Gaming as recreation - good or bad? (Computer and Video Games in general)

Member Name: The Duke

Product:	Computer and Video Games in general
Date:	27/11/00 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun, Challenging, Intersting

Disadvantages: Costs money

I'd been in contact with computers and games on and off for a while before I got my own computer, but I've been playing computer games on a semi-regular basis ever since I had my first computer (a Commodore VIC20) back in 1983.

Before this, and since, people have frowned upon the idea of computer gaming as a proper recreational activity. They say that gaming causes children to become anti-social, that it effects their schooling and makes them violent, or less affected by violence. Parents saw "little Johnny" giving nasty, evil aliens who were hell bent on taking over the world a good pasting with his joystick, and were getting concerned with the amount of enjoyment he was taking from sending the little green men to meet their maker.

Well, I have to disagree. I think that now, more than ever, gaming has to be regarded as a proper recreational activity. More and more games these days have some sort of multiplayer capability built in (whether it be ineternet, LAN [local area network], or simplecable to cable connection), and this helps gamers interact more, instead of sitting in front of a monitor in a dark room (which they still do, of course, but at least they're interacting with real people).

The amount of different types of games on the market today is huge, and a parent buying games for their children can buy a lot of things that would help their kids learn while not actively buying so called educational software. Role playing or adventure games can help children with their puzzle solving problems, sports simulations could be used to encourage children to try out some sport for themselves. Some other types of games such as sports, driving or flight simulations can help children with hand / eye co-ordination.

One thing I have to say in support of the people who think violent computer games may breed violent children (or at least children who are used to violence) is that in 1984, due to the processing powe
r of the average home computer, games tended to “take place” in fantasy worlds. With the processing power available nowadays, programmers and designers are able to realise worlds that resemble the real world, and this is true whether the game is a sports game, role playing game, first person shooter, or even a puzzle game. Maybe this aspect could cause children to react differently to what they see onscreen, but I still think that most children are able to tell the difference between real and make believe.

The people that started playing computer games 20 years ago are still playing games today – this is not a case of these people not growing up, it’s a case of continuing to enjoy a hobby of theirs. It is this demographic that a lot of games designers, programmers etc. are making games for.

Even some career paths require a person to be interested in computer gaming - if you are a computer science student and are looking for a job with a game producer, or game related hardware manufacturer then some companies actually look for someone with a wide range of computer game experience. For example, the recently departed 3DFX (of graphics card fame) had an office here in Belfast for writing driver software for their cards which requires a high degree of skill in programming and technical understanding, but simply having these traits was not enough. 3DFX required all applicants to have an interest in computer gaming.

The rewards of playing computer games varies from person to person, but for me, it’s a viable alternative to watching TV (nothing on TV? Well, half an hour of Unreal Tournament or Colin McRae Rally should be fun!) and with more immersive games such as Final Fantasy 7, System Shock 2 or Deus Ex, advancing through the story putting together the clues is greatly satisfying.

With the amount of money that is invested into the production of games these days, and with the advent of high profile profe
ssional gaming leagues (and professional gamers!), I think that computer gaming, whether on PC, or console, has to be regarded as a legitimate recreational activity.

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