Dear Editor,

It is unthinkable to see TV commercials promoting video games. Today the video game industry is the strongest out of the entertainment enterprise, probably because other industries have to reduce costs due to the financial crisis. The video-game business continues to grow at a good pace, and it must be made known through different public ad campaigns.

A survey conducted among 2,000 teenagers of the Habbo Hotel virtual community places video games among children's preferred presents for the Three Kings' wish list. Only four per cent of children wish for books.

According to parents, free time with video games should not surpass one hour a day. This study was carried out among 4000 parents in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy.

What is unfortunate is that video games are played by children as a way of isolating themselves. Kids tame their anger through video games until they reach the point of not communicating with others. This tendency increases violent behaviour in children.

Video games are prevalent in highly technological societies. The United States, Canada, China and South Korea already have "detoxification clinics". The first hints of addiction begin to show when children decide not to eat, but take drugs to help them stay sober.

Moreover, a video game has personified the violence that is conducted in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. In the game, weapons and roughness are the most attractive characteristics. An aborigine is killed every three hours of every day in this northern Mexican city. Terror is extreme. This is why the city has one of the highest shooting rates in the world. The video-game creator "Call of Juárez" allows players to be drug dealers. National politicians advocate for these video games to be absolutely forbidden.

The debate on the relevance of video games among consumers continues. Many critics believe that video-game abuse affects teenagers by increasing violent behaviour in them.

Clemente Ferrer

Madrid, Spain

clementeferrer3@gmail.com