Help Junkie, which will debut in November.
Source: videogamingaddicts.org
WILSONVILLE, Ore., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Video games and game systems will continue to be hot holiday gifts this year, with more than 80 percent of tweens and teens expecting to ask for a video game title, game console or handheld system, according to a recent survey by Game Crazy, a video game specialty retailer. Game Crazy went straight to the source to find out the video game gifts that will make kids happiest during the holidays. The survey found that, across all ages and genders, Guitar Hero, Mario Party DS, Super Mario Galaxy, My Sims and Halo 3 are some of the most-wanted video game titles. The Nintendo Wii and Sony PS3 will also continue to be hot sellers.
Most-Wanted Games (8-17 Year-Old Boys and Girls)
— Guitar Hero (Rated T)
— Mario Party DS (Rating Pending)
— Super Mario Galaxy (Rating Pending)
— My Sims (Rated E)
— Halo 3 (Rated M)
Girls
— 8-10 Years-Old:
— Nintendogs (Rated E)
— Mario Party DS (Rating Pending)
— My Sims (Rated E)
— Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Rating Pending)
— Guitar Hero (Rated T)
— 11-13 Years-Old:
— My Sims (Rated E)
— Mario Party DS (Rating Pending)
— Nintendogs (Rated E)
— Super Mario Galaxy (Rating Pending)
— Guitar Hero (Rated T)
— 14-17 Years-Old:
— Guitar Hero (Rated T)
— My Sims (Rated E)
— Mario Party DS (Rating Pending)
— Super Mario Galaxy (Rating Pending)
— Halo 3 (Rated M)
Boys
— 8-10 Years-Old:
— Super Mario Galaxy (Rating Pending)
— Pokemon Battle Revolution (Rated E)
— Mario Party DS (Rating Pending)
— Transformers (Rated E10+ or T)
— Mario Strikers Charged (Rated E10+)
— 11-13 Years-Old:
— Guitar Hero (Rated T)
— Halo 3 (Rated M)
— Madden 08 (Rated E)
— Need for Speed: Prostreet (Rating Pending)
— Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground (Rated E10+ or T)
— 14-17 Years-Old:
— Halo 3 (Rated M)
— Guitar Hero (Rated T)
— Madden 08 (Rated E)
— Super Mario Galaxy (Rating Pending)
— Need for Speed: Prostreet (Rating Pending)
Most-Wanted Video Game Systems:
Girls
— 8-10 Years-Old: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Sony PS3
— 11-13 Years-Old: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Sony PS3
— 14-17 Years-Old: Nintendo Wii, Sony PS3, XBOX 360
Boys
— 8-10 Years-Old: Nintendo Wii, Sony PS3, XBOX 360
— 11-13 Years-Old: Nintendo Wii, Sony PS3, XBOX 360
— 14-17 Years-Old: Sony PS3, XBOX 360, Nintendo Wii
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
The Game Crazy survey was conducted online August 17-20, 2007, by Weekly Reader Research. 1,000 U.S. male and female participants, ages 8-17, were recruited from Weekly Reader Research’s INSIDERS survey research community. Random sampling procedures were employed to ensure the respondents accurately reflect the nation’s 42.7 million 8-17 year olds in terms of age, race/ethnicity, gender and census region. The margin of error is +/- 3.2 percent at the 95 percent confidence interval.
About Game Crazy
Game Crazy® (www.gamecrazy.com) is the nation’s second largest specialty game retailer with more than 600 locations across the country.
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