A married couple in their early 20s was so obsessed with online video games that their two babies became severely malnourished.

Michael Straw, 25, and wife Iana Straw, 23, residing in Reno, Nevada, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts each of child neglect. The babies, a boy age 22 months and a girl age 11 months, are now in foster care after their parents starved them.

The Straw couple could spend a maximum of 12 years in prison for neglecting their children. The two babies were severely malnourished when taken to hospital by authorities last month.

The little girl’s head had to be shaved by hospital staff because it was matted with cat urine. She also suffered from a mouth infection, dry skin and severe dehydration. She weighed only 10 pounds, according to the police.

The little boy likewise needed treatment for starvation. He had a genital infection and his lack of muscle development made it difficult to walk.

Public prosecutor Kelli Ann Viloria said both children are recovering well, have gained weight and are now in foster care.

Their parents completely neglected them because they were too engrossed in computer games, especially “Dungeons & Dragons,’ Viloria said. There was food in the house, but the two were just too busy playing to feed the babies, the public prosecutor commented.

Michael Straw was an unemployed cashier and Iana worked for a temporary staffing agency doing warehouse work. Money was apparently not an issue though, as Straw inherited $50,000 (£25,000) and chose to spend it on computer equipment and a large plasma screen television, according to authorities.

Discussions on the topic of video game addiction being a mental disorder have been going on for some time now. While experts of the American Medical Association are still deliberating, it is clear that a psychological problem does exist.

Patrick Killen, spokesman for Nevada Child Abuse Prevention, said linking video game addiction with child neglect is “a new spin on an old problem.”

“As we become more technologically advanced, there's more distractions,” Killen said. “It's easy for someone to get addicted to something and neglect their children. Whether it's video games or meth, it's a serious issue, and (we) need to become more aware of it.”