Now And Again

Furry, harmless hedgehog? Or crazy suicidal Rodent? Average, everyday

plumber? Or, cruel, tortoise squashing pipe cleaner? Many teachers,

psychologists, game manufacturers, parents, and of course children

have debated this for many years - are video games affecting our

children in a positive or negative way? This is what I'll try to

uncover in this report.

You can find video games everywhere nowadays; they are in nearly every

child's home in one way or another, you can find them on mobiles,

arcades, Digital TV, portable games consoles and of course normal

games consoles. So, is this a good thing or not?

The history of video games dates back to the 1970's, where a man named

Nolan Bushnell developed an arcade video game called 'Computer Space'.

It had many technological innovations, but the game play was confusing

and the game didn't hit big in the market audience. However, from the

profit he made on it, he left his previous company, Nutting Associates

and formed Atari Inc. Here he developed a game along with Alan Alcorn,

which became the most revolutionary game in gaming history. The game

was called 'Pong' and it involved two vertical lines on opposite sides

of a net that could bounce back a moving dot. As simple as it was, the

game became an instant success when it was placed in a local gas

station. As a matter of fact, the arcade machine seized to operate due

to the great load of money inside it!

Throughout the years many more games were developed, but it wasn't

until 1981, that Nintendo became a competitor. Nintendo's first game

was 'Donkey Kong' and was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto, "One of the

greatest game creators in gaming history". The object of this game was

to control a 'jump' man character that had to rescue a girl from a

giant ape. Later on, the 'jump' man was to be named Mario, the most

successful and famous game character ever invented!

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Bad Points

Ð*Ñ' Video games can affect many different skills. E.g. sports, music and

art. Performance in school can be affected if homework and reading are

neglected.

Ð*Ñ' If played constantly, video games can stop important social

interactions between family and friends. The only reason they may want

to talk to friends is to find out about 'Secret passage ways' and

about levels.

Ð*Ñ' This may result in lack of skills in speech which can lead to

nervousness/shyness in later life.

Ð*Ñ' Some children may be liable to have epileptic fits. Although this

can be overcome by simply wearing an eye patch over one eye.

Good Points

Ð*Ñ' Many computer games encourage hand-eye co-ordination.

Ð*Ñ' They are a healthy way to release stress and anger accumulated over

the day.

Ð*Ñ' They set problems to which children have to find solutions - this is

training for later life.

Ð*Ñ' They're JUST GAMES!

Games vs. TV

Ð*Ñ' Video games promote attention to details, (such as clues,

memorising, sequencing and using strategies.

Ð*Ñ' They improve visual perception (spatial awareness)

Ð*Ñ' They are interactive, so children feel more in control.

Many children today own video games such as Playstation 2's and

Xbox's, and play on them regularly. This can lead to such things as

bad school grades and marks, lack of social skills and bad behaviour.

Also, reading and writing skills can also be effected in a negative

way. It can also lead to a serious medical problem (Epilepsy - in

recent years many teens have died as a result of photosensitive

epilepsy. Recent studies show that 10-15% of girls are at risk).

Children often play on their consoles all their spare time, although

some have time restrictions, many children stop going out with friends

etc. to play computer games, resulting in lack of social competence.

Children end up with bad speaking skills and language skills. Game

manufacturers say that this is simply not true and that it is a proven

fact that people who play games are more likely to play with friends

and family than by themselves.

Some say that their kids often get addicted and get restless if they