More and more adults and children are using gaming in their spare time to unwind at the end of the day or as a means of entertainment but when does this tip over into an addiction and should we be limiting the amount of time we spend on consoles and other gaming devices?

The definition of an addiction is generally thought to be an inability to stop using a substance or engaging in a behaviour even though it is causing psychological and physical harm and so some would argue that gaming would not cause this level of harm to a participant. However, if whilst gaming the person becomes agitated, angry or even depressed it could be that this could be causing them harm.

One of the key things to be aware of is the actual time that someone is gaming for. We often limit the time our children play on their mobile devices, smartphones and consoles to prevent them from becoming insular and obsessive so why do we not limit our own time as well? It is certainly worth noting how long we are gaming for on average as it is often a surprise to find that it is longer than we imagine. On occasion, choosing to do another activity such as taking a walk or engaging in a craft of some kind to unwind may be better for our wellbeing.

We all remember the games that we used to play when consoles became popular and although the graphics were far less superior than the graphics in the current games we play there is something nice about going back to the familiar.

The good thing is that the games developers are realising that there is an interest in playing classic games and so are updating and re-releasing some of the games so that they will work on our modern consoles.

Some of the best classic games are adventure games where you are a character in a story and have to solve puzzles along your journey. Whilst on the journey you have to converse with different characters that you encounter and collect objects that will enable you to perform tasks in the story. In the original games the player needed to read dialogue and click on an appropriate answer but fortunately games developers have made it possible in most cases for the dialogue to be read aloud making interacting with characters easier.

Games that involve racing have always been popular and most consoles have the facility to attach some type of steering wheel to the device giving the player a much more realistic experience.

Have you ever thought about becoming a game reviewer? As gaming is becoming more and more popular with both young and old alike, people are often unsure about whether a particular game is going to be of interest to them or whether it is going to be a waste of money. New games can be very expensive to buy even through the app store, so it is sensible to read the reviews before buying if at all possible.

Most game reviewers either post their reviews online or submit them to a computer magazine for publication but some reviewers have their own YouTube channel where they demonstrate aspects of the game and show actual game footage. This is useful for those wanting to purchase the game as it gives a more accurate description of the game play.

When reviewing any game, it is important to begin with a brief overview of the game and its suitability for different age groups so that parents wondering about purchasing it for their children can clearly see whether it is suitable. After the overview, the review could concentrate on specific attributes of the game for instance difficulty, interest and time to complete. This last aspect is important as some games, especially VR games are quite short and can be completed quickly by an experienced gamer.

Playing computer games has become a popular pastime for adults and children with game design improving constantly to become more realistic and enjoyable however, it is important that parents and carers are aware of the pitfalls that gaming can have and that they make sure the children in their care are protected from online abuse and any other detrimental effects that gaming can have.

Checking the age rating of any games that your children are playing is a good way to monitor what they are playing. The PEGI rating system is based on six age categories and eight content descriptors. The age categories indicate whether an interactive software product is appropriate for children from a certain age and can be used as a guide by parents who may be unfamiliar with a certain game.

Some online games can let children play with friends and strangers from around the world but playing with people online can also be risky. Most games allow parents to disable certain features such as chat between players if they feel this is not safe. It is important to educate your child about keeping safe online by encouraging them to always choose a safe username instead of their real name and not to reveal any personal details about themselves to other players.

Charity events are vital to help them raise money and awareness for a number of great causes. You may often have seen people doing sponsored climbs, fitness challenges or even giving up certain things for a period of time in order to raise sponsorship but did you know that you could use your gaming skills to do it? Many charities are happy for you to run your own fundraising event and what better way to do it than through something you enjoy. Why not get your friends to join you in a 24 hour gaming marathon. Set yourself up a sponsorship page and get sharing, you may be surprised how quickly the money starts coming in. Before you start gaming you could set up a live stream for people to follow if they want to and for you to keep them updated as to how you are doing. You may also want to devise a list of games that you will play throughout the day and night. Some charities will even send you tshirts or caps you can wear when you are doing your gaming event so don’t forget to update your social media posts to help raise awareness for your charity.