Introduction
For a good period now the gaming industry particularly child play has experienced tremendous increase in the modes and styles of presentation. Southwell and Doyle (391) note that while most people thought that the gaming industry was only meant for the juvenile mind, the reverse is happening with more adults and middle aged people indulging in video games. Video games as defined by numerous scholars refer to an interactive platform between the user and the machines used to present interactive graphical simulations. It is therefore essential a software that runs on hardware, computer or on a video console. The hardware upon which it runs requires memory which is encrypted in several forms and with a defined operational capacity. Players then control the way the software relates to the internal compositions by clicking or pressing specific control buttons. The interactions between a player and the gadget in use result to an amusing or scenario of fun; what is essentially referred to as the game.
There have been attempts to define a mutually exclusive video game by various scholars. Despite this, the question of genre has always eluded the basic understanding in the normal convention categorization (Squire 15). While some games are definitive of their genres others reflect a totally different scenario to their composition. Most game names represent their nature. For instance, Gamespot.com a major video game website categorizes games into different genres as, adventure games, driving games, puzzle games, motor sports, car rush, simulation et cetera. This is a representation of the different classes and types of games based on their contents. Other specifications may exist, but all definitions of genres will fall under similar inclinations as far as content is concerned. Games touching on sports have been advanced and developed by various companies. There also exist sports centered on education, which include testing learners’ manipulative skills and the ability to juggle through a number of factors (Shanon et al. 639). Whichever the game developed, there are always instincts of an educating part as shall be explicated in this essay.
Just as expostulated above, video games range from one type to another. Sport exercise is one area where video games have really played a large impact in terms of utilizing the creativity and imaginations surrounding the field of games. Games such as motor sport, car rallies, motor bike riding, boxing, athletics, and soccer have been maximally utilized in terms of exploration. Major companies majoring in the development of software of games have a bias towards this genre. Powell (484) states that the sport industry is one of the heavily developed in terms of video game development. Major software engineers and graphic designers have always been on the look out to capture real images and use them to develop games, which are then adjusted in the virtual world. It therefore means that video games bring a sense of livelihood and real time in form of entertainment. This has been developed through a variety of ways.
Some games have developed to real time effects in the gaming industry. This has been achieved through use of sophisticated hardware and expertise. Games as this involve the person playing to move in real time whole the virtual person they are playing with moves with every step that they make.
Benefits of video games
Although most people particularly parents consider video games as having detrimental effects on the youth, there are a variety of benefits associated with them. Many a psychologists agree with this proposition. Becker-Olsen and Norberg (84) asserted that video games have immeasurable benefits ranging from one cognitive aspect to another. Skills imparted by video games are often in multiplicity range. This involves abstract and high level thinking skills. This are not even taught at school. Some of the skills taught include the use of instructions in a fast paced learning environment, problem solving and hand-eye co-ordination through a refinery of motor and spatial skills (Becker and Norberg 84).
In some games particularly intruder games where persons are required to shoot and run from the enemy at the same time there is a variety of skills which are tested and inculcated in the players. This will involve time estimation, calculations of the enemy’s second move, dodging or ducking from bullets and so forth. These skills require co-ordination, strong hand-eye movement and attention that is sustained for a long time. Once this is done then there is a tendency of those involved in sophisticated video games to manifest strong psychomotor skills, improved attention and improved brain active brain activity. Polman et al. (259) acknowledge that video games have helped a great deal in honing the skills of different professions. Research shows that fighter pilots of the modern warfare are more accurate and better placed when compared to their counterparts in the recent past. This has been attributed to the weaning that is reminiscent of video games. Most children who have the love of playing video games develop a talent in an area where it was interesting for them to pursue. Therefore video games have also been shown to shape careers and determine where one is bound to land as a result of the influence.
Another skill that is developed as a result of indulgence in video games is resource management. This can be majorly seen in games that require the players to utilize resources very well; otherwise they lose in the game. Games such as SimCity and Railroad tycoon have a practice that can lead to development of these skills. Quick thinking and multitasking skills are also developed through gamers that require use of fast paced thinking in taking multiple actions and executing objectives of the game. Children and even adults who have a habit of playing such games develop good multitasking skills as compared to their counterparts who do not indulge in them.
