In this book, they specifically address the addictive qualities of gaming: the desire to beat the game; thrill of competition; feedback that allows mastery of the game; exploration and discovery of visually seductive worlds; earning the high score; story-driven role play; and player peer pressure. They elaborate on the harmful mental and emotional state of adolescents drawn into a world of gaming that precludes real-life adventures and relationships, and even more alarming, they devote a chapter to the physical dangers of epileptic seizures, prolonged hypertension, violent inclinations, and suicide sometimes associated with playing computer and video games.

Clearly the Bruners have an important message and devote little time to promoting any positive aspects of gaming. Instead, they quote experts, parents, and gamers to help make their point that computer and video games are addictive and potentially dangerous for our children. People without children or busy parents who use these games to placate their children may find these charges ridiculous, but Playstation Nation uses science to back up its claims, which are entirely believable if you’ve ever seen a child engrossed in one of these games. Parents of young children and adolescents should arm themselves with the information in this book.