A new study, conducted by Iowa State University, has found that a whopping 8.5 per cent of American kids who play games, exhibit signs of addiction. This translates into over three million youngsters - according to the report.

According to the university's findings, 88 per cent of child aged eight to 18 do play games - with 45 million youngsters in this category in the USA. The report's author said that many kids are in need of "help".

"It's not that the games are bad," offered writer Gentile, also director of research for the National Institute on Media and the Family.

"It's not that the games are addictive. It's that some kids use them in a way that is out of balance and harms various other areas of their lives."

By Luke Guttridge