I am writing this diary piece, because I have watched two teenagers become victim to online war gaming. Both games were part of the XBOX family and the effect was so dramatic that I cannot believe that there is no public outcry.
I am writing this diary piece, because I have watched two teenagers become victim to online war gaming. Both games were part of the XBOX family and the effect was so dramatic that I cannot believe that there is no public outcry.
The first teenager played a game called Halo. This young boy boarded with us when he was in figure skating school. Within four months of having the game, this boy was playing the game close to 60 hours per week. That included at least 6 hours after school every day and longer on Friday night. Saturday and Sunday, he would play from the time he woke up until the time he fell asleep. His mother who came to live with us during this period was a typical figure skating mom who felt that if she indulged all his wants, he could concentrate better on figure skating. Having watched him work out at the arena, he had amazing potential, but wasted his mind and body playing HALO online.
The second teenager was my son. He had seen the figure skater experience but got caught up himself in a game called Gears of War. He bought the game with his own money and I thought he could control his play. It soon became apparent that he was sacrificing his guitar and school to the XBOX. After many battles, I insisted the XBOX was sold and with a bit of negotiating it has happened. The worst part of it is that at an intellectual level, he understood exactly what was happening – but he could not control it. Now he is happy the game is gone and the guitar is on!.
I have many friends whose male children have had the same problems. All with online gaming – in particular war games. I have seen adults with the same problems. You can even buy special rewards on ebay for many of these games, so as to skip levels and enhance your standing within the gaming community.
In addition, these online games, particularly the war games, would seem to have many social consequences. Players that I have known, have poorer conflict resolution skills. Their attitude toward violence is numbing. Listening to the other players online, they would seem to use their standing in the game as the measure of themselves as people. They generally seem loath to cooperate even though they are on the same team in a game.
My google searching came up with no definitive studies on the effects of these online games, and I am sure that it makes Microsoft very happy. A few studies talk about brain chemistry changes, but no broad survey studies among the broad population of parents and users. Although my evidence is totally anecdotal, I believe that there must be many people out there with the same experiences and that perhaps these anecdotes deserve consideration for a wider scientific study. Perhaps some cooperation from the manufacturers (am I dreaming on this one). Perhaps, some parental control that does not involve complex router settings.
Call it a cult, call it a religion, call it an addiction. If I am wrong, then please let me know where I can read about studies that show that these online games are either benign or a positive activity for young people or adults. If there are groups out there that are addressing my concerns seriously, I would be interested in knowing about them.