Two years ago, we reported that a 'game addiction clinic' in the Netherlands opened its doors to treat kids who had an unhealthy obsession with computer games. Bah humbug, we said. Hogwash, we mooted. Fiddlesticks, we cawed.

And indeed, Keith Bakker, founder of the Smith & Jones clinic, now argues that gaming isn't addictive, but that excessive use is a sign that something else is wrong.

This is one more step in the continuing trend that sees games critics turning their condemning glances away from games and onto parents and guardians. As Bakker explained to the BBC,



"...the more we work with these kids the less I believe we can call this addiction. What many of these kids need is their parents and their school teachers - this is a social problem."

...

"This gaming problem is a result of the society we live in today," Mr Bakker told BBC News. "Eighty per cent of the young people we see have been bullied at school and feel isolated. Many of the symptoms they have can be solved by going back to good old fashioned communication."

This is a recommendation strongly echoed this week in another unlikely place, the annual National Institute for Media and the Family video game report card (pdf). The MEDIAwise publication has historically used this publication as a platform to condemn games. This year, they've come out and have publicly praised the innovations in the industry - from Wii Fit to 'content neutral' titles like Guitar Hero and Rock Band to the expanse of more representative consumer demographics - and are keen to encourage parental involvement in game play behaviour:



It remains to be seen to what extent the video game industry will follow through on its praise-worthy efforts, just as we cannot yet know how extensively American parents will take advantage of the growing array of resources designed to help them make healthy choices for their families. Such progress is absolutely essential, as video games become an ever-larger part of American life.

Perhaps the industry is making a breakthrough; this positive news should leave gamers with warmth in their cockles as they sup on their egg nog this holiday season.