JP/18/TIPS
checked -- JSR Tips for parents of gamers
Arnawa Widagda Contributor/Jakarta
Video games on both consoles and PCs are getting more and more attention these days.
It has even been estimated that the games industry is worth US$ 20 billion to $30 billion this year, rivaling the traditional sector of the entertainment industry, such as film and music.
This trend is most likely to continue, since the big console makers such as Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony are finalizing plans for their next generation consoles, which should be out by the end of this year. Games are definitely big business.
What's the deal with these games anyway? Well, contrary to what most people think, games are not for kids anymore. Gamer demographics covers all kind of people from differing backgrounds and income levels, ranging from seven- to 65-year-olds, most of whom are still male although female gamers are on the rise.
And despite what you may see in the news, games are not all about violence and sex. Some studies such as that conducted by researchers at Beth Israel and the National Institute on Media and the Family at Iowa State University have shown that doctors playing video games have improved hand-eye coordination, a very important factor when performing surgery.
Patrik Markgren, a teacher at IT-Gymnasiet in Sweden uses Europa Universalis 2, a strategy game set in 15th century to 18th century Europe, to teach high school students about history. They are even used as combat training simulations.
Popular games such as Full Spectrum Warrior and Close Combat: First to Fight are real-time team-strategy games based on training simulations made and used by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps to teach soldiers how to fight in an urban environment.
While this may come as news to some, it is quite natural. Throughout childhood, we play games not just to have fun, but also to learn from our environment. Children playing with Lego are not only making a mess for their parents, but also refining their motor skills and developing imagination and bringing their ideas to fruition. Video and PC games implement the same ideas, usually based on a model of reality.
Parent should not be afraid of their kids playing games, or even the games themselves. But we do need to be careful with video games, just as careful as when we're watching the kids playing while playing sports or playing in the playground.
One guide to choosing what games are approriate for your kids is the game's ESRB rating. Not only do they indicate what age is the game approriate for, but they also indicate what about the game's contents that may not be suitable for your kids.
The next thing you can do is play the game with them, think of it as another way of spending time with the kids. Talk to them and find out what they enjoyed from the game or even discuss how to solve a particular puzzle or problem.
Last but not least, your kids are not stupid. Rather than downright forbidding them playing a game, talk to them about why you feel that game is not suitable for them. Try to suggest another game that you feel is acceptable but is still fun for them.
Just like anything else in life, there is such a thing as too much playing of games. The most often problem is eye strain from looking at the screen for too long, but carpal syndrome or repetitive stress injury may occur if you don't take some precautions and limit the time spent gaming.
Force feedback controllers are best suited for kids above 13 years of age, so it is best to turn them down or completely off if your children are younger. Limit the gaming sessions to two or three hours, and of course make sure they have done their chores and homework first.
Stick to this rule, since game addiction can easily occur in both kids and adults, so don't play longer than what you have told them to.
You may have to be extra-careful with online games, since they usually come with chat capabilities with other gamers. Try sitting in on one of the sessions and feel the area; if you decide that it's not approriate, talk it over with your kids.