Many parents and teachers prevent their children from playing video games because of the common belief that these video games will stun the children’s development, social skills and ultimately cause them to become violent criminals.

There is definitely a difference between the games available.

Violent, shoot ‘em up, war games (that are often not educational) are wildly popular amongst gamers, yet there are many other types and genres of games that actually stimulate the mind. For example the game ‘The Sims’.

Even certain games that simulate warfare (futuristic or realistic) can be very beneficial to the development of your brain. I’m talking about strategy games where the aim of the game is to strategically build and control your structures and units in such a way that you outsmart or out-think your opponent. Just like the game of chess for example.

Of course this is just my view and experience about video games. Let’s take a look at what other sources and studies suggest.

Violent Video Game Effect Studies

Violent Video Games – Apa.org- 2003

“Studies provide converging evidence that exposure to media violence is a significant risk factor for aggressive and violent behavior.

More research is needed to: (a) refine emerging general models of human aggression; (b) delineate the processes underlying short and long term media violence effects; (c) broaden these models to encompass aggression at the level of subcultures and nations.”

Violent Video Games – Apa.org – 2000

Violent Video Games – 2005

“210 college students were allowed to play Wolfenstein 3D, an extremely violent game, or Myst, a nonviolent game. After a short time, it was found that the students who played the violent game punished an opponent for a longer period of time compared to the students who played the non violent game. Dr. Anderson concluded by saying, “Violent video games provide a forum for learning and practising aggressive solutions to conflict situations. It the short run, playing a violent video game appears to affect aggression by priming aggressive thoughts.”"

Studies Showing Video Game Benefits

Mental Health Benefits of Video Games – 2009

“Carmen Russoniello, who directs the psychophysiology lab and biofeedback clinic at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., is conducting the controlled research studies for PopCap. He said he has found the same pattern among many volunteers: Certain games allow people to fall into a rhythm where they can play without either effort or boredom. Russoniello said some games seem to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which can reduce the heightened tension that is a natural response to stress.”

Benefits of Video Game Playing – 2008

“In one paper, Fordham University psychologist Fran C. Blumberg, PhD, and Sabrina S. Ismailer, MSED, examined 122 fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders’ problem-solving behavior while playing a video game that they had never seen before to show that playing video games can improve cognitive and perceptual skills.

As the children played the game, they were asked to think aloud for 20 minutes. Researchers assessed their problem-solving ability by examining the types of cognitive, goal-oriented, game-oriented, emotional and contextual statements they made.”

Cognitive Benefits of Video Games – 2010

“A study published this past September suggests that playing Tetris can make your brain more efficient. Some medical education programs are supplementing training with Second Life sessions. And, most recently, a review of previous research on video games published in Current Directions in Psychological Science finds that regularly playing video games not only improves your skill at those particular games, but may also improve your reaction time and accuracy on real-life tasks.”

The Problem With Video Game Studies

The Problem With Video Game Studies – 2009

“Most researchers assume that video games are completely interchangeable with one another, a concept any gamer would find as ludicrous as the idea that all books are the same or all movies are basically identical. One study by two American media researchers acknowledged this limitation. In an article published in the Journal of Communication in 2007, James Ivory and Sriram Kalyanaraman carefully chose to contrast violent and non-violent games with very similar gameplay styles and presentations. Probably not coincidentally, their study found no significant differences in aggression levels between the players of the different games.”

Here’s What I Think About Video Games

When I was just 4 or 5 years old my parents bought me my first video game console. It was the original Nintendo, on which I spent many days, weeks and months playing Mario and Zelda.

I have had many different game consoles and computers since my first trusty old Nintendo and I have spent countless hours playing games of all types.

When I was 15 my friends and I were really into computer gaming. We spent days modifying our computers and adding lights and fans to make it look cool and unique (and yes, there was the occasional breaking of expensive hardware that we tried to modify). We would regularly get together over weekends and network our computers (sometimes 8 or 10 of us) and pig out on great food and play games for 48 hours straight.

There were even monthly network events that allowed hundreds of gamers to come together in massive halls and network their computers to play games against each other.

So yes, you can say I have a bit of knowledge and experience when it comes to video games.

Video Games Are Good…In Moderation

Just like with anything in life, a healthy balance is necessary when it comes to video games too.

• Violent War Games
  I believe that violent war and shooting games should not be played by children of a young age and I believe that they could indeed lead to increased aggression among people. However, the experience is different for every person and some may be affected while others are completely unaffected.




• Strategy and Puzzle Games
  Strategy games and puzzle games are ones that really are beneficial to your thinking and development. There are consequences to every action you take in the game, so you learn to outsmart and out-think your opponent.

  One of the most popular puzzle games of all time is Tetris and there are even multiplayer versions available. I believe that the most played and most popular strategy game in the world is Starcraft.




• Video Games Can Be Addictive
  That sounds like a warning label on a cigarette box.

  However, it’s true. Video games can be very addictive and I know this from experience. A new game can easily tempt you to play it for hours a day. A popular online game called The World of Warcraft (with over 10 million players) has that affect on people. Some players are in the game 10 hours a day or more. There have been cases of people getting divorced, getting fired from their jobs and it’s even rumoured that someone died because they played a video game for too long without sleep or proper nutrition.

  While these are extreme cases, it is good to know that you should moderate the amount of time playing video games. They are fun and can be social when you are playing with your friends, but there is a real world out there too. Try to limit the game-play to one or two hours a day.

To Sum Up

• Keep young kids away from violent video games.




• Video games are social and fun to do with your friends.




• Video games can develop your thinking and brain power.




• Keep a healthy balance of gaming and real life!