Video games are advanced, hands on form of entertainment that have been played for the past fifty-five years. The number of users of video games has dramatically increased over the past five decades, which has immensely impacted American society through numerous positive and negative aspects. Video games have emerged as one of the most popular forms of entertainment and have severely improved in quality on account of technological advancements. The very first video game ever created was by a man named Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. The console was actually a device used in science called a Cathode ray tube. “The ray tube was inspired by radar display technology and consisted of a device that allowed the user to control a small vector-drawn dot on the screen. It simulated missiles fired at targets, which were simply drawn on the screen” (Welcome to Pong-Story). In 1968, Ralph Baer invented the first publicly played home video game console. He referred to the console as “Brown Box.” Brown Box played multiple games but the most popular games were ball and paddle games, and target shooting games. Baer pitched his invention to several television manufacturers and later signed a contract with Magnavox in 1971. After renaming Brown Box to Odyssey, Magnavox released the first home video game to the public in 1972. In that same year, Atari released the first arcade game, called PONG. The inventors of PONG planed to license their product to companies capable of producing large amounts; but after realizing the enormous potential behind their product, decided to sell the system themselves. They tested PONG out at a bar named Andy Capps and had huge success. In November of 1972, PONG started rolling of the assembly line. According to Nolan Bushnell... ... middle of paper ... ...013. . Norcia, Andrea. "Parents & Teachers: Violent Video Games & Aggressive Behaviors." n. page. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. . Olson, Cheryl. "8 Reasons Video Games Can Improve Your Child." (2013): n. page. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. . Overweight and Obesity. n. page. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. . Playing Video Games Offers Learning Across Life Span. (2008): n. page. Print. . Toppo, Greg. "Video Games Boost Autistic Kids." USA Today 31 05 2012, n. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. Video Game Addiction. n. page. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. . Video Game Industry Statistics , . "How Much Do You Know About Video Games?." (2010): n. page. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. . Winter, David. "Welcome to Pong-story." n. page. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. .
At this day in age we bask in the luxury of having easy access to advanced technology at our disposal. From the World Wide Web, to cell phones, music, movies and video games the human race has thought of any and everything to keep us entertained. Over the years studies have shown reasonable concerns regarding the long-term effects of video games. These games can desensitize gamers to real life violence, which is usually seen in the younger crowd. The studies especially hit on the games containing player-on-player violence. Though these games are extremely entertaining and can get kids to settle down for a while, if not properly supervised, they can produce adverse effects. Other studies have shown that video games can be used as way to yield positive outcomes such as, good problem solving skills, cooperation in a group and the ability to flow. Although there has been psychological research on children learning through the actions of others some believe that children are automatically able to distinguish between what is just a game and what is reality. The longer they are allowed on their game system the more they become convinced that their games are real. Some researchers believe violent video games can channel the aggression of the child but the parents are to blame for what happens to the child after playing an excessive amount over a period of time. Children can become preoccupied with these violent video games which have been proven to be the cause of poor social skills, uncontrollable aggression and a false reality.
Boulanger, Amy. "How Video Games Can Help Children Succeed in School." Medical Daily. (2013): n. page. Web. 20 Jan. 2014.
An examination of videogames in popular culture is a complicated one. There is a large debate as to what is the very first video game. The supposed earliest known video game was created by Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann on a cathode ray tube in 1947. The game was a missile simulator similar to radar displays from World War II, and overlaid sheets of paper were used for targets since graphics were unknown at this time. On May 5, 1951, the NIMROD computer was presented in Britain. It used a panel of lights for its display and was used to play a game called “NIM”. Later, in 1952, Alexander S. Douglas made the first compu...
Kent, S. (2001). The Ultimate History of Video Games. New York City, New York: Three Rivers Press.
Video games started as arcade machines with simple graphics and even simpler stories, soon evolving into home gaming with The Magnavox Odyssey, the world’s first home-gaming console. It invaded living rooms in 1972, selling 300,000 units. Since then there has been many consoles and games released, some have been huge commercial successes which
Video games have become a hot topic recently. There have been a lot of controversy over whether to play or not to play. The controversy is due to them being arguably more captivating than all other forms of entertainment. Video games narrate an epic tale like no other form of entertainment can. You can become immersed in video games, because of this they are both a highly entertaining escape from the real world and a complete waste of time.
“The objective of video games are to entertain people by surprising them with new experience” (Shigeru Miyamoto).Video games have been a leisure activity for many people around the world but for some people it has become a way of life. Video games help us escape everyday life and bring us to a land of imagination. That is why many people play video games because it is a great way to relieve stress. Video games have many benefits than just being fun. Not only are video games shown to have positive effects on the individual if used in the right manner, but it also helps to connect people with common interest; bring a sense of community. It is also a resourceful way to find a career path. The components
Video games have come a long way. They have evolved from the simple game of Pong into a complex, multi-platform, multi-genre, multi-billion dollar industry.
Over the past 30 years, playing video games has become one of the most popular hobbies worldwide. Not only has the video game industry become a multi-billion dollar industry, but it has attracted people from all age types. While video games today are played by both kids and adults, there are many issues being raised regarding the effects of video games. More particular, is the effect that violent video games may be having on children. Some critics argue that video games are direct indicators of child aggression while video game supporters argue that there is no direct link between child aggression and violent video games. While many people have their own personal stances, this issue is unique because it is unfolding everyday. Scientists and researchers all over the world are continuously doing research regarding the effects of video games on children. Even though this remains a field of uncertainty for researchers, parents should definitely be involved in being aware of what it is that they’re children are playing when they play video games.
Since the Early 70’s video games have been giving a bad name. Parents state that video games rot the minds of children and are influencing them do be violent. These accusations are far from the truth. In my research I found that there are many positive effects of gaming. Some of these effects are increased skills, creativity, general knowledge, and also help those in need. Parents can also take proper precautions and look into a game before buying it to see if it meets the criteria discussed in this paper.
194 Issue 2, p10-10. Norcia, Andrea. The Impact of Video Games on Children.
Today, video games have become the preferred choice of entertainment among children and teenagers. Research done in 1998 has shown that kids who own video games spend an average of 90 minutes a day playing them. Clearly, the video gaming industry is a profitable one. With the increasing competition between gaming companies, the advancement of technology and content of games began to change. One of the most significant and concerning changes in gaming is graphics.
Nowadays, video games are frequently accused of having detrimental effects on children and adolescents. The main arguments against video games are that they lead to addiction, that they provoke violence, and that they impair social development. Whether or not such claims are true has not been determined with certainty as scientific studies have produced contradictory results. Nevertheless, video games also have beneficial effects, which tend to be underrated, as they do not receive the same level of media coverage that adverse ones do, and are thus unknown to the general public. Some of the positive effects of playing video games on mental development include: stimulating analytical thinking, improving concentration, and encouraging planning and anticipation (“Video game controversies”).
"Video game play may provide learning, health, social benefits." American Psychological Association. February 2014, Vol 45, No. 2
The purpose of this report is to know both the good and bad influences of video games on children’s behavior and mind. Parents aren’t aware of what video games may led their children to, thus an informative report was required to give insights about this important topic.