FINAL ESSAY: Virtual Addictions-the Newest Craze

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Final Essay for Lit 220


Virtual Reality-Virtual Addiction: the hottest newest craze going on in today’s World


I am going to look at casual games like “Bubble Breaker” and their addictive effects. As well as the comparison between what is known as Video Games vs. Causal Games. . As well as showing some of the Positive as well as Negative side affects as well as some of the elements that makes Video games and other forms of electronic gadgets addicting. In today’s world Video games are fast becoming the next addiction of the future, the newest drug per say.

People will stay awake for hours at a time, giving up food and drink, not moving from one spot for minutes, hours, days at a time, even giving up sleep, sometimes not even remembering to get up and use the bathroom, just to beat their friend’s latest scores, or even their own just to prove that they could. They become so intense, so involved in the game itself, that they are playing it literally to the death, their own or others.

And I will be sharing some stories that I located in regards to this problem of gaming addictions, as well as my results from a study that I ran involving the game; “Bubble Breaker”, and some friends of mine. I will also be sharing a secret that I personally discovered about this game, which you will see a little further into my paper. It will involve me, and my time with this video game. Where I personally learned how addicting a silly little causal fun kind of video game can pull you into its web. I will also touch bases on about what age most player began, you would be surprised how early children actually start with video games on systems; such as Play stations (1, 2 and 3), X-box, to name a couple, and games such as Donkey Kong, Pac man, Ms. Pac man, Tomb Raiders and on and on. And another topic that I will touch upon is; “Is this happening only in America, or is it effect of this addiction spreading worldwide on our youths as well as adults”?

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Now, let me let you in that little secret , I tried a silly little causal game on my boyfriend’s cell phone one night after class ended which was around 9 pm, just to see what all the whoop and holler was about in regards towards video games and such. And let me tell you something, it was so much fun and I couldn’t put it down. I played for over three over on this silly little game, and he had to keep asking me for it back and I of course kept on saying; “Yeah, yeah just a minute. Just one more try okay”. Luckily, I didn’t have class the next day, because I played like six more games after he started to ask for it back, before I finally let go of the game. And I was so sorry the next day, because I was so tired, from sitting in one area and holding the phone in one hand while pushing the color dots with the other.

And you know what? I can’t wait to try it again and I am not a teen, but an adult woman. So, if I can get that hooked in on a game, imagine our teens. And something else about this game, I am ready to play it again; in fact I have asked my boyfriend when he got home, could I use his phone to play the game. Just for a little bit, I promise. I remember him telling me; “Yeah, just a little while, like last time?” I then decided that this was what I wanted to do as my essay paper. I wanted to really know more about the history of video games, what made them so hot, what was the power that they had over all of us, young and old.

What I discovered in my research is that they video games themselves per say had only been around a short while. And that a few hundred years ago, if you had asked a thirteen year old boy what they did in their spare time, they’d probable talk about helping their parents on the farm. You ask the same question to a teen in today’s world, and you’ll get an earful about baseball, double-dutch, and pick-up sticks.

But, now we are in a new century and a brand new world of electronic gadgets and such. Where there are so many new things for us to play with, spend our hard earned money on, and need to have no matter what it is. This on top of the factor; “Well if they have one, of course we have to have one and bigger of course”, and interesting thing about this factor is that it’s not predisposed to children only, but adults as well.

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And then there is the information that was provided in our readings we have had in class; off the article; Introduction: The Digital Revolution, the Informed Citizen, and the Culture of Democracy written by Henry Jenkins and David Thorburn they had stated; “Many political commentators predicted that networked computing might be the decisive factor in the election of 2000. By November 2000, 64% of all voters were Internet users and 90% of Americans on the Internet were registered voters. The Web would offer, these commentators claimed, the least costly and most effective means of reaching likely voters”.

This coincides with all of the additional research that I found; it also reflected that over nearly 90% of children between the ages of 12-17 would reply “Videogames” to that question. And according to article in the Science Daily News (April 2009); data analyzed was performed on the national Harris Poll survey that was done in January 2007 on 1,178 American youths (ages 8-18) by Douglass Gentile one of the Assistant Professor of Psychology at Iowa State University (I.S.U). It showed that it was found that nearly 1 of 10 gamers (8.5%) to be pathological players, based off the standards that were established for pathological gambling-causing family, social, school or psychological damage because of their video habits.

And according to Professor Gentile; “Gamers were classified as pathological if they exhibited at least 6 of the 11 systems. The pathological gamers in the study played 24 hours per week, about twice as much as non-pathological gamers.

They also were more likely to have video game systems in their bedrooms, reported having more trouble paying attention in school, received poorer grades in school, had more health problems, were more likely to feel "addicted," and even stole to support their habit. The study also found that pathological gamers were twice as likely to have been diagnosed with attention problems such as Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Gentile was surprised to find that so many youth exhibit pathological patterns of video game play.


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To me, this massive percentage is horrifying (girls as well as boys), yet some will sense nothing wrong with it. These people frequently argue, “But videogames aren’t that bad,” it’s just a game, they’re not actually harmful to the body, “or some games improve hand-eye coordination and analytical thinking skills.” Granted, video games often seem to appear harmless, but they can be very damaging to children and teens and especially those that are lacking self-control and this will include some adults as well.

One of the greatest dangers about video gaming can be summarized into one word: addiction. Guilty pleasures like video games, television, and candy are tolerable when done in moderation. The problem with video gaming is that unless controlled or limited by a third party, it’s both chemically and mentally addictive. Studies have scientifically shown that excitement from playing video games causes the human brain to release an addictive chemical. Psychologically, video game addiction is explained through what is called “the God effect.”

This simply means that players receive the ability to control and manipulate everything in the game, something very attractive for teens without substantial influence in the real world. Unlike other addictions which include such things as tobacco, marijuana, or alcohol, video game addiction has yet to attain a lot of publicity. The reason is probably due to the how smoking and drinking accumulates direct physical injury, while video games conjure minimal damage to physical health.

