At least one segment of American video gamers isn’t just playing for fun; these “extreme” gamers are playing more than 45 hours per week, according to a new report from market research firm NPD. NPD surveyed more than 20,000 people aged two to 65 (two?) about their game-playing habits. Although these extreme gamers only make up a small percentage of America’s 174 million gamers — three percent according to NPD — that’s still more than 5 million players who are playing as much as they go to work or school. Are people who play this much addicted to video games? So far, doctors have been reluctant to make that diagnosis. Last year, the American Medical Association rejected a measure to classify video game playing as a formal addiction. Instead, it said more research is needed.

Source: ABC News