Talking to Video Games

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I have an 11 y/o cousin who I've always suspected of having Asperger's. He's having problems in school and his parents don't really pay any attention to him. His grandmother, who lives with them, tries to help but she's a bit clueless or in denial about his behaviors.

Is it normal for an 11 y/o child to talk almost non-stop to his video games that he's playing? My cousin is obsessed with Minecraft, and he sits at the computer and talks non-stop. I can't understand what he says because he's so excited when he plays that it makes his speech problem more prominent. I have no idea who or what he's actually talking to. He can't be talking to anyone over the internet or through the game because there is no microphone connected to the computer. He's defintely not talking to anyone in the room.

What's worse is that he does this at school. There was one day where he didn't go on a class trip so he had to go to the media room for a few hours. He was permitted to play educational games on the computer and he spent the entire time talking to the video game. I know one of the staff members there and she told me about it. She said she was really disturbed because most kids don't do that, and if they do, it's not to the same extent.

I asked his parents and grandmother about it and they don't seem concerned. His grandmother indicated she thought he does it because he's lonely, but that's not what I'm seeing. It just doesn't seem normal to me (I really hate to use the word "normal" but I'm not sure what else to use). I can't help but wonder if this may be part of the reason he gets picked on in school. I have no idea what actually goes on his classroom.

I guess I'm just concerned because no one really pays attention to him and he's miserable. I feel like if I don't step up and try to do something, that something bad will happen within the next year or two.

Does anyone think that his talking to his video games is something to be concerned about? I'd like to hear thoughts and opinions about it. Thanks.

I am just totally guessing here, but, since speaking is a left-brain (logic) function, it might be a way for him to regulate or pace his other left-brain functions like playing a game that requires multiple and rapid recognitions and processes.

I wouldn't say that all games are bad, but I do believe the violence of most games is unnecessary.

EDIT: In fact, I do this a little when motor-vehicle traffic is congested. Talking to myself about how I need to drive to be safer (and away from the congestion) helps me think about my driving more clearly.

I talk to myself so much that my family is used to it. I don't have hallucinations or delusions that anyone is listening, I just enjoy thinking out loud. I try not to do it in public places, though, because I know that would make me sound insane. Perhaps you could find a nice way to point out to your cousin that it makes people think he's crazy when he talks to video games in public. If he wants to do it in the comfort of his own home, however, I don't see any harm in that.

it could be many different things. he may just be lonely, or bored. he may actually be talking to others in the minecraft game(as its primarily a shared online world type of game(more so on the xbox, but the pc also has that option).
i talk to games too, and computers.. usually when frustraited tho. and normally it's a bunch of jumbled up words but i know what i mean and since im not actually speaking in a back and forth kind of convo with the game neccessarily, i figure it doesnt have to actually be solid words(which would take a great deal of effort to form them and to get my mouth to cooperate (abilities come and go, but verbal heartfelt communication is a general difficulty for me).

my little brother used to get mad at the video games and would start crying.. hes not diagnosed with autism, but i think he does, because of many different reasons.

My younger brother (17 years old) talks to video games all the time. I know he has been diagnosed with sensory issues (not autism although he might have HFA). He yells at his video games quite a bit. It's almost like he's an announcer. I have seen him in younger years doing the same while playing basketball. "He shoots. He scores!" I guess we just got used to it. That's how he is.

By itself it doesn't mean a whole lot. NTs even talk to the TV when their sports teams are playing and stuff. I agree there could be any of number of reasons he is doing it. If he is aspie he might be less likely to care if he looks weird doing it, but that is about it.

My son is 5 (ASD) and he talks out load to himself constantly.

I mean every time he's alone or playing by himself he talks out loud, every day. Playing toys, watching movies, often just sitting in the backseat of the car during car rides. He doesn't care if we're in the same room with him or if he's upstairs by himself. That's just part of who he is and since he's not hurting anyone it doesn't concern me much. I know he does it at school sometimes as well but it's a difficult thing to address. He gets embarrassed and hates to talk about it if I bring it up.