However, I believe Video Games addiction endangers victims equally as much as substance addiction. Compared to tobacco and heroin, video games require much more time to actually perform the addictive act. Smokers often engage in other activities with a cigarette between their lips, but video gamers do not have the same privilege when gaming. Studies show that the average male gamer plays for around six to eleven hours a day on the weekends and about an hour or so on weekdays. This excessive time consumed on video games is time that could have been spent doing homework, playing sports, being with friends, or even eating or imagine it sleeping.

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Furthermore, wasting hours a week playing video games endangers an individual’s chances of achieving their full potential. A teen that possesses the intelligence and talent to become a future Noble Prize recipient may have to settle as an ordinary science teacher because he wasted too much time gaming as a youth. This waste of talents hurts not only the individual, but also society as a whole. Let alone they are playing those regular video games; the ones with all the violence, stereotyping, prejudice and such in them.

Comparisons of Video Games vs. Casual games; regular Video Games tend to cause more stress to our children than anything else, well accept school. They can cause children to become withdrawn, and to forget all that we learn as children: Good Ethics; such as not cheating, or lying, and playing fair, following the rules of the game, around the same time as we learn all about the rules in the game of life. Now I have notice that while gaming; video playing, sports etc they can be both good and bad for children as well as adults to be involved in.

On the other hand; Causal Games, while it can be slightly competitive per say, and it does teach such things as eye and hand coordination, makes you think, i.e. plan where to pop the stick on the bubbles, to gain the most points, it doesn’t tend to cause you to get all depressed, suicidal or send you in a violent rage. And especially doesn’t teach things like violence, stereotyping, or simple prejudices.

And while regular Video Games do have some good being such things as well; i.e. building up your hand and eye coordination, makes you use your mind, making strategies moves as well as it is helps you to learn how to be a team player. But there is also that down side- bad side effects such as; where it also opens up another different area; fighting, being competitive, making you get so crazy and needing to win, no matter what the cost is. And these can’t always be noticed right away, sometimes not even until it’s too late. I had noticed something interesting as I watched people playing Video Games. And that was it wasn’t just the older ones pulling unfair tactics on the younger ones. As I mention previously it seemed like the older ones were playing unfair; i.e. using knowledge/skills levels more advanced (from age etc).

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What I found out was that a lot of times it was the younger ones who actually had more knowledge or higher skill levels per say. Age did not always come into play, but mostly the things that were was; time to play/practice (time to play/amount of time etc), to who had access to the games themselves to even play on them. This is what really is what builds up your levels of skills/knowledge on the games. I also notice that not all of the kids tried anything slick, or those cute little cheating tricks. While they wanted to win of course, they seem to recognize that the wins seem to feel more real and that they had really earned it.

And realistically most people will feel this way. Because deep down you are a good person or at least most of us are. In the end when playing those games and the competition part of it comes out roaring its head like a lion remember these little words; you cheat and that win is not really yours to enjoy. Now for some of the websites that I located during this research; one of them was called “Berkeley Parents Network: Computer Game Addiction”, which was founded in 1993 as “UCB Parents” and is run by volunteer parents from the San Francisco bay area, who are working together in this as well as many other issues that we as parents run into with children. This site has a lot of good solid information as well as advice on the problem of Video Game addictions.

It has question and answer section, where you can see questions from people from all over, asking advice and explaining their problems on this topic as well as others. The stories cover all genders, age groups and locations. My research also ended up leading me to one website called; “Media Wise.org”, it really helped to explain to me the definition on what was “Video Game Addictions”, as well as it talks in more detail on what signs you should watch for in your children as well as the adults in your life. It also provides me as well as will for you, some other places to go for more information on this topic. And from here it lead me to; “Computer Addictions.com”, where it provides some great information and services from Maressa Hecht Orzack, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist who has for over fifteen years, has treated people with addictive behaviors at McLean Hospital.

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At which she is a founder and coordinator of a program called: the Computer Addictions Service. She has done many studies on this topic, as well as recreational drug use and as a result of both the studies has come to the conclusion that recreational drug use and inappropriate computer use are similar. And according to the article Dr. Orzack says; “Her sense is that we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg.

Our society is becoming more and more computer dependent not only information, but for fun and entertainment. This trend is a potential problem affecting all ages, starting with computer games for children to chats for the unwary or vulnerable adult.” She also provides you with examples of the condition called: Computer Addiction, Internet Addictive Disorder or Cyber addiction. She associates these with being similar to Pathological Gambling or Compulsive Shopping.

These addictions whether it’s Computer, Gambling or even Shopping, hurt not just the person with the addiction problem, but their love ones, and co-workers or classmates. Like Gamblers or Shoppers who spend their money and time with such compulsion, because they can’t stop and are always thinking, dreaming, fantasizing, about that next moment that they make the connection that of course will solve everything that is wrong in their lives.

In addition to this Dr. Orzack feels that this addiction can be treated, like any other addiction, by using Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Teaching the patient to identity the problem, learn coping skills to help prevent relapse, sometimes treatment will need medication, and she highly recommends support groups. Which I hope is true, and you will also after reading some of the stories that I was able to locate off of an episode of Dr. Phil that was taped back in October of 2008. On this particular show; there was a variety of people on it that came from all walks of life, different age groups, gender categories, you could almost say a little bit of everything was on this show. And besides the people who are addictive to video games, there were also the people closest to them that very effected by this problem and some of them more than others.

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The guests on the show included; a husband who ignores his whole family and a guy that was in debt for $24,000 due to his addiction. “Fred”, one of the guest spent so much time that he came to the brink of losing his whole family. And it was a tough battle and a very close call. He told the audience that before coming to the show, and becoming aware of his problem he might have chosen the game over his family. Because the video game are like drugs and they kept calling his name.

