Can't we all just play along?
I have been playing video games since I was a little Guendarva. I remember the cool games like Pac Man, Space Invaders, Frogger, and Donkey Kong. I never thought that there was anything wrong with playing a simple video game until I did a little research on the net.
I found out that in the year 2000 video games were a $6 billion dollar industry. I guess that you can imagine how much that number has gone up in 4 years. (You'll have to since I couldn't find that statistic :-P) What I also learned, is that roughly 145 million people play video games. With a number like that are you even surprised that they did a study? Me either.
I did some more exploring and found some studies of the effects of video games. Unfortunately, they were all done on children, and since most of the people I play with are adults, I figured I would make a questionnaire to help you figure out if you are addicted to games, or if they are having a negative affect on you. (I'm helpful like that.) Kids, you can use it too!
"Remember me? We're related."-Do video games take away from your loved ones? When you know that you should take out the garbage or get a tongue lashing, do you forget because you had to take back DF from the Hibs just one more time?
"Video games are good. No, bad."- I have heard of video games being a bad influence on people because they will cause little Guendarva to go out and T.P. a house. Could it be that video games keep us away from such awful acts? What about books, some of them say negative things, but does it mean that I will go out and do them?
"Hello, my name is Guendarva." -Do you know how to act at a party? Do you realize that shaking someones hand is an appropriate greeting? I have heard people say that playing video games to much can take away a persons social skills.
You might be a hermit if-Do you remember what color the sky is? Do you still hear from your friends? Do you have friends? Do video games keep you in the house too much? Are you having your meals in front of your PC? Do you call your PC by its first name? Then, you might be a hermit.
Going Postal-Did you ever forget that you were just playing a game, and physically pick up you PC by the head and smash it against the wall? There have been claims made that violent video games make people violent. How about this: they were violent to begin with!
I guess that some of these questions could make an avid player mad. So, to help you out, I made a list of positive come backs to use when you have been accused by one of the above mentioned statements.
*One way to get some sun and make sure that you still remember to feed your dog is to limit your playing time. Try setting an alarm or have someone remind you that it is time to get off because, "the sky is falling!"
*Let people know how hard you work in school or at your 9 to 5. Besides, the game is your haven.
*Tell people how you make friends on PvP games. Tell them that PvP friends are better because you can fight each other and still be friends.
*Remember that the family who plays together stays together. Buy your spouse or parents the game for their PC so everyone spends quality time together.
*Sound smart and tell your friends and family that, video games improve your spatial skills, (accuracy),iconic skills, (memory of images), and computer literacy ,(when you are able to find the asterisk sign).
After all people, we are living in the computer age. What do you think?
