How Addictive Are Video Games?

Growing up a week rarely went by where I wasn't on a console spending hours after hours of completing levels and gathering all collectibles within a game. Whether it be Tomb Raider, Micro Machines, Final Fantasy or Mario, most of my free time was spent gaming.

I was well and truly addicted. I still went out and played with my friends using our wild imaginations but if it came to a game of football then I would always prefer to play it on screen rather than kick a ball around a park. This has nothing to do with the fact that I'm not very good at football of course...