Video games, whether played on the internet using your computer, or on a console such as the Xbox or Playstation, have the ability of entertaining our minds while drawing in the whole of our attention away from what may be a stressful or boring world around us.

The allure of video games begins at a young age, just think about the screaming child who wants to visit the arcade at the mall so badly, often to the great displeasure of the adults who have other plans. So where does this impulse control disorder get its roots?

Video games are fun and come in all flavors and varieties. There really is a game to entertain anyone out there, and if you've ever played a game on the internet, you know that there are lots of places to play a free game. Console gaming may be a little more pricey, but offers nearly endless opportunities for gameplaying also.

So, with a universe of gaming at your disposal, the likelihood of becoming addicted, whether you know it or not, is pretty high. Here are some causes of addiction as relates to video games:

• Change of pace - Video games take us away from our real life for a while, replacing a stressful or boring environment with a digital world where we are regaled with sights and sounds we could only imagine before.
• Control - While playing video games of any type, there is one aspect of play that is undisputable fact: The player controls the game. This may be a balm on the spirit of a troubled person, and while not necessarily a bad thing, this is one cause of video game addiction that cannot be changed.
• Living a fantasy - Video games come in all shapes and colors. There are console and computer games fitting every genre imaginable, and this means that anyone can find a game which suits their personal preference. That being said, finding a game you can lose yourself in for hours and hours is not difficult - but it may be pricey.