Is video game addiction simply drug free coping or is it the ultimate expression of play? While the Chinese are taking action against extreme video game play, there are also concerns in many households in North America that gamers play at the expense of the rest of their lives. The research has shown that while this is possible, it is rare, 11% of gamers can be considered addicted. What is more likely the concern of parents and partners is that gaming takes up too much of their time. This can be a fair concern depending on the life context into which it plays. In this show Jayne briefly reviews the research on video game addiction and then conducts an interview with a game developer and doctoral student, Nis Bojin, about the nature of play. His article “Play and the Private” is interesting and relevant reading. Too much play can of course be problematic but so can too little.

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