Even their roommate, just visible in the background playing computer games, gets celebrity treatment.

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Robert Coben, a neuropsychologist on Long Island, has recently published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Neurotherapy a study of autistic children who, by playing special computer games, have improved connections among neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes, resulting in fewer repetitive behaviors, better socialization and improved language skills.

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"It may be easy for you, but for me it's the most terrifying thing in the world, " says Joe, who is currently spending his days playing computer games with friends and occasionally practicing rugby with his father in the scorching 48 degree Celsius August heat.

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Coalition military leaders examine these and other "what-ifs" time and again in "war games" and computer exercises, using "red teams" playing the role of enemy.

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With the advent of computer games, the way people look at role-playing games is different than it was in 1980.

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He established his first studio Adventures Unlimited Software, Inc. in 1983, where he acted as the lead designer and programmer of several fantasy role-playing computer games.

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