Discussion - Impact of Games Players

Perhaps one of the largest impacts of ICT on the personal lives of young people has been the explosive growth of home games players or "play" stations. An article in new scientist (23rd October 2004, p.26) stated that $3.8 thousand million of games were sold in 1995, rising to $6 thousand million in 1998 and $7 thousand million by 2003. It is estimated that 25% of these games were violent.

Why are computer games so popular?
They offer cheap entertainment and turn an othewise ordinary adult into some sort of heroic character. Also it draws people in because you can do this without leaving you house, not even to buy it!

Do computer games make you more violent?
From my point of veiw they do not make everyone more violent, GTA is a prime example, all of my friends in junior school got GTA 3 even though it was an 18, I did not see any change in thier behavious, except when playing it. But on the whole it has actually been scientiffically proven that computer/video games do make you more violent.

Do computer games make you more isolated?
I agree with this statement, although it depends on how you define isolated, because nearly all computer games are online these days so you are rarely playing alone. But if its defined via not comming into contact realistically with other people then yes, it does make you more isolated compared to going outside with your mates.

Do networked computer games make you more or less social?
I would say computer games make you less social because when playing on the computer for example, you are typing typing to speak to people, and it usually justn lasts a few mins, so the ability to create a large conversation in the real world becomes more challenging.