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The computer game World of Warcraft has been described as "the most dangerous game on the market" by addiction therapists at Sweden's Stiftelsen Ungdomsvård (Youth Care Foundation).

According to The Local, the organization, which works to advocate active alternatives to gaming, has determined that World of Warcraft plays a serious role in gaming addiction, being as addictive as cocaine.

They even cite that there is not a single case of gaming addiction where World of Warcraft is not involved.

"There is not a single case of game addiction that we have worked with in which World of Warcraft has not played a part," according to Sven Rollenhagen at the foundation to the newspaper Metro.

In November 2008, it was reported that a 15-year-old boy from Laholm (northern Sweden) was collapsed and went into convulsions after playing World of Warcraft for 20 hours continuously.

The game’s US makers Blizzard Entertainment have said 11 million people worldwide play World of Warcraft.

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Technorati tags: Games World of Warcraft

An Oxford University study has discovered that playing Tetris can help reduce the effects of traumatic stress.

According to psychologists from the institution, playing the computer puzzle game after a traumatic event may alter the brain's sensory memories and reduce flashbacks after a trauma.

The objective of the experiment was to try and modify the way in which the brain forms memories after a distressing event.

"This is only a first step in showing that this might be a viable approach to preventing post-traumatic stress disorder," said Dr Emily Holmes of the University's psychiatry department in The Daily Telegraph.

"This was a pure science experiment about how the mind works from which we can try to understand the bigger picture.

"There is a lot to be done to translate this experimental science result into a potential treatment."

During the study, 40 volunteers were shown a film which included traumatic images of injuries with half then sent to play Tetris for ten minutes and the rest left to do nothing. It was observed over the week that the 20 who had played the game experienced fewer flashbacks of the images.

Holmes contended that playing the game helps use the analytical side of the brain, blocking the intake of sensory memories.

"Tetris may work by competing for the brain's resources for sensory information," she said. "We suggest it specifically interferes with the way sensory memories are laid down in the period after trauma and thus reduces the number of flashbacks that are experienced afterwards."

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Electronic Arts (EA) has announced that it has reached an agreement with UK production company Endemol - the TV production company that owns the show - to develop and distribute a mobile game based on the popular Deal or No Deal TV show.

The mobile games based on the show will bring all its elements on our handsets, including "the contestants, the camaraderie and the nail-biting drama".

Deal or No Deal first launched in the UK back in 2005 and has become one of the most successful TV programs with average daily audiences of over 2.3 million. The format has aired in over 80 countries worldwide.

The game will be released in November 2008.