The video game craze in contemporary local culture

JAKARTA (JP): When do people start playing video games? Why are so many people addicted? Do video games affect people's activities?

Such questions emerge amidst the mushrooming of video game centers in Indonesian cities.

In the following, The Jakarta Post seeks to find some of the pros and cons of this recent phenomenon.

Hana Susanti, junior high school student, South Jakarta: "I have loved video games since I was in the third grade. Then, I used to go to a neighboring video game center with my friends. Now, I am not afraid to go to other centers by myself, even though it's far from home, just because of the challenge involved in finding new games. Sometimes I spend more than Rp 10,000 in one visit."

"Playing games makes me forget other things, including having lunch. I go straight from school to malls to find new centers I've heard about from my friends. Video games help me kill time with something exciting. Getting the highest score is my goal."

Deni W. Wibawa, teller for a private bank, Central Jakarta: "I started playing video games at university with some of my friends, just to pass the time and have some fun. Besides, my university, Tarumanegara, is close to a mall where I can find a video game center while I'm hanging around."

"Video games don't affect me, or my activities, and I'll say I am not addicted to it. I only play whenever I am visiting a mall, or have nothing else to do."

"Playing games is good, it brings lots of fun, especially when you have to beat the new games. But, playing new games is getting more and more expensive now, especially in the malls. I think video game centers should restrict children, especially students, from playing during school hours. Who knows, many children skip class, change their uniforms and play."

Yanti Kusuma, housewife, Central Jakarta: "I never play video games myself. I just accompany my children, who drag me here while I am shopping. My children refuse to go home unless I allow them to play. They can spend an hour or so just playing one game. I try to take the kids home, but they insist on playing. They finally agree to leave after I no longer have money to buy the coins. But, they check my purse to make sure."

"Actually, I don't want my children to get addicted to these kinds of games. I am afraid it will make them forget their meals or home work. But, there's not much I can do. It's difficult to reject their requests, especially in front of the public."

"The games are interesting, but some of them are too violent for children. Most of the games involve shooting, killing, fighting. I don't think it's good for children."

David, Gunadharma University student, Depok, West Java: "I come all the way around to Plaza Senayan, Central Jakarta to play some games, because my friends said to me the video game center here is good. I started playing the games when I was in junior high school with my friends. Then, I had to save my allowance before I went to a video game center on the weekend."

"I like video games because they are exciting and fun and they make me forget the routine. However, I realize I have to spend my allowance on the games. I only play the games on weekends, mostly on Sundays, so it doesn't disturb my studies or other activities. But, once I play them, I forget everything else around me. I could spend hours just playing games."

"Playing games is good as long as you can control it, once you lose control, it will eat you."

H. Parapak, Kosti taxi driver: "I don't know why people, especially children, like playing video games. In my opinion, I think it's only wasting time, and especially money. There are better things to do than wasting money on video games."

"My youngest child said he wants to play video games and asked me for the money. I got angry with him, and told him I don't work hard just so you can waste the money. He seems to understand my objections though, as he's never said anything about it since. I don't know much about video games, but I think it has little advantage. As I said before, it's just wasting money and time."

Daryatna, street vendor, Atrium Senen area: "I like watching people playing video games. They're fun. I watch them playing and learn about the games. Once I know how to do it, I'll play myself. But, I only play when I have enough money. My friends also like playing video games, and we come here almost everyday, mainly when there's not many customers around, or at night."

When I play, I only bring a small amount of money, not all I earn from working. I do this because it is hard for me to stop after a game. I want to get higher and higher scores. If I don't leave some of my money at home, I'll definitely be broke."

"For people like me, maybe video games have disadvantages, like wasting my money, but for rich people, I don't think they have problems with it." (ste)