The 2nd guest was “Brad”, told the audience that he started playing when he was just 13 years old, and everyweek end he would binge out on playing computerized games, day and night. And as a grown man, Brad tells us that his addiction continued. It was so bad that he was up the night before his wedding, playing games. According to Brad; he remembers his father coming to his bedroom door and asking him; “why are you still up at 4:30 am, you have to get up in less than 3 hours,” well he was playing games of course. Even after getting married and starting a family, he continued on gaming, he got so bad that he dug himself a hole.

He told them that his life was out of control, but, the worse to come; he built a debt of over $24,000, lost his career, lying and deceiving his wife. Till it came to a head and he tried to commit suicide, by overdosing on a bottle of sedatives. Luckily he survived the overdose, and with the help of counseling came clean with his wife about his problem. The last guest; was the mother of another Gaming addictive victim, who was not as luckily as either “Fred” or “Brad”. The guest who is named; “Liz Woolley, founder of Online Gamers Anonymous, and whose 21 year old son; “Shawn” killed himself while playing the game Everquest. Liz tells us about that tragic day, and the events that lead up to it. Shawn was living at home with his family, and had bought himself the video game “Everquest”. And after just three months of playing, he was playing it all the time, staying up all night, not taking care of himself: shaving, bathing etc., not expressing himself or really talking to anyone at all, and not going anywhere, not even to work, just staying home all the time and gaming.

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This kept going on until that fateful day of Thanksgiving in 2001, she had just gotten back home and had knocked on his door and got worried when he didn’t respond to her, not even to say; “Go away, I’m busy right now”. She started banging on the door, yelling out his name, and ended up having to break in the door to his room. And the sight that met her will be with her for a very long and might never go away. What she saw was her son “Shawn”, sitting in his chair in front of the computer, with his rifle in his hand, dead and the computer game still playing on the computer screen.

According to Liz, “That moment in her life, was so serious that it prompt her to start telling people what she knew about gaming addictions, and sharing her story with anyone who would listen”. And she started the Online Gamers Anonymous, in order to provide others with the help that she had needed, and in such to help prevent others from going through what her family had went through. And to become fully aware of the dangers of Video Games, vs. Causal Games, because in a heartbeat you can go from being an outgoing, friendly social able to someone that you don’t know.

We need to remember that with all the studies going on, it has been proven that it is possible to become addicted to video games, and that they have been liken to being similar to a drug and as such should be treated with precaution. Not to use them randomly, or allow them to be used as something to keep your children occupied; i.e. like a babysitter per say. Watch how long your children play video games, as well as monitor what they are playing; i.e. how violent is it really, or suggestive styles etc.

As many of them are prone to cause children to become anti-social, withdrawn, depressed and even can cause violent reactions in them. One such case was the one about the child who in Ohio; “Daniel Petric who shot his own parents, killed his own mother, just because they took away his copy of the game; “Halo 3”, and when he was arrested, it was said that the only thing he had taken from the house and was on him was the “Game”.

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There are reports that are similar if not worse than this, and over a “Video game”, would it had made a difference if it had been a causal game vs. a video one? And where does it end? Going into Chat rooms, where predators can reach our children, or mass murder or worse suicide?
In conclusion, this problem has become such a concern, and growing so large in numbers and so rapidly in incidents of ; suicidal, violent, murder, as well as has been shown to be linked to addictive Video game playing, that there are Video Games Anonymous popping up all over the country side, as well as across the nation. According to an article written by Erica Naone (2007) called; “AMA Considers a New Addiction: Video Games”, that I found out online, published on MIT Technology Review.

According to Ms. Naone; “this has come to a point, that the American Medical Association (AMA.) has become involved, setting into play a set of recommendations; such as monitoring how long they play, and what other signs to watch for parents to follow, if they feel that their child or children maybe addictive to Video Game playing. And the A.M.A. has gone as far as to suggest to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders, that Video Game Addiction belongs in the next edition”. And Ms. Naone stated; “that these recommendations are part of a report by the Council on Science and Public Health with the subject Emotional and Behavioral effects including addictive potential, of Video Games.” Elsewhere there was an article reported on CBS news online written by Amy Clark where she said; “that it has gotten so bad that we need a Detox for this problem of Video Game addictions.”

Now after all of this information, as well as stories about some of the people affected by all of this, I will leave you with these thoughts; what are your kids doing this summer, or in fact anytime? Now, I know what I would like, them going to school and brushing up on their social skills in a project based social-learning environment. Almost anything but playing video games would be great. But, realistically we know that this not going to happen. So, talk with your kids and see what they are doing, keep on top of them and their internet actions. Don’t let them be the next news item, becoming the next statistic.

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References:

http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/teens/gameaddiction.html

http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/facts_gameaddiction.html

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/17628/

http://www.computeraddictions.com/

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090420103547.htm

http://www.raisesmartkids.com/raise-smart-preschool-kid-articles/the-good-and-bad-effects-of-video.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/03/health/webmd/main1773956.shtml

http://www. raisesmartkid.com/raise-smart-preschool-kid-articles/the-good-and-bad-effects-of-video.html

http://www.gamepolitics.com/category/video-game-research

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1036088.stm

http://www/joystiq.com/2008/10/20/dr-phil-tackles-the-virtual-chaos.html

Virtual Reality-Virtual Addiction: the hottest newest craze going on in Today’s World: The Poor Mans Drug

Virtual Reality-Virtual Addiction: the hottest newest craze going on in Today’s World
“The Poor Man’s Drug”


This paper will talk about the definition of video games themselves, Video games addict/addictions, to the comparison between what is known as Video Games vs. Causal Games. As well as showing the elements of what makes Video games and other forms of electronic gadgets addicting. And where we at in are today’s world with them. I will also talk about at what age most player began, you would be surprised how early children actually start with video games on systems; such as Play stations (1, 2 and 3), X-box, to name a couple, and games such as Donkey Kong, Pac man, Ms. Pac man, Tomb Raiders and on and on. And is it only in America where we have this particular problem, or has it spread worldwide, effecting all of our youths.

