Computer Games - Educational or Time Drain?

My kids love computer games-- I mean seriously love them. If they had their way, they would live in front of the computer screen. I always see articles now and then about how school are trying to use computer and video games as educational tools, and while I don't doubt it could be possible, I am definitely very skeptical about the whole idea.

Fischer, my oldest (10) is totally hooked on that "War of Warcraft" game. When I brought this up at work, one of my employees remarked that addicted fans of the game have actually died from playing too much! I hard a time believing this, but it's actually true--a few gamers simply didn't sleep, eat, or get enough fluids--ie. they could not tear themselves away from the computer screen. Crazy!

But let's not get hysterical. I don't actually believe any of my kids is in any danger. I monitor their time in front of the computer. Fischer gets 1 hour on Thursdays, and 6 hours over the weekend, and that's it for the week. I'd like him to spend less time ideally, but I remember how forbbiden things were all the more appealing when I was a kid.

So what do you all think? Do you have an tricks to make computer games seem less cool, than say...riding a bike or starting their own kids garden? I've always figured if I can't make computer games seem less fun, maybe I can at least try to make other activities seem fun. What do you all do? Or do you see a real potential for computer games to be instructive and positive?