New and compelling video games are attracting college students around the nation, putting books and classes second.

It is the dawn of a new era for the college student; it is the age of technology. We have already warned you about the dangers of too many extension cords, but what about the system other end of that extension cord?

"Video games are great just to pass the time," said Louis Broccoli, sophomore, Pelham Manor, N.Y. "It gives me something to do in between classes."

And who wouldn't want to travel to far off, exotic locations filled with danger at every turn and perhaps even help a wizard build a magical castle before lunch?

Class would seem so much more satisfying after defeating some gargantuan ape, deep in the Amazonian jungle.

"I am the epitome of an addicted video gamer. I play for hours on end, and while I know it's bad, I still feel a craving to play," said Broccoli. "I really don't know why [video games] are so addicting."

The folks over at Hammer Smith Research, specifically David Brooks and Paul Grasby, have found that the neurotransmitter called dopamine actually was produced while playing the video games.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is released by the brain to regulate higher order of thinking.

"This dopamine release, in turn, is associated with feeling good," said Steven Graham, a professor of psychology. "To a person with a weakened dopamine response, this would be especially rewarding and could lead to compulsive or addictive playing."

Those that have this weakened dopamine response are more susceptible to falling victim to this addictive game playing as compared to those who have a strong dopamine response. It is a dopamine tolerance, if you will.

Speaking of tolerance, video games are now even being compared to drugs and alcohol in their detrimental effects to teenagers.

Mothers Against Videogame Addiction and Violence (MAVAV) is an organization that specializes in "educating parents about today's fastest increasing threat and danger to our child's health and way of life" according to their website.

The MAVAV website gives parents tips and symptoms of when a teenager is experiencing this video game addiction. Some symptoms are even linked to low self-esteem and the increase of becoming a social outcast.

In addition, children and teenagers alike can undergo poor school grades, which the faculty here, or any college for that matter, will disprove of.

Now the college community is mixed in their thought about video games being compared to drugs and alcohol.

There are some students that feel the statement is absurd, while others don't play video games enough to care.

"Video games are very addictive because once you start, it is very hard to stop," said Janelle Watson, sophomore, Reading, Mass. "Although they can be addicting, I don't agree with them being as harmful as drugs or alcohol."

The topic of addictive video game playing has a widespread sentiment. A member of the English faculty, Dr. Cain, was so intrigued by the topic that he even decided to write his own article about video game addiction, although it is still in the works and not ready for publication

The debate is ongoing and will continue to be that way until the world agrees to disagree. Being a multi-billion dollar a year industry, the video game business is not going anywhere soon and college students are going to continue to buy into them. In the meantime, parents will just have to realize they are fighting an industrial giant.