The list of console systems as well as computer /video games is so large it would take up pretty much all of my report. Based off the information that I was able to locate, video games are becoming the next addiction of the future, the newest drug per say. People will stay awake for hours at a time, giving up food and drink, not moving from one spot for minutes, hours, days at a time, even giving up sleep, let alone remembering to get up and use the bathroom, just to beat their friend’s latest scores, or even their own just to prove that they could. And I can actually personally attest to this little fact, as you will see from my personal story of my time with a video game, where I personally learned how addicting a silly little causal fun kind of video game can pull you into its web.

Week 8: A Bombing We Will Go......

Week 8: A Bombing We Will Go!!!!


Okay so; let’s start training the next generation of military fighters, by teaching as young children how to shoot and kill the enemy. While using video games as training tools, may be cost efficient for the military and such. Let them keep things like fighting, shooting and killing people to themselves.

And with people going around saying things like; “It’s just a game”. Many people have said that they like games that have shooting in them, and how it improves their skills. Seems like a lot of our soldier’s over in Iraq (at least ones that are still alive and breathing), and other places, must have played such games as these.


As well as our fine police officers, but I think some of them missed the part about not abusing the person in their custody (as seen on our local daily news), or not to shoot unless you have too. Because people don’t come back to life like they do in the video games. Maybe they forgot the part about “Dead means Dead and no coming back for another chance”.


What ever happen to those really cool games; such as Donkey Kong, Pac Man, Ms. Pac Man or even that really old one Super Mario Brothers, with the cute little Italian pizza maker fellow in it? I mean there’s shooting fire balls and other stuff, but not looking like real people and especially people of certain persuasion or gender. This I feel has cause a lot of the rise in fighting, shooting deaths and such.


After I read the article, Military Training is just a game, I thought to myself: “Have you ever started to really wonder about all the money that goes into military training of our soldiers”? Imagine all those weapons and such that will be wasted, now that we can reduce it to such a fine point; Technology training. I have seen so many people upset about all the money we spend on a yearly base for training (myself would be counted in this group-actually against fighting period, invading and taking over peoples space and countries).

Think about what we could really do with that money. We could shorten the financial cost of training as well as get a better handle on maintaining it.


It seems like games in many forms have taken over off teens, and I feel that if we are to really be training via videos, make them are of the fact that in real life, you don’t get up and walk away. No other chance per say at the brass ring. Preparing to fight if it really is necessary, but remember that not everyone is your enemy.

Week 7: Gaming, Ethics and Democracy

Remembering what we learn vs. I have to be the best; I got to beat your score man!

We all learn as children about ethics; such as not cheating, or lying, and playing fair, following the rules of the game, around the same time as we learn all about the rules in the game of life. I remember as a kid, competing against my cousins in games such as tug a war, races, and the rest of those cool games we play as kids.

And I also remember my brothers fighting all the time with our male cousins. They had to always be the best in everything, and used all the tricks of the trade per say. And a lot of these tricks would have been considered cheating at the minimal. Because according to the article; Cheaters: A Special Report, from gameinformer.com it wasn’t even close to what they called a; Glitch. It seem like it was pretty much more like a free for all, using thing that they could.


My brothers and male cousins were a mixture of all ages and sizes, as well as different levels of skills in games; videos as well as physical ones. It seemed like the older ones took advantage of the younger ones, because the older ones should and did know better than to challenge the younger ones. It seems to me that because of their ages (the younger ones) would most likely not have had the same level of knowledge or skills, and the older ones should have taken this into play and played accordingly, i.e. “Fair Play”.


But, it seems like when it came to games and boys, democracy went out the door. As it seems to be that the male DNA comes into play when it comes to games and winning. Most of the time all you could hear was; “I gotta beat your score, man or you loser, is that all you can get, I can beat that”. As well as; “Yeah, I beat your score, take that man”. And there was a lot more detailed descriptive things said; but they were not really appreciate ones or repeatable here. Now, while it’s not mention here, I am sure you can image what was said or at least close to it.


I have notice that while gaming; video playing, sports etc can be good for children as well as adults to be involved in, building up your hand and eye coordination, makes you use your mind, making strategies moves as well as it is helps you to learn how to be a team player. It also opens up another different area; fighting, being competitive, making you get so crazy and needing to win, no matter what the cost is.

You tend to get pulled away from your code of ethics that you have learned/or learning as a child. Sucked in cheating, playing dirty tricks, just so you win. And sometimes, it happens without you even being aware of it, because that need to win has so strong of a grip as well as it’s not something that you can see with the visible eye.

One of the things that I have notice in today’s world of gaming is that it looks the same as it did when I was a child growing up. Because I have noticed my son’s pulling a lot of the same tricks on their friends that my brothers pulled on my cousins. As well; as I noticed that it wasn’t just the boys pulling them, but my daughters as well. So, it seems that this problem is not just a male issue anymore; it has expanded to include female DNA in its equation.

But, I had noticed something interesting as I watched the kids playing Video games. And that was it wasn’t just the older ones pulling unfair tactics on the younger ones. As I mention previously it seemed like the older ones were playing unfair; i.e. using knowledge/skills levels more advanced (from age etc). What I found out was that a lot of times it was the younger ones who actually had more knowledge or higher skill levels per say.

Age did not always come into play, but mostly the things that were was; time to play/practice (time to play/amount of time etc), to who had access to the games themselves to even play on them. This is what really is what builds up your levels of skills/knowledge on the games.

