Gaming Gone Wild

In this day and age, gaming is a very big part of not only teens', but adults' lives too. I wouldn't say that I am an avid video game player, but I definitely enjoy playing every once in a while. Games like Rock Band spark my interest because it's a fun game, it allows you to challenge yourself and beat your own score, and it's a great game for playing with a group. Whether you are playing or watching, there's something entertaining to do. Playing video games is not something I enjoy doing for hours at a time, and I know that I eventually will have to take a break for reading, exercising, and socializing.

While I find games like Rock Band harmless, there are other, more violent games I think have a negative impact on youth today. People need to realize that video games are fantasy, and that reality needs to be kept separate. In a lot of games today, gamers have an endless supply of lives and resources, while in reality, that is quite the opposite. We do not have an infinite number of lives, and shooting people, and committing other crimes in video games would have very serious consequences in the real world. People need to realize that games are not to be taken seriously. Games also have negative effects on youth because they make the games their lives, some even skipping school, and other responsibilities just to play in a virtual world.

Another part of gaming is the ability to play online. Playing in a game "online" allows you to connect with other real people, and play together, or compete against each other. This allows for some healthy competition if you don't always have another person to play against, as well as improving communication skills. The disadvantage to this is that you never really know who you're playing against, as your opponent may not always be who they say they are.

Some games are educational, improving reading and writing skills, such as Brain Age. The point of the game is to do timed puzzles, math problems, and matching problems, trying to earn a better score each time. There are also games like Roller Coaster Tycoon, leaving the gamer to plan out an amusement park, and manage money while also keeping customers happy. I have played both, and both are very fun to play. But this leaves me wondering if youth today actually pay attention to, and grasp the educational aspects of these games? Playing both games myself, I found myself giving up if the questions were too challenging in Brain Age. Also, I didn't really find myself properly managing the amusement park, often purposely putting roller coasters in the park without a finished track, laughing when the car would shoot off the end into nothing, and charging $100 to use the bathroom, seeing what the outcome would be.

All in all, I would guess most games are harmless, as long as the gamer knows when enough is enough, and knows not all things in games are equal to reality, or to be taken seriously.