In the age of technological advancement, the realm of entertainment and sport has become constricted within the domain of the housing and has now found a haven in the wizard of the technological age, the computer. Computer games with its advanced graphics and interesting storylines have come up to hog the attention of the younger generation across the entire globe. Ranging from multiplayer games to single player ones, from the most simplistic of them to the most complex of them all, computer games have become the new trending form of recreational activity. However, the positive and negative effects of the computer games need to be comprehended in the present day scenario when it has come up to occupy such a huge chunk of the lives of the future generations of the society.
Computer games are mainly popular among the children and teenagers as they feel it is a great way of having fun and relieving stress. These simulated forms of reality create a realm which gives the player a sense of omnipotence as his actions and choices define the progression or outcome of the games. However, they fail to understand that their own possible options and actions have already been recorded as algorithm in the software of the game and it is not a world where he is omnipotent. Rather, the gamer is so engrossed with the game that he believes it to be real. Computer games come with a vast range of options from various genres depending on the subjective choice of the player. Hit-man, Call of Duty, Need for Speed, FIFA and Sims are a few among the many games which are greatly popular. While finding solace of gaming, the individual may very well become less attentive of the real world and get addicted to the realm of games where he or she finds an escape to the superhuman world and elevated role-play which is absent from the reality which might start feeling ‘drab’.
However, it has been scientifically proven that indulging in playing the computer games can be beneficial for the development of the children’s cognitive skills. This comes from the participation in the simulated world which requires high level of thinking and abstraction. These things cannot be taught by any formal form of education. The gamers require abiding by the instructions and solve very complex problems using logic for proceeding in the game. These things are of much utility for the progression of the child or teenager into an adult.
In stark contrast to the developmental utility of computer games, it has also been argued that the violence which is a part of many of the games can have an adverse effect on the child or the teenager. Many of the popular games involve simulated bloodshed and have incentives for being more violent. Killing, shooting, stabbing are very common actions in the games. These can actually lead to an enhanced feeling of aggression in thoughts and behaviors of the people who play these games.
Thus, it is of paramount importance on the part of the guardians to be cautious in this regard. They need to keep in mind to check the rating of the games according to the contents. Thus, it can be ensured that children and teenagers do not have access to games which are believed to be inappropriate for them. There can also be time limits imposed on the wards for playing computer games. Parents need to be active in the process of knowing more about the mode of entertainment which their wards are opting for so that they can comprehend the possible problems and usefulness alike. Computer games have revolutionized the mode of entertainment for kids and teens and hence a better consciousness regarding this would pave the way for a better outcome.
Works Cited
“Advantages and Disadvantages of Gaming.” TeachICT.com. n.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.
<http://www.teach-ict.com/gcse_new/entertainment/games/miniweb/pg8.htm>
“Violent video games reduce teens’ self-control, study shows.” MNT. n.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec.
2013. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269400.php>