Reading and mathematical skills are also boosted in the computer games world. His-Peng and Wang (505) states that when members involve themselves in the gaming period, they are forced to read instructions and follow them to the latter. If one fails to follow instructions then they are bound to fail in the game. Video games boost the learners’ language skill by learning how to interpret every instruction given and following them. Games which involve language tricks and test of vocabulary also enhance an individual’s ability to learn language better. New words and jargon are developed through indulgence in such games. The use of video games in the learning environment is a very vital thing that should not be ignored or dismissed on the basis of addiction. While most parents disapprove the use of video games based on a presumption of addiction and time wasting, they should also note that these games play a vital role in the linguistic and psychomotor skill of their children.
Mathematical operations and statistical analysis skills are also imparted through games that require mathematical analysis or sequencing for achieving an answer or progressing to the next level. People who use these types of games develop the skill of mathematical analysis. Quick thinking and making concrete decisions is also imparted through repeated response search. According to cognitive scientist, Daphe Bavelier at the University of Rochester, video games can be used to train doctors and soldiers the relevant areas such as war and surgery (Marko et al. 599). This would bring a greater level of understanding of the real situation on the ground.
Video games also play a major role in introducing adults to the computer world. The world has really changed with the advent of the internet and advanced technology. Through video games children and adults are introduced to computers, and through playing the games they are introduced to different skills of maneuvering through.
The social skills of individuals are also improved through a number of ways. Social interactions refer to the way different people relate and interact. A video game will often unite people who are playing together. This means that they may form a group and play against another group. This type of relation creates harmony, teamwork and mutual understanding (Katsionis and Virvou 52). Role plays in groups in pertinent in ensuring that the gaming parties wins. If one does not adhere to the skills and strategy taken by the other team members, they are bound to lose, hence social interactions and cooperation are enhanced. His-Peng and Wang (507) note that video games have a way of turning on introverts. This could be through a relation and interaction with a machine something which really awakens their subconscious level. Practiced play will improve their language skills and confidence is built. This will boost their morale and self-concept leading to a more open approach in terms of relation with real people on the outside frontier. It is therefore important that parents do not disband the use of video games as a form of entertainment in household and schools owing to the numerous skills and positive effects developed in the social aspect and the educational sector.
Harmful effects of video games
Children
Despite the fact that video games have quite a number of positive effects in the average person today, there are also a number of bad effects streaming from their indulgence. These include; addiction, violence and socially recalcitrant behaviors in the youth. According to scientific study by Powell (490), youth who indulge in playing of violent video games manifest character traits of extreme violence as compared to youths who do not commit to such types of games. In most games youths are rewarded according to the level of violence. The more violent a person is the more point they are awarded. This therefore has a bad effect on the overall character of the child. Katsionis and Virvou (56) argue that a child’s brain is still under the formative stages of development and therefore any violent experience which they are subjected to will result to character pattern change which is emulative of the violence one is exposed to. This is because participation, repetition and reward are the major processes through which learning is imparted in learners. Any interference or exposure to a recalcitrant behavior at a younger stage will result to a negative influence on the child.
Video games are also known for their addictive ability. This is due to the fact that when one plays, unlike in other types of games he/she is rewarded and there is active interaction between the system and the human player. This evokes in one a natural curiosity to want to explore more. The process is recursive thus ending up becoming a chronic effect among the people affected. The development of a variety of games incorporating high quality interactive features means there is a lot of addiction to them. High definition photos and sound system lead to more people wanting to indulge in the whole rubric; thus literary commissioning an addiction.
Addiction leads to a lot of time wasting. For young children, who do not know how to control time usage, they may neglect their school work at the expense of playing video games. This robs them of the quality time they would spend in school works resulting to poor outage in examinations (Raisesmartkids.com). Adults are also affected by addiction where they spend a lot of time playing without doing constructive work. This limits their output and may have negative influence on the national income if a large group of people are affected in a country.
Video games may also result to deprivation of a social setting where people relate with their peer in a face to face communication. When this happens, the members who spend a lot of time playing will be isolated from the mantle of the society thus introverted in their level of communication. Other effects of children may include health effects where obesity may set in due to long hours of sitting and not exercising. Children who spend a lot of time sitting and playing video games fail to do physical exercises leading to major health issues. Video games have major effects and advantages. Parents should therefore regulate the time spent by their children in playing these games otherwise over indulgence may have adverse conditions that may surpass their ability to handle them.
Works Cited
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