Video Games Can Also Have Benefits

731 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Do video games promote violence and aggression to players

Video games have been accused of contributing too many acts of violence or aggression for decades. What the media misses is that video games have many benefits we haven’t found in any other media. Society should stop being afraid of video games and instead start looking forward to how we can best use them to benefit ourselves and our children. Anyone who doesn’t understand why needs only take a quick look at our society. It is commonly known that many children in the United States play video games. Even many heads of households play video games, too. Society is changing and non-gamers are being left behind.
Those born between the 1970 and now are growing up playing video games. These young adults have participated in the rapid development of video games from the most simple of games like Pong all the way to games like the super-realistic BioShock. The game of pong was very simple while BioShock is anything but simple. There are dozens of genres of video games, but the most controversial of which are “first person shooters”. These games also have a focus on violent game play where the main objective is to shoot enemies. Today’s young adults play many of these and have gained skills from them that were never anticipated. Depending upon the type of games they play, they may have a greater ability to: track visual information, process and make quick decisions, focus and complete complex tasks.
Some of the most controversial video games are also the ones with the greatest potential benefits. Fast-paced, “first person shooters” has been accused of being too violent, but the benefits gamers gain from playing them are astounding. It is only common sense that the only way to get good at something is to practice. Baseball players didn’t be...

... middle of paper ...

...me a part of our culture and a part of our lives in many ways. As a society we need to focus our energy and attention on how to use them to make our lives better. We’ve already seen situations that show how video games can be used to help with tasks that have real world applications. New research about the benefits of video games is coming out every year. It is time for us all to step forward and embrace the technology around us that has so many benefits. And for us to work together to make games work to our advantage which will not ruin our society as some would say, but instead enhance it. There is one thing we need to do every once in a while. We need to sit down and pick up a controller. We leave ourselves at a disadvantage if we refuse to gain the benefits out of false concerns regarding violence and aggression. As we can all agree video games are here to stay.

Show More
Related

  • Will Wright Dream Machine Summary

    1776 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Most reported effects of videogames – particularly in the popular press – appear to centre upon the alleged negative consequences… Research has consistently shown that playing computer games (irrespective of genre) produces reductions in reaction times, improved hand-eye co-ordination and raises players’ self-esteem,” (Griffiths p. 47), states Mark Griffiths in his article, “The educational benefits of videogames”. When people think of video games, they often tend to think about the negative side effects that video games can have on a person. Will Wright in his article, “Dream Machines” also defends video games by providing positive effects that video games have on those who play them. Wright presents

    Read More

  • Steven Johnson's Article: Why Games Are Good For You

    1399 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is often believed that children are better off spending more time reading books and less time zoning out in front of their video games. People claim that video games sanction and promote aggression and violent responses to conflict; and that most games are an immense waste of time. Steven Johnson, the author of “Why Games Are Good for You,” appreciates the virtues of reading books, but argues that playing video games may not be a complete waste of time. His purpose for writing this essay is to explain the impact of cybertechnology on human perception and communication, in which he defends the value of computer games. In his essay, Johnson fluctuates between the pros and cons of reading versus gaming to appeal to skeptics who believe video

    Read More

  • Avid Final Exam #20

    667 Words  | 2 Pages

    Now a day every video game has something violent going on. Such as in 2010 the top 20 games out in the market were violent related. When a kid sees in a video game that he can beat someone else up and get away with it they think they can do that in real life. This will increase bullying and kids are being taught not to bully. Every kid plays video games even if it’s a racing game or a shooting game. In 2008, 97% of kids from the age of 12-17 played video games. Most M rated games have sexual violence and when a kid sees that in a game and then beats the girl up. The crime rate for rape will increase as it has. A study in 2009 found that it only takes a child four minutes of playing a game to make him have aggressive and violent thoughts going through his head. The critics of violent video game has that bully has increase 32% because of violent video games. Also in the study when a child sees blood when beating up or killing someone in a game he will have more aggressive thoughts than normal.

    Read More

  • The Effects Of Violent Video Games: The Effects Of Violent Video Games?

