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The Nintendo Wii has redefined family leisure. People of all ages flock to parties to play "Guituar Hero" and "Rock Band". Live service with the PS3 and XBox 360 and Nintendo Wii enable game play and communication with others across the country. Simulation programs have helped to enhanced learning.

"Research has even shown that video games can increase fine motor and coordination skills, boost self-discipline, and improve problem-solving and logic."

Playing video games has help to benefit the live of many, however some take it too far. Horror stories are reported all over the internet about people who don't know how to put the controller down. Video game addictions have accounted for lost jobs, college dropouts and even failed marriages.

Please not that video games are a perfectly health recreation, but in extreme circumstances it becomes a bad habit. "In those cases, it is important to look for some signs of addiction."

Doctor Thomas Brain, director of counseling and psychological services at the University of Tulsa has been involved in numerous studies on addiction.

According to Dr. Brain the issue is not black and white. There is not a define line between being addicted or not. Rather then a line it is a continuous flow between use, misuse, abuse and dependence.

Figuring out this continuous flow is the tricky part. While substance abuse is easily identify as a physical dependence, compulsive addictions like gaming, internet and gambling are definded by how they affect your life.

"An easy mental health checkup for anyone," Brian said, "is to look at your work, love and play."

Take time to evaluate how gaming usage affects these three elements. If things like your relationships or school work take a backseat to gaming then you need to make some changes in your life.

Also, look at your "want/should ratio," the proportion of things you do because you want to (like gaming and Facebook) vs. things you should do (work or spending time with family). "If that ratio gets off and we have a whole lot of wants and very little shoulds, there's vulnerability."

Basically what this means is you need to create a balance in your life. I obviously enjoy to place computer video games but I don't let it take a front seat more important things like my job, family, church and relationships. I have known people who pull all nighters playing a single game, to me this is a waste of time. I know of someone who has gotten obsessed with playing video games that it is affecting his family.

He has a loving wife and five children, the problem is they have virtually no income coming in right now. Yet, he has a PlayStation 3, xBox 360 and Nintendo Wii and when a new game comes out he waits for the store to open and buys the game. He is very competitive and is found yelling at his children if they don't play the game right. This is the perfect example of someone who needs some help and time away from the controller.

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