ESA enacts pre-emptive strike on anti-games research

The ESA has spoken out against a soon-to-be-published study linking video games with mental health problems in children, citing flawed methodology and invalid background assumptions.

In a press release received by TG Daily, the ESA's Richard Taylor said that research used was both methodologically spurious and incorporated contested definitions.

"For example, its definition of 'pathological gaming' is neither scientifically nor medically accepted and the type of measure used has been criticized by other scholars," he said. 


While stating that the ESA commends "credible, independent, and verifiable" studies into the effects of gaming, Taylor flatly dismissed the findings of the upcoming study.

"There simply is no concrete evidence that computer and video games cause harm," he argued. "In fact, a wide body of research has shown the many ways games are being used to improve our lives through education, health and business applications."

The study's author, Douglas Gentile, is widely criticised both in and outside academic circles for poor methodology in his dogged pursuit of anti-gaming evidence, and has even admitted fault with past publications.

"This research is just more of the same questionable findings by the same author in his campaign against video games," taylor concluded.

Thanks, GoNintendo.