    732 Words  | 2 Pages

    Not every video game causes post game aggression, but documented in his article, “Players who enacted in-game violence through a heroic character exhibited less postgame aggression than players who enacted comparable levels of in-game violence through an antiheroic character” (Sauer 205). As a graduate of Radboud University, Isabela Granic brings to light the reasons why the youth actually benefit from playing violent video games. For example, in her article, “The Benefits of Playing Video Games,” Granic illustrates the fact that children gain social skills, highly efficient motor skills, and the understanding of the human body as a whole. Noted by the author, “Whereas adolescents and adults often use self-disclosure and direct discussion with close friends to resolve emotional issues, children use play to work them out through pretend-based narratives enacted either alone or with others” (Granic 67).

    Read More

  • Essay On Violent Video Game Stereotypes

    1225 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first point that needs to be addressed is how video games are used for training purposes. Video games are used by the United States Army to train soldiers (Suellentrop). America’s Army helps the soldiers develop their fighting skills (Suellentrop). This video game also helps to teach soldiers how to learn to function as a team (Suellentrop). Along with the Army, video games train individuals how to respond in emergency situations (Issitt). Video games train people in many ways, even if it is unknown to many people how important they can be to society.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Do Video Games Kill By Karen Sternheimer

    666 Words  | 2 Pages

    The twenty-first century has opened the doors to many innovative and popular media advancements, including video games. Ever since their birth, video games have received unjust blame for many of the problems that corrupt our youth. In Karen Sternheimer’s “Do Video Games Kill?,” she presents many common misconceptions that video games receive claiming that they create violent behavior, and provides counter arguments to these accusations. Given the inaccurate depiction of violence related to videogames, Sternheimer effectively exposes the media for their faulty reports on this topic, and offers other factors as to why video games should not be perceived as “folk devils” (214). In response to the inaccurate depiction of violence related to videogames,

    Read More

  • Benefit Of Video Games Essay

    1266 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nowadays video games get nothing but bad reputations from people. There are people in powerful positions who are saying that video games have nothing but bad effects and they only promote violence which leads to children acting out in violent ways. Who are the ones listening to the people in these powerful positions; Parents. Some Parents have this misunderstanding that video games are bad and that they have a negative effects on their child’s minds and how they develop after playing them. The parents with that understanding are misinformed and need to understand just how beneficial video games can actually be for their children. Although, some parents think that video games offer nothing but

    Read More

  • Violent Video Games

    1308 Words  | 3 Pages

    Research has shown that violent video games will not turn people, more specifically teenagers, into psychotic killers. Video games are more of a hobby, or addicting obsession amongst teens. In fact, crime in America has been reduced because video games act as a way to vent out any anger or urges that can go through teenagers “Imaginary Guns”. “Teenagers are able to understand the difference of video game violence and reality”. Video games are said to be a poor influence on the younger generation of kids. Even so, more and more individuals, teenagers count in the category, are starting to play video games on a day to day basis. Video games are a form of entertainment to the new generation, just as songs are heard and television is watched by many individuals around the globe. Video games are interactive entertainment that actually can “work out” the brain by having to think of strategies in order to progress in a game or things of that matter. Video games have many positive effects on the brain and can keep the brain active by doing interactive objectives that video games have to offer. Let’s say an individual were playing a video game having to solve various amounts of puzzles in order to solve a murder case and catch the criminal, or maybe even find missing pieces of a puzzle just to unlock a gate. All these activities keep the brain active and focused on what a person(s) trying to accomplish in the game. This activity will expand the imagination and the brains way of thinking to solve each puzzle or event that plays out in interactive games.

    Read More

  • Violent Video Games and Increased Aggression

    1900 Words  | 4 Pages

    One article points out that video games have a big impact on children’s lives and that many of the games played are violent. Researchers have found that “nearly all children spend time playing video games” and studies have found that “8th graders spent an average of 17 hours per week playing video games” (Tamborini 336). Moreover, 68% of the most popular video games contain violence (Tamborini 336). So it is clear that many children have access to violent video games and they have a big impact on their lives simply because of the amount of time spent playing them.