I also notice that not all of the kids tried anything slick, or those cute little cheating tricks. While they wanted to win of course, they seem to recognize that the wins seem to feel more real and that they had really earned it. And realistically most people will feel this way. Because deep down you are a good person or at least most of us are. In the end when playing those games and the competition part of it comes out roaring its head like a lion remember these little words; you cheat and that win is not really yours to enjoy. So, DON’T CHEAT….

Week 6: The Newest "Addiction's: Video Games and The Internet"

Week 6: (Social Connection/ Social Gaming)
The Newest “Addiction’s: Video games and the Internet”

Are Video Games harmful to you? We don’t really know for sure yet. According to the readings that we had this past week, it seems like they are leaning towards the answer being; Yes. In the article; Introduction: The Digital Revolution, the Informed Citizen, and the Culture of Democracy written by Henry Jenkins and David Thorburn they state; “Many political commentators predicted that networked computing might be the decisive factor in the election of 2000. By November 2000, 64% of all voters were Internet users and 90% of Americans on the Internet were registered voters. The Web would offer, these commentators claimed, the least costly and most effective means of reaching likely voters”.
It seems like even as far back as then they (the public as well as politicians) were aware of the usage of internet-computers and were already planning on how to use it to their benefits (reaching the public/votes). And with all the information that was provided (data/facts/examples) that was provided in the article, it looks like they did make that leap in the connection between them. Best ways to get people to do what you want, send subdural messages through the internet, and especially games. Most people are so busy having fun, playing the game that they really don’t notice those simple things going on all around them.
And in regards toward addicting, video games are very addicting. You get so involved in them that you block out things like need to sleep, eating, socializing with others until it gets to the extreme level of need. There are thousands of dollars being spent on a daily base. I tried a game that someone I knew had on their new phone that they had gotten this past month. And let me tell you something, it was so much fun and I couldn’t put it down. He keep asking me for it back and I kept saying; “Yeah, yeah just a minute. Just one more try”. Luckily, I didn’t have class the next day, because I played like six (6) more games before I finally let go of the game. I can also say, that I can guarantee each time we get together this past week or so, I have asked for any pretty much played that game, until he takes it away from me.
Now in regards towards Social Connecting; we as human beings are undeniably social creatures (this also includes Gamers too). And according to Sandra Chen, who wrote the article; The Social Network Game Boom, which is posted on GAMASUTRA, “With over 200 million people registered on Face book, the most popular social networking site, and millions, millions more on similar sites like MySpace, BEBO, and Hi5, social networking has become a part of daily life.”
This is so true; we have seen that worldwide, social activists are using social networking sites to organize protest. People are talking to each other through these web pages, vs. reading emails or call each other on the phone.
It is a testament to the power of social networking, and likewise social games, which is essentially games created to be played within existing major social networking websites. Social connections and gaming are becoming more and more connected, getting to be that they go hand in hand with each other.
Social networking has changed so much on how we consume information and how we play games. And on such places as FACEBOOK and the rest, you will generally find a clutter of unfettered information that leads to what social scientists call “ambient awareness”. It’s like being there at the same time as your friends, but not really paying attention to them, until you needed to.
You’re making social connections with others; friends as well as people that you don’t even know, but you can get information on at almost any given moment of time. And I have done this myself sometimes, but also at the same time as a mother of teens, who live on the internet, it is also too true that it can be dangerous for you. My daughter talks to her friends via FACEBOOK, as well as MySpace. Leaves messages for them there, gets ones that they have left her. Plus can read/ connect per say with people that they know but she doesn’t. While she hasn’t had anything bad happen per say to her, it can be scary I am telling you. I have learned more and more about all of these sites, as well as trying to keep on top of what is going on there. Let me tell you something, it can be a full-time job doing this.
So, while reading all that we had for the past week I can tell you that while I am still not sure about video games being harmful for you, I am convinced that at least some of them have addicting ability in them. I can personally contest to these. And in regards towards Social Connection; while it’s a great thing out there and I have used it sometimes, it also has harmful sides to it, all you have to do is look at the news (TV or newspaper etc) at any given time or place. So many people have been hurt (beaten, raped, kidnapped) and in some cases murdered.
In conclusion, let me leave you with these thoughts; what are your kids doing this summer, and what to do with your preteens and teens this summer? Now, I know what I would like, them going to school and brushing up on their social skills in a project based social-learning environment. Sounds like Fun and Educational, right? But, realistically we know that this not going to happen, unless they mess up in school. So, talk with your kids and see what they are doing, keep on top of them and their internet actions. Don’t let them be the next news item, becoming a statistic.

Week 5: Step to the back of the bus, Only White's are allowed in the front....

Step to the back of the bus, or that old saying; can’t sit here it’s for White people only.

There’s that old enemy of ours rearing its head up again; Racism. And just when we thought it was getting better along it comes to show us how wrong we were.

With all that the world has gone through starting back in the day of Abraham Lincoln and the fight for freedom for African-American, then up to Women’s rights, etc and now it seems like we are stepping back in time. Especially after 9/11 bombings, the war going on at this moment in time, prejudice and stereotyping, along with its friend Racism is back in play. It seems like the video games out there are getting worse by the moment, with all the bad guys being either of the Asian, black or even now Middle Eastern/Arabic persuasion.


I notice that a lot of the articles that I read had a lot in common with what their opinions were in regards to Video games and Racism. In Critical race Theory on Wikipedia, seems like it was a response to come critical legal studies. And the connections between racial discriminations and stereotyping, and has been applied to looking into race/racism in aspects of social science, civil rights, and the legal court proceedings that result from it. And in Pacificcitizen.org; In Video games the Bad Guys Come in All Shades of Stereotypes. More like Bad Guys of Color, because it seems like most Bad Guys are not “White”.


Some have been known to try and say that these forms of games are entertainment, although if that is so, then it’s really sad that they had to resort to this level. Because all it does is feed on the fear of people, especially those who are already pre-disposed to being narrow minded and prejudice to begin with.


