Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, January 9, 1995                   TAG: 9501090081
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ALLEN DECLARES: NO MORE GAMES

But for all three and thousands of other state employees in Virginia, the games are over.

Concerned that some state workers were playing when they should be working, Gov. George Allen has ordered that games be deleted from every state-owned computer. An administration memo called computer game-playing ``nonproductive and nonefficient'' and stated that ``time spent by employees playing such games should be considered an improper use of taxpayer funds.''

The memo was passed out to agency heads in mid-December but, because of the holidays, began making its way to workers only last week, raising the eyebrows of many, including secretaries and university professors.

``It's getting to a level of micromanagement beyond the usual,'' said Robert L. Ake, a chemistry professor and chairman of the faculty senate at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. ``What's next? Will we be asked to submit a requisition when we walk away from our desk or be asked to keep a tally of every second of our day?''

As computers with high-resolution color screens and sound cards become ubiquitous in the American workplace, managers increasingly are having to deal with issues of game-playing at work, industry specialists say.

Some corporations turn a blind eye, hoping that a few minutes of game-playing will increase workers' morale and productivity. Others have taken to reminding employees to refrain from playing games during work hours. But several computer industry watchers call Virginia's sweeping ban - which eliminates playing even during lunchtime and breaks - unprecedented.

``I've never heard of anything like this applying to so many people,'' said Russell Glitman, executive editor of PC World magazine. ``It's a question of where you draw the line.''

A spokeswoman for the governor said the ban was conceived because Allen and Chief of Staff Jay Timmons had received complaints from some state employees that their co-workers were spending too much time playing games - many of which were pre-installed on new computers.

Over the last three years, several state offices have upgraded their computers and purchased Microsoft Corp.'s popular Windows operating software, which includes two games: solitaire, a card game, and Minesweeper, a logic puzzle made up of square tiles. Some versions of Windows contain other diversions, including the card game hearts.

According to Microsoft, the games are intended to help new Windows users become familiar with the point-and-click functions of the computer's mouse. But for many, the seemingly innocuous training exercises can turn into an addiction.

Emerson, a secretary in the physics department at James Madison University, started playing solitaire two months ago, when she was given a new computer. At first, she played to get accustomed to the mouse. Soon, though, it was as essential as her morning cup of coffee.

``I'd play it before work started,'' said Emerson, 34, who has gone cold turkey since she heard about the ban. ``It was great to get the blood pumping.''

Although Virginia may be one of the largest employers to crack down so severely, other organizations recently have started to rein in games. Sears, Roebuck and Co. is removing some games from its employees' new computers.