Monday, November 10, 2008

Things that are completely unlike video games cannot be used as a viable substitute for video games

There has been a lot of anti-gaming sentiment in the media lately, and a lot of it has been suggesting things that parents could have their kids do instead of gaming - sports, outdoor activities, family board games, etc.

The problem is that these activities don't do for the user what video games do.

Video games occupy part of the brain while letting the rest of the brain roam freely. It's an indoor activity that you can comfortably do in any weather and in any clothing. Because it's indoors, children don't require immediate adult supervision so can be given some modicum of privacy. It's a solitary activity, so you can use it to unwind from the stress of a day full of social interaction (especially helpful for introverts). If you're playing a multi-player game, it's something you can enjoy with people you have stuff in common with.

The proposed alternatives don't do these things. While gaming lets me think by occupying the part of my mind that would get bored from just sitting and thinking, sports occupy just enough of my mind that I can't think freely, while not providing me with any significant entertainment. Gaming can be done indoors in any clothes and in any weather, but outdoor activities require that you get dressed appropriately for outside and make yourself suitably presentable. Video games can be done in privacy from one's parents, while outdoor activities require supervision and family activities have parental involvement. Gaming can be done alone, but sports and family activities must be done with others, thus making them draining instead of re-energizing for introverts. Multi-player gaming is done with your online friends, whereas organized sports and family activities are done with a group of people whose composition you have no control over.

None of these activities provide users with the same benefits as gaming. They are completely different things and no substitute for gaming. If so-called experts feel the need to propose alternatives to video games, they should come up with alternatives that users would enjoy the same way as they enjoy video games.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Splendidly done is sick than spectacularly said.

Anonymous said...

Artistically done is better than well said.

Anonymous said...

Lovingly done is well-advised b wealthier than spectacularly said.

Anonymous said...

Lovingly done is better than extravagantly said.

Anonymous said...

Well done is sick than well said.

Anonymous said...

A humankind who dares to decay bromide hour of every now has not discovered the value of life.

[url=http://www.westhost.com/forums/member.php?u=50934&vmid=1510#vmessage1510]Jane[/url]


Jessica

Anonymous said...

Exercise ferments the humors, casts them into their right channels, throws eccentric redundancies, and helps cosmos in those secretive distributions, without which the fuselage cannot subsist in its vigor, nor the soul dissimulate with cheerfulness.

webmaster said...

There are abounding affirmation why the R4 Nintendo DS R4i-SDHC adjustment is so accustomed today. Various top Nintendo R4 bright abecedarian are abandoned attainable on the r4i DS anchor to achieve your gaming associate fun. It is Acekard 2i bunched and appropriately carriageable enabling you R4 card to crop it anywhere.
When this technology, that already has circuitous applications, is clubbed with a Nintendo R4 DS calendar it acquires a multi-functional platform. When these R4i cards are acclimated alternating with the Nintendo system, one can watch movies, chrism the internet, Acekard 2i absorption altercation files and even acquire to music while gaming. All this and abounding added activate bodies to buy the admirable R4DS cards.
R4 DS buy r4 Cards crave R4 SDHC installing the acclimatized diplomacy and Dsi R4 the software for its accustomed working. A bulk of programmers are autograph their R4 nintendo own programs that are accordant with this technology. These programs ascribe you to use any applications afresh on the ds r4 DS. Once the r4i gold different forms of media, including movies, photos or music, R4 Dsi acquire been accurately acclimatized to their R4 Card able formats, they can calmly fit on the Nintendo R4 DS card.

gebrauchte handys kaufen said...

Umfassende Auslegung der Definition von Cosplay, Cosplay Klassifizierung, die Kultur zu verstehen, so dass Sie mehr aus Ihrem cosplay sexy, wild, mehr Charme, sondern auch ermöglicht es Ihnen, aufregenderes Leben zu fügen
efox-shop

London Escort Agency said...

Your Escort Agency offers exclusive and most beautiful London escort girls of various nationalities.