Deputy permanent secretary Maneerat Plipat presided over the "Dek Chob Game Sang Game" (Game-loving kids build computer games themselves) contest and the award ceremony in Bangkok.

She presented prizes to the top winners.

Seventeen-year-old Akkarapol Phumpreuk beat 40 other contestants for first place with his "laser game" painting.

Fourteen-year-old Thanachart Piancharoensak's "bouncing away from monsters game" painting took second place. He was trailed by 13-year-old Kanthiya Chanhom's "marine park adventure game" entry.

The three won cash prizes of Bt10,000, Bt5,000 and Bt3,000.

The ministry will also sponsor the youngsters to join a training course for designing computer games.

The contest was part of the ministry's project to tackle computer-game addiction after global studies found that youths who spent three hours daily playing computer games for 15 straight weeks could be considered junkies.

They are also likely to develop certain characteristics, according to the studies.

Firstly, they play games ahead of other activities. Second, they start to lose their social contacts, and finally, they ignore meals and other activities. Some observers fear the violent content of games contributes to aggressive behaviour among youths.