According to the article; Video games raise concerns over racism by David Becker from CNET News (, The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) had issued a report on Tuesday warning of computer games that espouse racist violence. The article mention such games as; “Ethnic Cleansing” a computer game that was being sold by Resistance Records, a small underground label that specializes in bands spouting racist and Nazi messages. This game besides offensive racial stereotyping (you had to walk through urban streets and subways, attacking African-American, Hispanic and Jewish characters), the games also included repeated racist images and audio content.
Games such as these can piggyback onto something that is very legitimate and popular and pervert it. It could cause even the most non-racist person to start thinking those racist thoughts. Things like this can cause Paranoia and Discrimination to rise even higher than it has been in the past. Because it causes people to assume that all African-Americans are drug users, gang-bangers, Asians as the drug dealers, and even using Women as cyber-bimbos.


With all of this going on it’s like taking a step back in time. While it seems like games of any kind (video etc) involves some sort of artificial conflict, because it seems like it wouldn’t be a game without it, they need to do what they can to make a great game without it causing racism/stereotyping of any sort.

(Week 4) Beware: “The Princess Peach is PMS-ING”

Beware: “The Princess Peach is PMS-ING”
(Playing with Fire: Trouble in Super Macho World?-Gonzalo Frasca)

While I don’t play a whole lot of videos, that is my son’s department and he does it so well, and I better mention that my daughter also plays them, just not a total die-hard like her brother. Even so, I do know some about Super Mario and Princess Peaches; I actually played it some back when I was younger. And it would be safe to say that my amount of video play time didn’t even come close to the time my brothers spent playing them.


I noticed while reading: Playing with Fire: Trouble in Super Macho World? –Gonzalo Frasca, that the article seem like it was mostly about the Author informing the reader’s about his dislikes (his opinions) of those “Fantasy centered Video Games”. And that he really seems to look forward to playing game: The Sims, when it came about. It seems that it likely because it had a more realistic touch-kind of feeling to it.


The games out there tend to make people either be that neat, outgoing, active and nice person (like the characters in The Sims game), and then there’s the games that take the opposite effect and make them seem more like Rambo (male), or look and like a Cyber-Bimbo. Which is not realistic at all, it seems like a never ending challenge to making the games lifelike (realistic) and fun at the same time. It must be a headache for the video game designers, I am glad that at this moment that this is not my job.


Now onto my Princess Peaches, what a gal dressed up in pink, looking so pretty and dainty like. But, watch out for the “Female Mood Swings”. And what a typical example of stereotyping of women, we are just a bundle of nerves and need some big bad strong male to save us from the evil out there. And Females get all emotional, pouting, all hell breaks loose, fire out her nose per say. But, Males don’t throw fits, or pout. They just jump up and knock their lights out.


That is such a plate of baloney going here. I happen to know a few female’s (one is my older daughter, who do not just pout and act all emotional when she upset or someone makes her mad, let alone try to hurt her. She will knock their lights out in a heart-beat, and she is a little short thing (5’2) but with a good right cross. So it’s not just Males who knock you out. Then there’s another interesting factor: They never mention that “Males” can have mood swings and emotional up and downs, and yes I did say (oh my, going say it again) “Males”.


And it shouldn’t be so shocking that we play Video Games, because hey we are out there working on cars, we like Sport’s Games (Boxing, Wresting, etc) as well as like to play them as well. What Males don’t realize and understand is that they Females play Video Games; just we’re more selective on what we play, how long and why. And it looks like the Video Game World is actually getting that.


With the number of Female who plays Video Games is increasing every day, spending money right there along with their Male counterparts, game designers have had to wake-up and get on the move. Start improving the games out there, especially female characters. Because as we all know, there is big money to be made here and let’s not lose a single dollar by being stupid.


And it seems like they are trying to do so because in Super Mario, Princess Peaches is being portrayed in her own video: “Super Princess Peaches”. Now while it’s great she has her own game to star in, they need to watch out the image she portrays to the public especially young children. They need to remember that children tend to imitate what they see and hear.


Because while “Pretty in Pink” sounds all sweet and great, it’s not the image I have in mind for Females. But, at the same time seeing Females portrayed as either a “Prostitute”, and it seems like these particular characters are strolling along and being beaten up when they Male character is mad or broke.


Then there are those videos games such as: “Tomb Raider”. Where they Females as lead characters who shoot, roll, jump and kick like their Male counterparts, except that they larger than life size breast and jump with every step that they take.


Until recently I hadn’t notice just how really sexism the games out there were. Then since taking this class I have spent more time watching the video games that my son plays, and have noticed just how the females were being portrayed. To be more eye catching to the Males playing them and so very outrageous stereotyping of a Female, as well as so unethically wrong to say the least.


Gaming has increased in the younger Male population and I pretty sure this is part of the reason as to way it has. This seems so disturbing as well as so immature of the gaming world (players as well as designers/inventors) out there. I can only hope that the children as well as adults who play these games remember that Females are not either one in real life: Pretty in Pink (helpless, dumb etc) or Cyber-Bimbo (prostitute, suppose to be beat etc).


Gender will be somewhat of an issue for awhile, but hopefully will start to improve over time as more and more Females are involved with gaming and such.

Week 3 (Game Studies): Lara Croft Feminist Icon or Cyber-Bimbo?

Week 3:
Game studies: “Lara Croft: Feminist Icon or Cyber-Bimbo “?

Thesis (Claim and Reason):
Gender in Video-Computer Games, is something that we need to really wonder about and understand how it was portrayed in the games of “Past” as well as in “Today’s”. The changes that have occurred over time could be compared to being considered almost like an Evolution format.

On the average it had been said that girls and women are less involved in video games that are boys and men, and when they do play, they often prefer different games. Of course, that was then and this is now. On the average the number of males vs. females playing videos has risen over the years. Mainly, due to the evolution of the female characters in a lot of the ever popular videos games out in today’s world.

