Teenagers resent adults who take away their livelyhood, so explain to them WHY you are taking it away, make sure they understand why, and how they could earn their Xbox back. By the way they'll be beyond mad at you, but if you REALLY want to help them get over their obsession, dont give into it.

Briget, Monroe, USA

First of all to the parents I am so sorry. We can only do our best when parenting our children.Some of it is up to them and sometimes the unimaginable happens.NOW COME ON PARENTS. Most of these systems are equipped with a password.DON'T give them the password. Make them ask to use it.

Tanya, Edmonton, Canada

Well I am extremly sorry to hear about all of these problems but it is up to YOU the parents to stop your children playing games. I personally have not experienced anything of a sort and I have played M rated games and up for about 8 years now. And Im only 15. So blame yourselves not the games.

Tom, Perth, Australia

My 14 year old son is severly addicted to xbox live. He wont participate in any family things anymore. He can not be away from it. I dont know how he gets through school each day without it. He has become verbally abusive whenever he is confronted about this problem.He will run if I take it away

Linda, Wolcott, USA

That's why there's ESRB ratings people, it's not for nothing. I've just read a mom's question on Yahoo! Answers; she said her son wanted to play COD4. She stated that it said M for blood, strong violence and strong language, while THE FIRST TWO DO NOT TROUBLE HER! That's insane!

Thomas, Erstfeld, Switzerland

This is very sad, and yet it is indicative of the state of society. It is estimated that 10% of gamers are addicted to video games, and the estimates are even higher for those who play MMORPGs. Parents and players need to be aware of the risks and how to avoid addiction.

Kim, Medford, USA

A terrible tragedy indeed. The developers of the game as well as those of the game console would be devestated to know that their intent to entertain young teenagers somehow led to this disaster...

Ji Han Hyo, Changwon, South Korea

My deepest condolences to the family.
What a terrible tragedy. They are saying that no foul play is suspected. It was snowing when he left in just a tee shirt.

Julie, St. Thomas, Canada

My deepest condolonce to the family..

Dahya, Selangor, Malaysia

It is ture Gaming has become a addiction for many people. I was one fo these people,I would play all night and day. I'd work and play xbox,sleep every day for 4 years until i met my beautiful girlfriend.I still play but not as much, its a addiction you can't control and can get out of control fast.

Joshua Lockwood, Berlin, USA

I am not clear whether or not he killed himself or something awful happened to him at the hands of someone else...does anyone know? A very tragic ending to a young person's life.

Bonnie, Charlotte, USA

So your saying that that playing video games is not normal? Maybe there some other issues going on, people always like to take the easy way and blame video games or music. Lets look at the big picture first ok?

Johny, Florida,

I'm sad, I can't find the words. I have teenage sons.. my heart goes out to this family/

Rosie, Brossard, Canada

What was the manner of death?

joe, oklahoma city, usa

My heart goes out to the father. Let's be honest - a healthy social lifestyle for teenagers should include physical contact (face to face) amongst peers such as pool halls, football games, Youth organizations - not constant online gaming; that is a privilege that a teen should earn for being normal.

Markiskenny, Metairie, USA

WoW: 11 million kids in virtual combat, many of whom steal money or live off their parents so they can ebay for better equipment for their avatar. Iceland suffers from a pandemic of this youth culture; related to the economic collapse there. Social skill brain chemistry is changed by the games.

Zen, London,

Parents need to be aware what their kids are playing. I use to work for toys r us and was surprised how many parents would be buying somthing not even knowing that you had to be 18 to purchase. WAKE UP and BE AWARE

Jason, New Albany, IN , USA

Think Call of Duty is bad? Check out Saints Row 2, it makes Grand Theft Auto look like a Mickey Mouse trip to Disneyland.

Ben, New York, USA

The online games now substitute for pool halls ....these boys and girls do form social skills with their gaming peers. Gaming should be viewed as positive with peers the parents know (our children game with their cousins, and others, but the cousins make up a huge "team" and police one another).

