The only articles I’ve read regarding the impact of gaming on lifestyle seem to be negative.
Most of the time, I feel the need to respond some of these bogus “conclusions.” So, with this story I am going to use a fictional setting to put forth some true facts about gaming lifestyles....
Bob studied ulTm8’s application. “What a loser!” Bob exclaimed. “A 50 year old wasting his time playing childish games. I can see him now. Fat, bald, and gray with his glasses taped up the middle. I bet he is a loner with no one but chat-room friends. He’ll show up for his interview tomorrow with at least two Gameboys to play while I talk to him. JACKPOT!! Tomorrow, we meet face to face.”
The next day, Sara, my secretary buzzed me. “Bob, Dr. Williams is here to see you.”
“Who in the heck is Dr. Williams,” I asked. She laughed and said, “he is the loser you are interviewing”.
The first interview was mainly background information. UlTm8 – a/k/a Dr. Williams – was impressive to look at. In fact, he looked much younger than 50. Tall and thin, he told me he was a 4th degree black belt, and he looked the part. UlTm8 has been married for 28 years, with 4 children and a successful dental practice on the side. All four of his children were honor students.
I instinctively sucked in my bulging gut and continued. “Dr. Williams, how long have you been gaming?”
Dr. Williams answered, “Please, call me Steve – I played the first computer game stamped out of a terminal at the university in 1974. It was a little Star Trek game with typed out Es and Ks. I remember they had to kick us out of the computing center. From there I have played just about every game genre, even led a few clans. Online gaming is my favorite.”
“Well,” I said, “your lifestyle seems to be the exception when it comes to gamers.”
“No,” Steve responded, “I’m not, and before we are done I aim to prove that to you”. With that, Steve left, and I wondered, “does this guy put on a good act or is he really that well adjusted?” Our next meetings would focus on issues I planned to study in my grant. “I think I’ll start with violence,” I snickered. I’ve seen the reports about how violence in video games can make a person more aggressive. Surely, violence has a negative effect on a person’s life and this martial arts guy has got to have a violent streak in him.
The day of the next meeting I was running a bit late and as I entered my office, Steve was there playing some kind of game machine. “Can’t even stop playing for a few minutes?” I asked. Steve rubbed his chin and noted, “You were late, so I decided to train my brain a bit. You know, some video games are designed to keep your mind sharp, others require advanced problem solving. They aren’t all hand-eye coordination. A recent study has shown that Doctors who play video games for just 10 minutes before performing surgery will finish their work faster and with fewer mistakes. Some initial studies indicate that certain types of games may help prevent dementia. I don’t know about you Bob, but I want to be all there when I’m older.”
“Dang,” I said. “I forgot my phone in the car.” Steve looked at me with a discerning eye, “Getting a bit forgetful,” he said with a laugh.
“Let’s talk about violence in video games,” I said quickly to change the subject.
Steve chuckled, “You want to know if I beat my wife, kids, or students at the martial arts studio? Nope, I‘m afraid I don’t do those things. In fact, I don’t even own a gun. I guess I have died thousands of times in games and I realize just how dang easy it is to get hurt messing with those things in real life. I can tell you I wouldn’t want to be a cop, foot soldier, or fighter pilot. Games have taught me to respect those professions and realize how truly talented and dedicated those people are. I knew this topic would come up, so I brought in this graph.”
Steve continued with his diatribe completely unabated. “This is from an article I happened to find at www.gamerevolution.com. As you can see, since video games came into existence the rates of violence are actually decreasing. With millions of gamers out there and if you assumed that violence in games translates into real life violence, then that rate would be rising sharply, not declining.
“What about children?” I asked.
“As a father, I strictly limit what games and how much gaming my kids did when they were younger,” Steve said without inhaling a breath. “Playing these games with my kids is a big advantage. I can teach them as we play and I know exactly what they are playing. For instance, Grand Theft Auto games have never been allowed in our house. When kids are young and impressionable, any thing done a lot and unsupervised is dangerous. Parents need to parent. Kids, or parents for that matter, need to do their work first and save the fun for later. Here is another graph from that same article that shows the decline in crime in by age. I think it clearly shows that gaming is not responsible for violence. Unsupervised, unchecked gaming in kids may lead to isolated cases. Let’s not blame the games, Bob, let’s look at the parenting.”
Holy crap! I’m in over my head. I may have to modify my study.
At the next session I decided to talk to Steve about game addiction. Here is what Steve told me. “Video games are designed to be addictive. If you don’t want to get to the next stage, then the games are not fun. I have a brother-in-law that loves water skiing. When he first learned – he tried to get up on the skis. Then when he got up, he tried to stay up. From there, he did simple movements and went to one ski - all the time getting faster and faster. He spent thousands of dollars on his boat and gas and a place to store it in the winter. In the winter, he frequently plans and dreams about his boat. Is he addicted to skiing? Maybe, but why is this ok and playing video games not? Basically they are the same thing. If he really got into skiing to an extreme, his relationship with his wife and family would suffer. He could spend thousands of dollars upgrading his boat. Bob, these are same arguments against gaming. Basically, if you enjoy anything, be it games, cars, woodworking, or whatever, you have the propensity to let that hobby take over your life. Out of the millions of game hobbyists, you only hear of the extreme cases like the parents that let their kids starve while playing a game. Gamers are addicted to games in the same way people are addicted to running, books, TV, music. There is no chemical addiction like to a drug. Life is about balance, Bob”.