Over time there has been research done on exploring the likes and dislikes of the female gamer, and they discovered that the amount of female gamers have risen from 33% to over 45%. That is almost having the gamers out there in today’s world. So, today’s game players are no longer overwhelmingly male dominated.

It had been noted that females may tend to regard contemporary computer games (even those designed for male players) as “sites for female participation and resistance to societal gender roles and conceptions of masculinity and femininity”. But, while they are trying to per say increase the female role as an icon as well as a gamer, it is doing more harm than good.

Section I:

Claim: The Meteoric Rise of Lara Craft: she has changed over the years into a supposedly stronger female, and never looks like the normal next door neighbor girl.

Evidence: All of the females that have either portrayed “Lara” in the movies, or video games (such as physical shape, voices etc) have never been anyone else other that someone who is in great shape. Angelina Jolie (Tomb Raider movies-2001 and 2003), Jill de Jong (2007), Karima Adebibe (2007) are just a few of them. It has been said that the raising status of Croft as a sex symbol in the video games (due to the increasingly gratuitous artwork and advertisement) as being detrimental to the character, who has gained more attention from her appearance than her tough-as-nails spirit and determination.

Section II:

Claim: There are supposed to be some major changes happening with “Lara”, why does it seem like it will be worse that better before it’s over.

Evidence: It has even been stated that she would undergo a redesign and become more “demure” in Tomb Raider: Legend for the sake of becoming more appealing to female gamers. However, it has been said that some of the outfits that she wears in this game are more revealing than outfits seen in previous games, with many of them showing her cleavage and/or midriff (although most of the available outfits are fairly modest). It seems like she is being design to portray like “Eye and Thumb Candy for the boys out there”, vs. as a strong dependable , seeker of the truth, both large and small that it has been said she was suppose to be doing and continues to this day.

Section III: Dealing with the opposition

Twenty-five years ago video games were something that guys played (mainly kids and some adult males), in today’s world the landscape is shifting. While the gaming world is pretty much male dominated, there is a large and growing population of female gamers out there.
Video game companies need to improve the attention to the designing of the games more, because per research it has been shown that the female gender (gamers) are shelling out almost as much money as it’s male counterparts.

Mainly because if we continue to cater to the existing (male) players, we’re never going to grow, thus decreasing the possibility of that Pot of Gold increasing more than it already is and that could mean the possibility of losing billions.

The first thing that the gaming companies need to understand is that male and female gamers are wired differently. They need to understand that women are looking for a quick fix, a game that they can hop in and out of with relative ease. Spending time trying to improve the characters abilities is more a male thing. Thus they need to be creating a more realistic heroine and not a scantily clad Tomb Raider.

Conclusion:

Now supposedly, here is this intelligent, beautiful, athletic woman, who also happens to be named on Game Fly’s List of Hottest Chicks Ever (2008), as well as honored with a star on the Walk of Game (2006) and even made the Guinness World Record as being recognized as “Most Successful Human Video Game Heroine. And on a poll held by MSN in 2008 of who was the most Iconic video game character, in which Lara came in 3rd but actually drew with Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog.

With all of this going on, why is she allowing them to portray her as a Cyber Bimbo? Lara Croft is considered by critics and fans alike as one of the most significant game characters in popular culture as well as the most famous female video-game character (which we know as she has been names in the Guinness Book of Records).

Yet, she has allowed them to dress her like a “Bimbo”, as well as being portrayed seemingly in an increasingly bloodthirsty manner (in the first two sequels of the series), and also not giving Lara the option to avoid lethal force against human characters. But it was said that they did a subplot in “Anniversary” where Lara mentions feeling guilty that she was forced to kill for the first time. According to Toby Gard (the original designer), he was stated as saying; “We wanted to make Lara’s first kill more meaningful”. Yes, let’s make her seem more human, and not just a killing machine like the rest of the video world.

We need to improve on all video games, and especially the ones with female characters. Females need to be portrayed as strong, independent and yet intelligent. Not all females go around killing people or dressing like Bimbos. They should try to make it a bit more realistic.

A very important way to reach females (as gamers) as well as the men out there is to create realistic heroines, not damsels in distress and certainly not scantily clad Tomb Raiders. In today’s world women and girls both are put off by the misogynistic treatment of females, where they are often nothing more that bikini-clad digital eye candy.

Games like the ones today; that have their female characters portrayed in this fashion, tend to lead the men in the world to assume (stereotype) all females that they have come in contact with and any that they will come in contact with in the near future. This could end up causing more harm than good for females in today’s world, where we have enough to deal with.

Week 2: Those nasty Importance/Influences of Literature in Video Games: “To Be or Not To Be” (that is the question)

The synthesis of these articles is that each one addresses one form or another on the importance and influences of “Literature in those video games out there. The articles may not have the same opinion of how literature is portrayed in video games, but the concepts of the articles are very clear.

A Video game must have some sort of story in it, thus literature comes into play. It has been said throughout time that you need literature in order to start (create) a video game. They will involve fiction, non-fiction, or even those really great mythical creatures (such as Unicorns, Ogres, etc). You will notice that they can be produced (or in some cases reproduced off of) books, those popular movies, and I have noticed even off of some histories events.

And sometimes those books or movies will be educational and most likely will be fun to read or watch. Also, if it’s a really good one it will leave you hanging at the end, not wanting it to stop. Some will be a series or have a sequel, and you will go crazy waiting for the next one to come out.
And both videos and books have equality in them: with Video games each action helps you to create more of a story line thus creating the need to see what is behind the wall/around the corner. In Books getting you to turn the pages and not wanting to put it down till you finished it (even if it’s late at night).

The great thing about video games, you’re writing the pages in the virtual book because it documents every step you take. You can pick and choice the options, you are in control per say. The games pretty much is never ending, and if you’re not careful you can become addicted to it and forget to eat and sleep. Videos end up becoming your only connection to reality and life in general.


