In the midst of the cries to end video gaming for the sake of the children, could it be that gaming actually carries benefits? Joey “RogueRedneck” Parker tackles this question in his first article after joining the new 2o2p Content Team.
Over the years, video games have been blamed for everything from childhood obesity to the alarming increase in the teenage pregnancy rates among the common housecat. Seems whenever something tragic happens in our society, there are more than enough people lined up to put video games at the top of the list of root causes. In the midst of these cries to end video gaming for the sake of the children, could it be that gaming actually carries benefits?
Granny Gamers
I came across a report recently about Kathleen Connell. Mrs. Connell is 100 years old and credits her mental acuity to the Nintendo DS she received on her 96th brithday. She plays for around two hours each day and proudly states she doesn’t “feel a day over 80”. She further proclaims that the key to a long life is to “keep your mind active” and credits her gaming to this benefit.
Mrs. Connell’s claims are supported when looking at how the Nintendo Wii was incorporated into nursing homes around our country not long after its release. When these facilities looked for ways to engage their elderly and disabled residents into physical activity, they found a new and unique answer in the Nintendo Wii and its innovative motion control system. Before long, the Wii could be found in nursing homes helping their residents recover from everything from strokes to surgery, combat injuries to broken bones. There is even research being conducted that shows an ability for video games to postpone, or possibly reverse, the effects of dementia and Alzheimers.
But what about the children?
The possible benefits of gaming has by no means been limited to the elderly or disabled but is increasingly being used to help in the education of children. In 2002, Dr. Mark Griffiths wrote a paper entitled “The educational benefits of videogames” where he states that video games have shown reductions in reaction times, improved hand-eye co-ordination, and the raising of players’ self-esteem. Children engaged in playing games showed an improvement in language, math, and basic reading skills. They also found it increased the social skills of children. If you’re like me and have ventured into the world of Xbox Live, you will find this last claim particularly suspicious.
This research isn’t limited to Dr. Griffiths. A simple Google search on the “benefits of video games” reveals a surprising number of articles and studies performed on this very topic. Even the Department of Defense is looking to video games as a way to help soldiers learn to process information faster and think outside the box to resolve conflicts. Research has further been conducted that provides evidence that video games are beneficial for pain relief, weight loss, stress relief, and eyesight.
The better to see you with, my dear
This last point is of particular interest to me. My son was diagnosed several years ago with Ambliopia, more commonly known as lazy eye. His vision was so impaired that his brain would cease receiving information from the weak eye in attempt to equalize his vision. If left unchecked, his brain would have stopped receiving information from that eye and he would have been partially blind. We caught it early and began patching.
Why do I share this? Well, his doctor recommended, encouraged, and prescribed video games for my son’s treatment. She stated that, while playing video games and using the patch, it would increase his focus and vision and would render a dramatic improvement in his rehabilitation. Since I was a lifelong gamer, it didn’t take much to get me on this program and we started immediately. In the years since his diagnosis, my son’s vision has improved to 20/20 in both eyes and he is an avid gamer.
Not only did his vision increase but, at 8 years old, he is extremely social and friendly in nature, has a seemingly natural instinct for technology, and has excellent hand-eye coordination. Playing games in no way hindered his development. In fact, it improved it.
Government Gaming
In the past months, even the Obama administration, which had previously been vocal in concerns about children’s gaming habits, has been focusing attention on the idea of possible gaming benefits. They recently placed on the staff of the White House Office of Science and Technology a senior analyst by the name of Constance Steinkuehler. Steinkuehler, who is an experienced gamer with a three and half year run as a guild leader in World of Warcraft, studies video games and is helping to shape policies surrounding games that will offer improvements to education, the environment, as well as other areas.
Steinkuehler is tasked by the Obama administration to develop what she calls “big, save-the-world games”. It seems our President (in the spirit of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em) has decided that, if he can’t keep games out of our hands, he might as well use them to educate us. What kind of games this will lead to is as yet unknown but the President recently made a speech to TechBoston Academy where he told students he wants children playing games that are less about simply blowing stuff up and more about teaching skills that will help them in the future.
Parting Thoughts
With increasing research findings in support of the inconceivable notion that video games may actually be good for us, how will that affect the gaming culture? With our President taking an interest in gaming to the point where he is hiring people to help him direct gaming policy, what does that mean for you? Personally, I don’t want the government taking steps to regulate my games. Will this lead to a mini-game in the next Call of Duty where Captain Price must pause from his terrorist hunt to purify the water of a third-world village? Maybe the next HALO game will have a level that is all about Master Chief defending baby seals from an untimely clubbing?
Could you suddenly find yourself getting called a n00b by octogenarians in HALO? Will we attend a Thanksgiving dinner where our beloved grandmother regales us with stories of how she was pwning in Call of Duty? Even more disturbing, will I one night be rendered speechless in Battlefield when my Nana drops a teabag on my corpse and calls me a Timmy?
These are interesting, and horrific, questions to be considered. In the end, only time will tell whether all this research will truly change society’s view on gaming or if this will all be put aside for the next great soundbite from a misinformed activist with an axe to grind.
I personally look forward to enjoying Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 47 in the retirement home while reclining in my adult diaper and sucking on some Metamucil. Anyone want to join me?
About the Author
Joey “RogueRedneck” Parker is a born and bred Southern boy hailing from Tennessee. When he’s not spending time with his family, serving in his church, or being drug away to other real world concerns, he can be found either on his 360 or wielding his Overlord powers in a futile attempt to regulate the dysfunctional members of 2old2pwn. Joey likes to play a variety of genres but possesses a completely rational hatred for all racing and fighting games. Although he’s not addicted to achievements (Really, he can quit whenever he wants), he is ever on the hunt for that next elusive bleep bloop.
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