I thought about what Steve had said. Looking at my life I spend a lot of time drinking coffee and reading at the book store. Am I addicted to that like he is to gaming? Am I being anti-social? Anti-social - hmmm, that will be our last topic to discuss!
At the last session, I asked Steve, “Aren’t gamers anti-social? I mean spending hours looking at a computer or a TV screen instead of interacting with real people? It seems to me that kind of behavior would lead to a recluse lifestyle?” Steve looked at me intently and said, “Its funny how people who criticize gamers and video games are the ones that hardly play them. Bob, how can you study us when you have never played a game? How can you criticize a lifestyle you know nothing about?”
I blushed and said, “Steve, I am trying to understand.” Steve continued, “Gaming has always been about playing with another person. Pong, the first video game required people to sit next to each other and interact. I remember buying my Atari 2600 in dental school and having six of my friends come over to my place to play Space Invaders. While playing, you chat, talk smack, and build lasting friendships. Today, you may put on a headset and meet up with your friends on a virtual playground, but you still do the same interaction. Alternatively, you could have several friends over to your home and play in a LAN party or play split-screen. I can honestly say that every LAN party I have been to was the ultimate in social interaction. Since you all have the game play in common, there are no uncomfortable ‘sitting in the corner alone’ moments that you get at a party with strangers. I have met my kid’s friends by dropping in on their LAN party and filling in an extra slot. Many of those kids and I share a special relationship even now that they have moved on to college. I know couples that met in online gaming and are getting married. I have sent pizza across the country to hungry college students who were out of cash. Bob, once you get involved with an online community, gaming gets to be more about being social than playing the game”. Wow, I thought. What if most gamers were like Steve? That would make this group an exceptional social microcosm to study.
Lately, Steve and I have become friends. I have been over to his place, played games online, and talked to many of his friends, both here in town and over the ‘net. The first little LAN party I went to was incredibly fun. I admit that I can’t really play well, but that doesn’t seem important to Steve’s group. This group of mature gamers are truly talented, not only in gaming but in several aspects of their lives. They know how to enjoy life and have fun but are still able to maintain balance in their lives. Now, I know the well publicized negative effects are generally linked to extreme cases. I think my new study will be about how well gamers fit into society. Surely, no one has done a study on that before.
The ulTm8
“I’ve found him!” Bob shouted to his cat. “My ad on the MSN homepage had several replies, but this guy, the one they call ulTm8, he is the one that will get my grant on The Problems with Gamers’ Lifestyles underwritten.”Bob studied ulTm8’s application. “What a loser!” Bob exclaimed. “A 50 year old wasting his time playing childish games. I can see him now. Fat, bald, and gray with his glasses taped up the middle. I bet he is a loner with no one but chat-room friends. He’ll show up for his interview tomorrow with at least two Gameboys to play while I talk to him. JACKPOT!! Tomorrow, we meet face to face.”
The next day, Sara, my secretary buzzed me. “Bob, Dr. Williams is here to see you.”
“Who in the heck is Dr. Williams,” I asked. She laughed and said, “he is the loser you are interviewing”.
The first interview was mainly background information. UlTm8 – a/k/a Dr. Williams – was impressive to look at. In fact, he looked much younger than 50. Tall and thin, he told me he was a 4th degree black belt, and he looked the part. UlTm8 has been married for 28 years, with 4 children and a successful dental practice on the side. All four of his children were honor students.
I instinctively sucked in my bulging gut and continued. “Dr. Williams, how long have you been gaming?”
Dr. Williams answered, “Please, call me Steve – I played the first computer game stamped out of a terminal at the university in 1974. It was a little Star Trek game with typed out Es and Ks. I remember they had to kick us out of the computing center. From there I have played just about every game genre, even led a few clans. Online gaming is my favorite.”
“Well,” I said, “your lifestyle seems to be the exception when it comes to gamers.”
“No,” Steve responded, “I’m not, and before we are done I aim to prove that to you”. With that, Steve left, and I wondered, “does this guy put on a good act or is he really that well adjusted?” Our next meetings would focus on issues I planned to study in my grant. “I think I’ll start with violence,” I snickered. I’ve seen the reports about how violence in video games can make a person more aggressive. Surely, violence has a negative effect on a person’s life and this martial arts guy has got to have a violent streak in him.
The day of the next meeting I was running a bit late and as I entered my office, Steve was there playing some kind of game machine. “Can’t even stop playing for a few minutes?” I asked. Steve rubbed his chin and noted, “You were late, so I decided to train my brain a bit. You know, some video games are designed to keep your mind sharp, others require advanced problem solving. They aren’t all hand-eye coordination. A recent study has shown that Doctors who play video games for just 10 minutes before performing surgery will finish their work faster and with fewer mistakes. Some initial studies indicate that certain types of games may help prevent dementia. I don’t know about you Bob, but I want to be all there when I’m older.”
