Playing Video Games : The Infinite Worlds And Possibilities That Are Unlocked By Playing Games Essay

Tom Bissell, in his essay, “Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter” has described video games and how they are unique and different from movies, books, or even interactive films. Bissell says “I came to accept that games were incompetent with almost every aspect of what I would call traditional narrative.” This is showing the readers that even though there is a plot and story line, as characters can control and alter the story line or outcome by what you do or see throughout the game.

The author argues elderly and non-gamers have a pessimistic vision of technology and video games, assuming they are addictive and insignificant. Wright emphasize video games are vigorous and can set a creative imagination and boost self-assurance. Wright points out the difference between observing a video game and having an actual participation, there is possession of owning an actual experience. Wright continues to persuade that gamers have “possibility space” meaning there are multi opportunities to create, maneuver and succeed personal effect appropriate to each individual gamer.

There is much knowledge within video games today. Being able to do things in a video game that some people can’t do in real life is important and I like that about video games. Some people may want to be a doctor, a NBA player, and a race car driver all at the same time and can do that with video games. Gaming can be based on real life situations and some can be based on fantasy situations which can let yourself have an

The sociological interpretations of video games are almost as numerous as the games themselves, and like many aspects of our society can be harmful or beneficial depending on how they are utilized by an

Playing videogames can be a social activity, gaming consoles have advanced overtime, it now allows us to play videogames online with our friends and meet new people. Videogames are also used by our generation to pass the time, like when a person isn’t busy one weekend so he spends that weekend playing videogames with friends who are also not busy; or if someone is in the waiting room of the doctors office, waiting for the nurse to tell him or her when the doctor is ready to see, they might play a game to pass the time. Videogames also give us things to talk about with one another. Many videogames have unique story plotlines with bizarre worlds that have their own lore; some videogames have scoring systems which creates competitivity. Some videogame even have characters that come with stats. So videogames gives us a lot to discuss about.

Would you believe the trial of a man that committed: 137 murders, 35 accounts of grand theft auto, ran over 42 pedestrians, totaled 35 cars, had 5 accounts of rape, and one account of manslaughter while driving intoxicated? That is a hard case for anyone to think it was rational. Better yet, what if the case description explained that all of the above crimes were committed in just two hours’ time? Anybody who thought rationally would think it was impossible in any real life situation, and they are exactly right. I am not talking about something in real life, but something maybe… even scarier, and that is the engaging nature of video games. Video games these days are very vivid and create engaging sequences of real life action that go above and beyond what anyone would have pictured even five years ago. The amount of work gone into video games is very impressive; creating detailed, rich, environments of: London’s downtown bay, the jungles of South America, or the beauty of Chicago’s china town. The graphics and scenery are only half of the impressive technology gone into video games. Gameplay itself is very unique and provides high action, quick decision making skills to survive in the unique three dimensional worlds. However, this quick, decisive, gameplay does not always promote the best learning environment. With gaming becoming such a real life experience, it has found its way into violent video games such as Call of

“Be a Gamer, Save the World,” written by Jane McGonigal, is an article found in the Norton Reader 14th Edition. Video game critics are often quick to dismiss playing video games as brain numbing and a waste of time. McGonigal challenges critics of video games by discussing the benefits of playing video games. She makes a valid point by stating that video games make players more optimistic and help create better social bonds. These emotions can encourage people to desire working for the betterment of the world. McGonigal believes we can solve some of the world’s most difficult issues with the use of video games. The author makes a valid point, especially considering the advancements in technology and the

According to Jane McGonigal in “Be a gamer, save the world”, video games have the ability to provide gamers with an opportunity to live a happy meaningful life by offering the hope of success with strong social connection and a satisfying work environment with a chance of becoming a part of something bigger. McGonigal believes that video games give gamers a sense of self and allows them to reach outside of who they are and empowers them to tackle real-world problems. Typically gamers are looked at as being escapist, someone who tries to get away from reality, but the reality is playing video games has helped players to become the best version of them self. In McGonigal's article, she makes some good points. For example, by the evidence provided

Video game effects are relatively new in modern society. Even though these games are often entertaining, the content of the game has been increasingly more and more violent as technology becomes more prevalent. The popularity of violent video games has caused an increase in controversy. Parents and experts feel that some games are just too violent and they demand the government to regulate the sales of these games. However, violent video games do not cause an increase in aggression, in adolescents. The forceful plan by the government is caused by an exaggeration of the effects of violent video games and this plan are indeed pointless.

Tom Bissell presents an article in 2010, to college students of which is “Why Video Games Matter.” Bissell isn’t intending for the argument to be about video game criticism, the history of the gaming, or an assessment of anything. On the contrary, he wants to articulate his own opinions and thoughts on what playing games feels like, why he plays them, and the questions they make him think about. Being a gamer myself, I have also endured the struggles of what being obsessed with a video game feels like. It is understood that when first purchasing a video game, all one thinks about is getting home and popping it in the console, disregarding everything else that is happening in the vicinity.

He shows how video games enhance creativity, community, problem-solving skills, and self-expression. By engaging players in simulated worlds, video games expand their minds and their imagination. Rather than using the linear approach, players learn to play a video game and master the various levels through a creative problem-solving approach based on the scientific method of hypothesis, experiment and analysis. Video games entertain and educate on a level beyond any other medium by allowing the player to be actively engaged and interact with various aspects of the game environment. Through amplifying the power of human imagination rather than denigrate society, video games benefit and enhance

It’s easy to see the appeal of the video game. They allow us to do things that most people would never have the chance to experience, or something that’s flat out impossible. From the roar of a massive v-12 engine in a Ferrari, screaming down a straight at 230 miles per hour, to the rat-tat-tat of a heavy machine gun, complete with the imagined scent of cordite and powdery, obliterated dry wall, or even directing stalwart troops across a decimated sci-fi battlefield, there’s nothing quite like the visceral experience of a well-made video game. I’ve plummeted feet-first through Earth’s fiery atmosphere in a vessel no bigger than a phone booth with blue and purple iridescent plasma-bolts

Due to this “possibility space,” people can not only imagine different scenarios, but they can be involved in and create them. Gamers expand their people skills learning “creativity, community, self-esteem, and problem-solving” because they are able to “create and interact with elaborately simulated worlds, characters, and story lines.” Thus, video games have become a vehicle for self-expression. Moreover, in the near future, these games will adjust themselves in accord with who the players are and what they like. “And more than ever, games will be visible, external amplification of the human imagination” (279-283).

Many young children and teenagers have heard their mother’s incessant plead to get away from the screen and to go outside or pick up a book for once instead. The urge to play “just one more level” before starting that homework or doing those chores can be quite distracting. But are video games really as awful as Mom exclaims or as brutal as those TV ads depict? It turns out that video games can have a strong impact on participants’ lives in both positive as well as negative ways.

Video games in today’s society have become very popular. Every new game that comes out to be played and conquered by the average gamer has its own category. There are several other types of genres of games that people play but because of big hit titles and the new popular game systems like the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, people become more interested in a game that is well known than a game they have never even heard of before. Every game has its own storyline and own way of how it unfolds and where the game ends according to game play. Some of the biggest reasons people sway to certain genres of games is because of the game titles released under them and the demand of people who want a good game under that category. The top three most