Nintendo games to carry health warning

NINTENDO video game systems are to carry a warning about their possible effects on epileptics, the company announced yesterday.

The move follows concern that the games can trigger seizures in people suffering from photosensitive epilepsy. A booklet will accompany all Nintendo systems warning that certain physiological reactions such as muscle twitching, altered vision or mental confusion could be experienced by some epileptic players.

At the same time, the National Society for Epilepsy published a fact sheet about the effects of the games. Dr David Fish, a consultant neurophysiologist who produced the leaflet, said the chances of a seizure were very small.