Video+Games+-+Social+Aspect

Video games are a huge part of everyday life 2012. They are marketable to people of all ages and genders, they are profitable, some games are designed based off movies to help the film be promoted, and other games branch off into movies and shows of their own. However not everything about video games is positive. For the all the good video games give the economy, they can hurt society just as much.

http://videogames.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=003627

Video games are very addictive, one could say they are the tobacco of the technological world. Some video game players do not know how to limit themselves on the amount of time spent playing games which can lead to severe health problems.

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20040318/video-gamesnot-tvlinked-to-obesity

This 2004 article may be dated, but it also very informative. The article states that while children how often sit and watch t.v all day are still at risk for obesity. The video game players actually spend more time sitting in front of the screen and not doing anything but move their hands.

When a player is deeply involved in a game it is rare for them to do anything until that game is beat. This inactivity can also contribute to weight gain, especially in children that are still growing. Video games, along with other contributing factors, have lead to programs such as NFL Play 60, and the Nickelodeon Worldwide Day of Play that encourage kids to put down the controllers and go outside and be active.

Video games don't just affect the psychical health of its players, but also the mental health. Since the late 90's to the present time the video game world as seen more sex, violence and drugs added into the games. The games such as Mortal Kombat, Call of Duty and Halo are full of violence. While the Grand Theft Auto series made millions of the same amount of violence, plus sex and drugs. media type="youtube" key="iuIweJfkG9w" height="315" width="420"

For the older "gamer" this is just part of the game culture. But to the younger, immature player these games are very impressionable. A study done in 2006 by aacap.org dives deeper into video game violence in the real world, being carried out particularly by children. According to the report children can "numb to the horror of violence, imitate the violence they see, and show more aggressive behavior with greater exposure to violence. Some children accept violence as a way to handle problems."

media type="youtube" key="X3SA0YdK53g" height="315" width="560"

The games are also very unrealistic which in the case of the Call of Duty games could create some problems. http://www.prisonplanet.com/call-of-duty-has-gone-too-far-how-our-children-are-being-programed-right-before-our-very-eyes.html

Video games are here to stay, they are a good way to pass time and contribute to the economy. With limitations of both play and content society will able to embellish these games and end one of the never ending debates between the parents and the gaming companies.

References: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20040318/video-gamesnot-tvlinked-to-obesity http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/child_obesity/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuIweJfkG9w http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/children_and_video_games_playing_with_violence http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3SA0YdK53g http://www.prisonplanet.com/call-of-duty-has-gone-too-far-how-our-children-are-being-programed-right-before-our-very-eyes.html