“Dang,” I said. “I forgot my phone in the car.” Steve looked at me with a discerning eye, “Getting a bit forgetful,” he said with a laugh.
“Let’s talk about violence in video games,” I said quickly to change the subject.
Steve chuckled, “You want to know if I beat my wife, kids, or students at the martial arts studio? Nope, I‘m afraid I don’t do those things. In fact, I don’t even own a gun. I guess I have died thousands of times in games and I realize just how dang easy it is to get hurt messing with those things in real life. I can tell you I wouldn’t want to be a cop, foot soldier, or fighter pilot. Games have taught me to respect those professions and realize how truly talented and dedicated those people are. I knew this topic would come up, so I brought in this graph.”
Steve continued with his diatribe completely unabated. “This is from an article I happened to find at www.gamerevolution.com. As you can see, since video games came into existence the rates of violence are actually decreasing. With millions of gamers out there and if you assumed that violence in games translates into real life violence, then that rate would be rising sharply, not declining.
“What about children?” I asked.
“As a father, I strictly limit what games and how much gaming my kids did when they were younger,” Steve said without inhaling a breath. “Playing these games with my kids is a big advantage. I can teach them as we play and I know exactly what they are playing. For instance, Grand Theft Auto games have never been allowed in our house. When kids are young and impressionable, any thing done a lot and unsupervised is dangerous. Parents need to parent. Kids, or parents for that matter, need to do their work first and save the fun for later. Here is another graph from that same article that shows the decline in crime in by age. I think it clearly shows that gaming is not responsible for violence. Unsupervised, unchecked gaming in kids may lead to isolated cases. Let’s not blame the games, Bob, let’s look at the parenting.”
Holy crap! I’m in over my head. I may have to modify my study.
At the next session I decided to talk to Steve about game addiction. Here is what Steve told me. “Video games are designed to be addictive. If you don’t want to get to the next stage, then the games are not fun. I have a brother-in-law that loves water skiing. When he first learned – he tried to get up on the skis. Then when he got up, he tried to stay up. From there, he did simple movements and went to one ski - all the time getting faster and faster. He spent thousands of dollars on his boat and gas and a place to store it in the winter. In the winter, he frequently plans and dreams about his boat. Is he addicted to skiing? Maybe, but why is this ok and playing video games not? Basically they are the same thing. If he really got into skiing to an extreme, his relationship with his wife and family would suffer. He could spend thousands of dollars upgrading his boat. Bob, these are same arguments against gaming. Basically, if you enjoy anything, be it games, cars, woodworking, or whatever, you have the propensity to let that hobby take over your life. Out of the millions of game hobbyists, you only hear of the extreme cases like the parents that let their kids starve while playing a game. Gamers are addicted to games in the same way people are addicted to running, books, TV, music. There is no chemical addiction like to a drug. Life is about balance, Bob”.
I thought about what Steve had said. Looking at my life I spend a lot of time drinking coffee and reading at the book store. Am I addicted to that like he is to gaming? Am I being anti-social? Anti-social - hmmm, that will be our last topic to discuss!
At the last session, I asked Steve, “Aren’t gamers anti-social? I mean spending hours looking at a computer or a TV screen instead of interacting with real people? It seems to me that kind of behavior would lead to a recluse lifestyle?” Steve looked at me intently and said, “Its funny how people who criticize gamers and video games are the ones that hardly play them. Bob, how can you study us when you have never played a game? How can you criticize a lifestyle you know nothing about?”
I blushed and said, “Steve, I am trying to understand.” Steve continued, “Gaming has always been about playing with another person. Pong, the first video game required people to sit next to each other and interact. I remember buying my Atari 2600 in dental school and having six of my friends come over to my place to play Space Invaders. While playing, you chat, talk smack, and build lasting friendships. Today, you may put on a headset and meet up with your friends on a virtual playground, but you still do the same interaction. Alternatively, you could have several friends over to your home and play in a LAN party or play split-screen. I can honestly say that every LAN party I have been to was the ultimate in social interaction. Since you all have the game play in common, there are no uncomfortable ‘sitting in the corner alone’ moments that you get at a party with strangers. I have met my kid’s friends by dropping in on their LAN party and filling in an extra slot. Many of those kids and I share a special relationship even now that they have moved on to college. I know couples that met in online gaming and are getting married. I have sent pizza across the country to hungry college students who were out of cash. Bob, once you get involved with an online community, gaming gets to be more about being social than playing the game”. Wow, I thought. What if most gamers were like Steve? That would make this group an exceptional social microcosm to study.
Lately, Steve and I have become friends. I have been over to his place, played games online, and talked to many of his friends, both here in town and over the ‘net. The first little LAN party I went to was incredibly fun. I admit that I can’t really play well, but that doesn’t seem important to Steve’s group. This group of mature gamers are truly talented, not only in gaming but in several aspects of their lives. They know how to enjoy life and have fun but are still able to maintain balance in their lives. Now, I know the well publicized negative effects are generally linked to extreme cases. I think my new study will be about how well gamers fit into society. Surely, no one has done a study on that before.
