The Beatles Rock Band Trailer 3 VIDEO PROVIDED TO US COURTESY MTV GAMES/HARMONIX/APPLE CORPS.




Jared, good job on the thorough research on the W.o.W., finding what is basically an A.A. site for those who are addicted to it, I would never have thought of it. It really does show that video games really can take over people’s lives just like any addiction can such as drugs and gambling. Those statistics of how many people are or could be addicted to online gaming is incredible! I had seen a television show about a family man who was addicted to watching adult films. It literally took over his life in a similar way as the example you used about the guy and his fiancé. This man wasn’t even living at home anymore with his wife and children because his wife wouldn’t put up with it anymore and forced him to essentially go away for recovery. I do have to say however, on the comment you made about him talking with girls on the online game about how he would leave is girlfriend for them just shows what type of guy he is. He may have been willing to leave his girlfriend or cheat on her in many different circumstances; it just may be his character to not be faithful. But the fact that he would rather spend time on the game rather than with her does show how much more he cares about the game world than his real world.

In reply to your first post on September 5th, I was ecstatic to hear that they were coming out with the Beatles game as well, what a great idea! Who doesn’t love the Beatles, and it’s appropriate for all ages. Children will love it because; well because it’s Rock Band, and adults will love it for the music they’ve always known. As far as what you say about video games being mostly violent and unhealthy both socially and mentally, I have to disagree. I have already posted several facts about how video games help with brain activity and how children interact socially with others but I have this to add: Professor of learning sciences at the University of Wisconsin James Gee believes video games are themselves a learning experience. Video games are unique from all popular media because they rely on what he calls “the regime of competence principle.” Video games are the only media that start simple, such as simple dialogue or simple tasks, and increasingly become more difficult and complex depending on the aptitude of whoever is playing. You have to learn to get further in the game. He compares it to reading a book. Books do not progress their vocabularies and move onto more complex words or writing. (Your Brain on Video Games, Discover Magazine Online, 2005). I also feel that while your statistic about what percent of video games are violent may be accurate, however they may not be relevant. Quoted from Dr. Cheryl K. Olson, co-director of the Center for Mental Health and the Media at Massachusetts General Hospital, “It’s not the violence per se that’s the problem, it’s the context and goals of the violence.” She also says that there are absolutely games that are not appropriate for children such as those with the practice of hunting down and killing people. She argues that the use of the term “violent video games” is too vague. There should be a better process for defining what is considered violent versus aggressive and so forth. (Study Examines Video Game Play Among Adolescents, Science Daily, 2007). While the percent of how many video games are violent, with whatever definition of violence was used in the research you found, is high, the results of the best selling games of all time may make this statistic irrelevant. According to Infoplease, and many other sources, the 10 games that have sold the most copies, and are therefore consider the most popular, are ones most would consider to be non-violent. At the top of the list, Wii Sports, however this particular game may have had an advantage as it comes with every Wii console. Others on the list are Super Mario Bros., Pokemon, Tetris and Nintendogs (Best-Selling Video Games of All Time, Infoplease, 2009). Even though there are an unmatchable number of games deemed to be “violent”, they are not the only games being played, and not one of them are singly an all time best-seller. So yes, violent video games are bad for children and some adults because playing them causes higher than normal aggressive behavior and desensitizing of youth, but when I talk about allowing anyone to play video games, I always agree that it should be appropriate and in moderation.

Works Cited

Your Brain on Drugs, Discover Magazine Online, 2005. Web. 7 Sep. 2009

Study Examines Video Game Play Among Adolescents, Science Daily 2007. Web. 8 Sep. 2009

Best-Selling Video Games of All Time, Infoplease, 2009. Web. 11 Sep. 2009