    Read More

  • How Technology Effects Children

    3455 Words  | 7 Pages

    By far the largest concern of technology today is video games. There have been so many experiments and studies to try and figure out if video games have a negative or positive effect on our children. A growing body of research is linking violent video game play to aggressive cognitive, attitudes and behaviors (D.A. Gentile, 2004). Video games can obviously be dangerous for our children causing aggression, bad performances in school and obesity. Although we cant blame all of these problems on the use of video game...

    Read More

  • Do violent video games lead to violence?

    768 Words  | 2 Pages

    Violent video games help the players in their way of thinking. In many researches these games can be used to train soldiers and surgeons because they train the brain to make quick decisions, also they help with managing resources that are limited and deciding the best use of these resources, like in shooting games the player must coordinate brain’s interpretation and reaction with the movement in his hands and fingertips, which requires a great deal of eye-hand coordination. However, violent video games change brain function in young men whereas there is plenty of evidence to prove that these games have a prolonged negative neurological effects, which may translate into behavioral changes over long periods of game play. For example, if a person listens to classical music all day, at some point, he will start to sing the melodies, the same way as if a person plays violent video game all day, he will start to believe that violence is normal. In addition, according to many researches those who play the violent video games h...

    Read More

  • Violent Video Games Contribute to Youth Violence

    1447 Words  | 3 Pages

    In a society driven by technology, video games are becoming more popular each and everyday. People of all ages enjoy video games in their free time; these games allow the player to become an athlete, a soldier, or a professional fighter at the tip of their fingers. The biggest problem with these video games is that they are becoming too violent. In today’s society, children often brag about the new video game they bought, and the number of people they have managed to kill while playing these games. Video games have become realistic, causing them to intrigue a larger amount of children. Many of these violent video games encourage killing and fighting of enemies, or strangers in the game. Each year a new game system, and hundreds of video games are released, and millions of kids go out and buy them and spend hours playing. Video games have a large effect on school performance and time spent with family. Children would prefer to play their games than sit down and talk with their parents (Saleem, 2012).

    Read More

  • Benefits of Playing Video Games

    1776 Words  | 4 Pages

    Video games have been argued about for decades. Some people have argued that video games are linked to violence. However, new research shows that video games can be used for therapeutic purposes, exercise, stress relievers, positive interactive learning, hand eye coordination, and different types of patient treatment for people all around the world.

    Read More

  • Effects of Video Games on Children and Teenagers

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    In recent years, technology has developed very rapidly. This has led to many arguably both positive and negative changes in our everyday lives. One such change was the increased accessibility of personal computers and gaming consoles as well as the introduction of numerous video games. Due to their entertainment value, these games gained popularity among children and teenagers. Although many concerns have been voiced related to playing video games, especially those that are violent, [e.g., increases in aggressive behavior in children (Anderson & Bushman, 2001)], this paper will argue that certain video games also have beneficial effects. They should thus be played by children, teenagers and adults alike albeit with caution.

    Read More

  • Esports: Next Generation of Athlete Culture

    1993 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout the course of history, individuals have enjoyed playing sports. Whether it would be throwing a football, sprinting around the track, or kicking a soccer ball; sports have been a popular activity worldwide. The determination and expertise needed to play sports at the highest level has made it a challenging yet enjoyable activity. However in the recent years, sports have slowly drifted off from it’s traditional roots of physical prowess and into competitions of mental proficiencies. With the exponential growth of technology worldwide, it is not uncommon for the average household to have a computer, PS4, Xbox One, or even a Nintendo 3DS. In fact, the introduction of new technological entertainment has served as a gateway for the new generation of athlete culture; video games. As a result of the growth of video games, Esports (short for ‘Electronic Sports’) is slowly being integrated into athlete culture worldwide through its spectacular foundations, overwhelming popularity, vast prize pools, and recognition by official authorities.

    Read More

More about Video Games Can Also Have Benefits

Open Document