TIGA pre-empts 'Panorama' gaming exposé

Games industry body TIGA has pre-empted tonight's already controversial edition of Panorama on video games and addiction, arguing that there is no agreed medical diagnosis for the problem.

Due to air at 8.30pm this evening on BBC One, Panorama's Addicted to Games? special will aim to "reveal the hidden psychological devices in games that are designed to keep us coming back for more".

Last week, games industry trade body UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE) said that there was "no official medical diagnosis of video game addiction, either from the American Medical Association or the World Health Organisation".

UKIE also claimed that there was "mixed opinion" among academics about whether video games could ever be deemed "clinically addictive".

TIGA chief executive Richard Wilson, who has not yet seen the Panorama investigation, agreed with UKIE that there was "absolutely no proven link between video games and addiction".

Wilson said that playing games is a "hobby" attracting the same level of passion as watching TV, reading a book or playing sport. He also noted that games such as Wii Sports or motion control systems like Xbox Kinect can "improve fitness", while a fifth of UK games developers produce educational titles.

"There is a world of difference between people who claim, in the colloquial non medical sense, that they are addicted to games, music, football or a TV programme and people who are clinically addicted, in scientific parlance, to drugs or alcohol. People may claim to be addicted to something like games or football, but in most cases they are not," said Wilson.

"TIGA would welcome additional independent research in to this topic and takes this issue very seriously. As with all hobbies we advocate that video games are played in moderation, with gamers taking regular breaks.

"Parents and retailers should also ensure that children only play games that are age appropriate. Games are clearly marked with PEGI or BBFC age ratings to inform parents about which games are suitable for their children."