This Week: Game Kid is referred by his GP to a head shrink in effort to cure his game addiction...

Doc: So how long have you had this problem?"

GK: For as long as I can remember, really.

Doc: I see. Did you have an unusual childhood in any way, or suffer any traumas or anything like that?

GK: I don't think so.

Doc: Nothing at all? Are you sure? We're going to have to trust each other from outset if we're going to get anywhere, you know. So take your time and try to think again. Something must have triggered this thing off.

GK: Well... my father used to beat me.

Doc: Ah! And how old were you when this began?

GK: Oh, young. I don't know how far back it was.

Doc: And how long did it go on for?

GK: For a lot of years, I suppose - until I began to play with my willy.

Doc: Until you began to masturbate, you mean?

GK: Masturbate? No, no, no. Until I bought a copy of Jet Set Willy for my Spectrum. He never ever beat me at anything after that.

Doc: So your father was only beating you at... (cough) I mean, aaahhh.... very interesting. So what was school like? Any problems there? Picked on at all?

GK: Oh no, no, no. No problems there: I loved school, in fact. I particularly liked games.

Doc You're not talking about cricket or football, are you?

GK: No. I mean I enjoyed going to the computer club at lunch times.

Doc: I see. But there must be something else in your life, something which has in the past or might in the future help you control this obsession of yours. What about girls? Have you ever had a girl friend?

GK: Well...

Doc: Come on, don't be shy...