Ministers seek to better understand video games

< /figure>By Sam FrancisPolitical Reporter, BBC News

Government wants to know more about Britain's booming video game industry, including whether its products are harmful to health mental health of users.

Some of the world's best-selling games, including Grand Theft Auto and Football Manager, are made in the UK.

< p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg -Paragraph eq5iqo00">More than half of UK adults play video games and the industry contributes £2.8 billion to the UK economy.

But the government says not enough research has been done on how it can benefit the wider economy.

He also wants research on how games can be used to improve learning skills and promote "positive relationships, perceptions and behavior" among players.

Researchers were also asked to investigate whether companies use unethical methods to get players to gamble.

Several studies have shown that research into the psychological effects of video games has been hampered by a lack of data.