Are Video Games Harmful

The question, “Are video games harmful?” has been a debate for many years. From video game violence to addiction to wasteful spending: there are many reasons why video games are considered harmful.

Video Game Violence

When it comes to the harmfulness of video games, the realistic violence that is portrayed rates at the top of most lists. If you take a look at the Entertainment Software Review Board (ESRB) content descriptions, you’ll find that eight of the thirty or so refer to violence of some kind. Whether it’s cartoon violence, blood and gore, or fantasy violence, violence is violence to some opponents of video games. One study by the American Psychology Association found that gamers who have played violent video games tended to have more aggressive tendencies than those who didn’t. Another study found that after a group of gamers played a first person shooter, opponents would often be aggressive towards each other during and for a period after playing the game with emotional and verbal abuse.

With those that have violence, are video games harmful? Some gamers become so involved in the destructive action included in games that this is carried over into reality. Many tragic school shootings have been blamed on games like Doom and Counter-Strike. Players become so attached to the game, not because it’s just fun, but they get a rush in killing pixel people that they think it must be fun to do it for real. It has been argued that kids who play violent video games early, like seven or eight years old, that they think scenes like those in Grand Theft Auto are the norm and act similar in school, at home, and at Grandma’s.

Gaming Addiction

Some games are so much fun, that you always have to “play one more”. Pac-Man, of video games past, was one of those games that everyone wanted to play. Tetris is another one that still causes people to sit with a controller or at a computer for hours moving and spinning tetra into lines. Sometimes basic games cause addiction. Other times, there is a burning need to complete a game at all costs.

Anyone who has a video game addiction has one priority: the video game. Family is ignored, health deteriorates, and work or school is skipped. It doesn’t just stop with the current game; the gamer will want to play all the games that are similar in hopes of recreating the same experience with the game he just played. Or worse, if the game is a series, then all the games must be completed. For example, someone addicted to Final Fantasy will have over ten games to play!

Recently, the most addictive game that has hit the news is World of Warcraft. This game has caused divorces, illness, and even death. If you want to read some interesting stories about addiction to this game, visit Wow Detox.

Are Video Games Harmful with Finances?

Another harmful consequence of video games is the depletion of finances. Games are expensive, usually running anywhere from $30 to $60 a game. Then, add the initial cost of a system and other accessories and you probably spend about $3000 during a console system’s lifetime. And that might be average. Are video games harmful to your wallet? Having to get this game or that game causes some people to forget about the necessities in life like shelter, food, and family duties. That sounds harmful.

Usually addiction and wasteful video game spending go hand in hand. For example, the Madden series releases a game every year, sometimes with very little enhancements. For the hardcore game, paying $50-$60 for the new game on the release day is a must instead of enjoying last year’s game for a little longer until the new version goes on sale or drops in price.

Be Observant

So are video games harmful? They can be if you don’t pay attention. A six-year-old playing Grand Theft Auto is not a good idea, just as letting a husband play World of Warcraft for days, skipping work and ignoring the kids can be detrimental to the family. These are things that can be prevented before they get out of hand. Keep your eyes open and do a video game intervention so that the video game violence, addiction, and spending stays out of a person’s life.

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