RICHARD DAGLISH: “Just for morons? This is clearly the question of someone who either has never played a computer game or doesn’t like computer games — or someone who just doesn’t understand them.

I’m 14 and I have been around computers my entire life. I grew up watching Sonic and Pac-Man and now, 14 years on, I am still a very keen computer-games player.

At the moment, I own five computer-games consoles and I still have a spotless school record (no bad notes, no punishments and no detentions) and I also have quite good grades. I am a keen artist and I believe my interest in art is partly owing to my interest in computer games. Some people say that playing computer games turns you into a moron (they say the same about TV) but it has been proved by scientists that playing computer games improves you mentally and physically. It is also fun, it improves your thinking capabilities, and it improves your hand-eye co-ordination.

If computer games are for morons, well, then computer-games companies are certainly making a lot of money from us morons. A normal computer game sells for £40 and say that computer game is sold 10,000 times, which most do, then the amount of money made overall is £400,000! People who bad-mouth games don’t know how much hard work goes into making them. You could have a team of hundreds of dedicated people just on one game and the range of jobs could list from concept artists, digital artists, managers, musicians, voice actors, graphic designers and even artificial intelligence programmers — and that is barely scratching the surface.

A lot of people say that playing computer games will stop you from doing any sport but did you know that in certain places playing computer games has now actually become a sport and you can even get professional gamers, not just men either! These professionals play at tournaments and can win cash prizes ranging from £5,000 to £1 million. Computer games have now become such a large part of the world that we now have the computer game ‘Oscars’! This year it was hosted by Jonathan Ross and awards were given out ranging from best game, best shoot-’em-up and even best voice actor.

More proof that computer games aren’t for morons, did you know that the Army uses computer games to teach strategy and that pilots use computer games to train and learn special manoeuvres (they use flight simulators). Even Nasa uses types of programmes that are similar to computer games to plot spaceship courses and even record stars and planets.

I believe that I have shown you that computer games are not for morons. People from all walks of life play or have played computer games ranging from the everyday public to even the world’s best army. If there are still people who believe that computer games are for morons — and they still think that all those thousands of people that play them are morons — then I must be on of those morons.”

When all is dark, there will always be these games - glowing with light

RUPER TING: “Computer games are just for morons — morons like me! But why are they so special? What makes a teenager like me love them so much? A computer game is a stimulant; it allows you to enter a new and exciting world. If you are pathetic, like me, you can easily become addicted. A game gives your head a buzz and also twists your emotions. Your stomach becomes a squirming bag of nerves and excitement.

Computer games are especially good after a hard day at school; particularly if you have landed a double detention on a Friday evening! All you have to do is sit in front of a screen and pour all your frustration out on to the ugly monsters you are punching. And the only consequence of punching these things is a slight headache and pins and needles, or maybe cramp, at the end of the session.

When all the fun drains out of your day and the TV is showing Who Wants To Be A Millionnaire?; when the weather is crying a sea of rain, and you are close to dying of boredom, there will always be computer games welcoming you with open arms. It is a bit like when all lights are out, there will always be computer games, in the corner, glowing with a luminous light.

I am a big football fan and I was looking for a game that made the cross between football and computer games. I finally found it in the shape of Football Manager 2005. I was totally hooked on it and my whole summer holiday revolved round it: I’d spend day and night on it, literally without stopping. Me and a couple of friends would talk about it all day long.