Molly Michaels, Orange TX, USA

My heart goes out to that family. We have a 14 yr old boy that plays online and we make sure he does other things. It needs pointed out that this is an extreme case. Yes, games can be addictive, just like any other "drug" but in this case the boy ran off. My question is...what happened to him? ????

Charles, Lenoir, NC,

What a sad sad story! My prayers to the family. Unless I missed it the article does not state how the boy died. Does anyone know? Was he murdered, committ suicide, how did he die?

Ella, houston, Unites States

Wow, this is really sad. I beleive they are not ba dparents at all they were trying to get their son back from the obsession that is xbox live. My little brother has this sort of obsession. We are trying to break him down but its hards. My condolences to the family.

Clay Coleman, sumter, United States of America

It's not the parents fault at all. Brandons reality was his Xbox. When his dad took it away he probably freaked.. I'm not trying to put words in other peoples minds, but i know from first hand experience how addictive an Xbox can be.

Isaac, tullahoma, TN, United states

You have my deepest sympathy over your loss. I also understand about these video games. I don't allow any violent games to be played in my house by ANYONE including adults do to having children who are bi-polar, ADHD, and mood disorder. These are not kinds of game children need to be playing.

Angie, Camden, USA

Ok...let's blame most entertainment venues. The message encourages rebellion, that all authority and morality is wrong, that you're not slim enough, tall enough, sexy enough or cool enough. It promotes unfaithfulness, selfishness and self centredness. The movies are rife with violence and gore.

J. Mahoney, Kelowna, Canada

i know exactly what he's talking about when he says "its like cutting his legs off"
I played Call of Duty 4 and it was an obsession. Its like a drug for teenagers. I learned to control my obsession but others can have a hard time with it im sure. i CANT STAND when i get mine taken away.

Isaac, Tullahoma, TN, United States

Anyone who prostelyzes that these games are not addictive obviously do not have a teenager who plays them 12 hours or more a day. This is where they get their recognition, success, and other re-inforcing feedback just by pushing buttons. Serious gamers are addicts.

Peter, Palm Springs,

Although I feel horrible for the family and my deepest sympathies and my prayers go to them, society cannot blame a video game for the actions of anyone, angry teenagers included. There is obviousy more to this story than is being reported. Blame games then u have to blame all entertainment venues.

Joe Catalano, long island, ny, usa

It doesn't sound to me like the Crisps are bad parents at all. I think the fact they tried to intervene is proof they were trying to re-gain control of the situation. My heart goes out to the family.

Mellie, Cleveland, TN, USA

God bless that boy. I have a 14 yr old son. We found out he had been "dating" a girl and found it not appropriate at his age and told him he was not allowed to see her on an alone basis. Since then he hasn't been himself and after reading this he's getting a huge hug when I get home tonight.

Gary, Duxbury, MA, USA

My 15 yr old stepson seems addicted to video games but we took it away once his grades slipped; they improved . We're good parents, we talk & have family activities. Sometimes these games take on a life of their own. Parents, its fine to play these games but please monitor what they play & how often

Denise, New Jersey, USA

I'm so sorry for the loss of your son. I hope you are able to get the answers you are looking for. I am the mother of a 15 year old son myself and my world would shatter if I lost him.

tina, atlanta, ga, usa

The teen mind is complex even to the best parents. I have 6 children, spend time with them and raised them to be upstanding citizens. They're all loved and respected in our community, but it's not always easy with situations at school, relationships go bad, depression, addictions, things happen.

Robin, BRADFORD, USA

Perry Acosta and others, have we forgotten that teenagers are in fact teenagers, yes they can be moody, even agressive but this is a mix of age and hormones, this situation where the child run away is a one off , we dont i think know the whole story locking kids and teens away steals childhoods.

scott mclelland, glasgow,

Im so sorry to hear your of your loss,i have a 15yr old son..
hes so moody and hardly speaks to me,he doesnt seem angry,
he seems depressed,but he says he just has nothing to say..
i cant lock him up so i have to let him play outside but i worry ..
i think what happened to your son can happen to any

Perry Acosta, prarieville,la., usa