Industry figures have defended the role of video games

The message forms part of the Edinburgh International Games Festival, which is holding events for schoolchildren to create their own games.

Children at the Royal Museum are designing characters, as well as writing dialogue and storylines.

The games industry has denied claims that it is responsible for creating couch potatoes and promoting violence.

Last month, the Dixons group decided not to sell a controversial Edinburgh-developed video game, Manhunt, because the family of a murdered boy linked it to his death.

Children say that playing violent games is a way for them to get rid of their frustrations Judy Robertson Edinburgh University

The manufacturers have denied there is any connection between on-screen violence and real life.

Other events at the festival include game screenings, game-play sessions and a two-day conference.

Games creators and publishers from the UK, Japan and Canada are expected to attend.

Festival director Lisa Fox said: "What we've tried to do is appeal to everyone. So we have a trade conference and two consumer events, which give the public the chance both to get hands-on with the games and to meet the people who make them.

"It's a place to explore the art and the business of interactive entertainment."

'World-leading talent'

Dr Judy Robertson, of Edinburgh University, said some children had told her during computer games workshops that playing violent games did not result in violence in real life.

She said: "Children say that playing violent games is a way for them to get rid of their frustrations, they get rid of their anger and take things out on the characters in the computer games rather than people in the playground."

Chris Van Der Kuyl, of VIS Entertainment, said it wanted to make games which were fun and entertaining.

He said video gaming is "the biggest entertainment industry in the 21st century".