Undeniably, video games have evolved over the years in terms of design, quality, variety, and so much more. Compared to the past, video games weren’t as fun or exciting – there weren’t as many genres to choose from and everything was dull in color and was two-dimensional. But today, videos games have become more interactive and more realistic. For example, the Nintendo Wii allows the player to be physically active, making the games seem more lifelike and “beneficial”. Who wouldn’t want to play a video game and be fit at the same time?
Though video games have changed over the years, I think they’re still the same – they’re only made for a source of entertainment. Those “beneficial” games that we can play on WiiFit, to help keep us “healthy” and “fit”, may seem like a really cool idea, but it’s really not. It may help a little, but it shouldn’t replace the actual activity that we play on the Wii. For instance, instead of playing soccer or jogging on WiiFit all the time, we should actually do these activities in real life. We may not be as entertained if we were to do the exercise ourselves, but at least we’ll get some fresh air and maybe meet some new people, instead of doing it at home with the WiiFit. Moreover, video games shouldn’t be taken too seriously – they’re pointless, so why bother spending countless hours to get to the next level, when you could be doing other things? They distract you from homework, from socializing with other people, and video games are bad for your vision! Violent games like Call of Duty, can be really bad for young children as well because they might pick up on the bad habits and use it towards other people.
Despite the downsides of video games, they can be good for us too, if we don’t take video games too seriously. For example, they can help us relieve stress and it gives an opportunity for people to spend time with each other. It’s nice to be able to forget about our stress for an hour or two, while enjoying a fun game on the Wii or Xbox. Similarly, games that involve two or more players allow friends and family to spend time together and have fun. In addition, certain video games can help strengthen our problem-solving skills as well.
In my opinion, video games are only detrimental, if the player takes the game too seriously and spends endless hours in front of the television. Although video games have evolved so much over the years, they’re still the same – they’re only made for a source of entertainment. In other words, its purpose is to get rid of our boredom and so, we shouldn’t take it seriously, because it’s not real – it’s only for fun.
Picture Credit:
- http://www.listicles.com/wp-content/upload/evolucion-personajes-videojuegos.jpg
I agree with you when you say video games are still the same, regardless if they're now being made to be 'beneficial' or not. They really keep us entertained while providing us with a bit of opportunity to get exercise. I like how you said that video games shouldn't be taken too seriously, and that they really don't give you enough exercise but instead prove detrimental to your health over time. Being a gamer myself, the effects like homework distraction you mentioned were exactly what I experienced... and am experiencing now. I guess that's one reason I'm commenting so late. :)
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