Despite its rapidly growing popularity in the last decade, the question still remains: Are online games safe?Although each one decides for his or herself what is safe and what is not, there are certain aspects of online gaming that must be considered when deciding whether or not to enter or continue in the realm of online gaming. Online games connect to a network where there is no real regulation of who can enter and who cannot. Therefore, gamers will be playing with people they are likely to have never met before and do not know. This fact can mean that gamers will play with others that they would never dare play anything with if they knew that individual’s character. Even though some of these games are fantasy-related they usually are violent. They often require the bloodshed of characters that are being played by real people. Thus it is clear that any player will be hanging out online with others who do not have a problem with shooting a virtual opponent in the head or killing them in some other manner. The language is often uncensored, and crude speech is frequently found within these networks. Many gamers become so addicted to these online games that they lose sleep, exercise and healthy diet. Whether or not online games really are dangerous, they are clearly risky and often degrading forms of entertainment.
Learning While Playing
With all the fun that happens while playing a game, it is hard to perceive the learning that takes place. Learning in the form of better understanding and knowing culture happens in trivia games such as the Game of Knowledge, Outburst, and Trivial Pursuit. These games also present items and ideas in which gamers may have interest but had never heard of before. Many games teach children new vocabulary within the rules or as part of the game play. Even adults learn new words, especially in games like Taboo, Scrabble, and Scattergories. Other games show on a basic level how more complicated things work. Pit typifies the stock market, Masterpiece resembles real live auctions, and Monopoly teaches principles on real estate, including that of mortgage. Learning can be fun!
Mental Stimulation Through Challenging Games
Although many games appear to be simply for entertainment purposes, more often than not, gamers find themselves challenging themselves and stimulating their brains. Players must make rational decisions or calculated risks during game play to meet the object of the game. The game of Clue might be one of the easiest games to see that games really do promote mental titillation. In this game, deductive logic is used up to match up clues to find out who is the criminal. Rush Hour requires players to use problem solving skills and to see the big picture to find a solution. For this game, players must slide cars either vertically or horizontally on a grid to open a path for the main car to go through. Other games require many different mental abilities, like in Alhambra and Ticket to Ride. These games involve decision-making, like between using your turn to take money for a future investment, or going ahead and spending now while there is still a chance. With games such as these, players develop skills on how and when to spend and on competitiveness, similar to the world of business. These skills among many others can be introduced and enhanced by playing games.
School is not the only place where knowledge can be acquired
From elementary school to college course, games help reinforce the principles taught in these classes. Several ideas from a college economics class, like comparative advantage and trade for example, are used throughout the game Settlers of Catan. The board game Age of Empires will ring familiar with middle school history students as players battle for the colonization of the Americas as different empires. Games with their own currency, like Alhambra or Monopoly, help reinforce the elementary school math of counting money for young children. Anatomy is taught for the youngsters in games like Somebody and Operation. U. S. Geography is tackled extensively in the game Ticket to Ride, while many others like Pandemic take on that of the world. Quiddler, among many others, challenge players on their ability with the English language and creating words. Games like Bang! even help with foreign languages. In Bang! each card is written in both Italian and English. School prepares children and young adults in their future decisions and their goals. The Game of Life also helps gamers have this long-time view. This game helps with decision making and how to deal with unpredicted occurrences. Obviously games are not a substitute for school. They can, however, help students better comprehend and apply the principles learned in class.
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