With being able to write those virtual pages/books is sometimes a great thing, because as they said in the CBS article; “Human beings are storytellers; it is part of our genetic makeup. From cave paintings to mind-numbing advertisements and the mental catheter that is television, tales are told”. And it even went on to tell us: “We are compulsive storytellers, spending millions of dollars and many years of our life creating new ways of sharing those narratives. Whole industries have been birthed through the desire to tell stories”.


This is so true, many of a story can be found on a video game. Some are war games, driving games (motorcycles, cars etc). This is why these have similarities to literature, just as Books on Tapes have their connections. Now while there is so much money being spent to create Video games as well as prompt them, it can also be said; millions are being on a yearly base on playing the games, with children as well as adults spending their hard earned money on them.


Now, don’t think that I don’t like video games (from the little bit that I have ever played on them). In my personal opinion they have some educational as well as personal value to them. Educational wise: they help you to increase your math and science skills, just like we saw Steve Wiebe do in Donkey Kong. They help with hand and eye coordination, learning how to think and re-act on your feet per say. It can be interesting to see who wins; you or the machine/game. Plus it can actually help keep children out of trouble. I rather see my teenage son playing video games vs. running the streets.


Now this can also depending on the child or adult, because with some of the games being a bit to the extreme in the violence department and even somewhat gross. They could cause issues/problems later in life. So, I feel that if we monitor the games and our children (as well as the adults around us playing video games)who play them, we should be able to nip any problems in the bud.

Week 1: Those Games We Play.......King of Kong

That video clip/movie that we got to watch in class was so great; it was a great example about the games we play. It really got down to the nitty gritty about the ins and outs of video games. Especially in regards to what people go through to be the best they can be out there. Especially in the one and great video out there: “Donkey Kong” (where you climb up ladders and fight the monkey to save the lady, and earn all those great points/high scores).

And watching the villain “Billy Mitchell", mess around with the good guy “Steve Wiebe". Billy came off as such a prejudice jerk (Similar to being the monkey-Kong) and Steve is a really simple nice guy (like Mario-the hero in the game). Billy also comes off like he thinks he is such a Hero (like Superman or Mario). When in reality he was really such a self-centered person (like Kong) who thought that the rules didn't apply towards his playing.

Look at Steve; who had such low esteem about himself and ten getting laid off from his job at Boeing (where he was an Engineer, he then later went on to become a Science Teacher). With video game playing, he found something that he felt good at (he used his math and engineer skills) and was very good at, thus he built up his confidence in himself and went on to bypass Billy's high score and that "Jerk (Billy of course) tried to make it seem like Steve had cheated, and worked on getting the officials from Twin Galaxies not to accept it.

Billy has his great friend and protégé "Brian Kuh" to go investigate it (where they discover the board was provided by “Roy Shildt, who is Billy’s nemeses for years/unknown to Steve of course). They work it till they get Twin Galaxies to state that "No video entries are valid". (But, hmmm how did Billy enter his; "Wow via video" and they took it as gold, even when there was all that fuzziness on it)
This man "Billy", wears interesting ties (that everyone think that they are betokening American Patriotism) all though the video (these actually stem from his 1999 race to become the first person to achieve a perfect score of Pac-Man-I discovered this fact during my research on this video) he is portrayed through the movie is as an over bearing "King of Video's" with a wife that is slightly well endowed. Then there is Steve; poor man who lost his job, and is so stressed out on making something of himself and taking care of his family, his wife is running around all stressed out chasing Steve and their children all over the place. And even with all the head games and such done on Steve, he made it to the top. While interestingly; Billy's kids are never really seen in the video nor does he ever really play at the championship play off's.
With all that Steve Wiebe had to go through just to be recognized as one of the "Top Video Game/Donkey Kong Player's it's a amazing show of faith and determination of what someone can do if they want to. He fought hard and got his place in the spotlight, even through was just brief moment in time. Because of course “Billy Mitchell" had to rush out and proof that he was the King of Video Playing. And imagine this, he (Billy) was allowed to enter in a video of his playing and accomplishing the higher score. Wasn't it interesting how fuzzy and not realistic like that the video was and hmmm, they had of course accepted it as a valid entry and score.
But, the ending of the video was the best of all; it showed that there are still some honest people out there in the world. When Wiebe learned that the Guinness World Records wants to publish several Twin Galaxies records-including Mitchells latest score, and he gather his family travel all the way to Hollywood Florida, near Mitchells home to challenge him in a public competition. But, of course Mitchell refused to accept it and Wiebe failed to surpass a million points (he went ahead and played anyway). And Day (the head of Twin Galaxies), went ahead and finally acknowledges Wiebe's integrity and credibility. Posting his (Wiebes) scores and making him officially a high score contender in the game of "Donkey Kong". Giving him the credit he deserved and had for a long time.
The rivally between Billy Mitchell and Steve Wiebe continues on even in today’s world. Wiebe has made four (4) well published attempts at regaining the Donkey Kong title. They were on 08/19/2007, 03/06/2008, 07/17/2008, and the most current one was 10/2008 at the 2008 E for All Expo, where he was close in regaining the title (he scored 1,00,200 in front of a large public crowd-making this the 2nd time a 1 million point score has been made in public). Steve is planning on attempting again to beat Billy's record (and regain the title) at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2009 on June 2nd, 2009 from the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The event will be officiated by Twin Galaxies Rep's and will be on National Cable Television. They will be on-hand for this historic first time live airing on national television of a World Record attempt, and will be airing on the G4 Network.
Twin Galaxies is the official scorekeeping organization for the world of video and pinball games! Recognized as such by Guinness World Records, numerous films and television shows, and the

Twin Galaxies is the official scorekeeping organization for the world of video and pinball games. And they are recognized as such by Guinness World Records.