Dust off the old cartridge, because we're talking about
video games. They might feel like a staple in modern day
life, but just a few decades ago...video games were as new
and fascinating as virtual reality is now. Video games have
influenced our culture, history, and way of life since 1972.
Pong - the classic game that's essentially electronic tennis.
Developed by Atari...Pong caught on instantly and was Sears'
hottest selling item on the department store shelves. In the
1980's we met Donkey Kong...and along with him...of course,
Mario, who would become the face of Nintendo for years to come.
In the 90's, Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog broke onto the
scene...and a few years later Pokemon became the most popular
children character...selling out toys, trading cards, and even a movie.
Gaming has gone from arcade games to consoles to
online-gaming and smartphones...setting up a whole
new culture to go along with each. While video games are
often based in fantasy...they also reflect both history and
current events. Whether that's a good or a bad thing...is up for debate.
War is often something depicted in popular games like
Call of Duty and Warfare. Players can pretend they are
fighting in the war on terror in Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan...or
jump back in time to World War Two. But do violent games lead
to violence in real life? According to the American
Psychological Association, violent video games can be a risk factor for aggression.
In 2017, APA concluded that violent
video game exposure was linked to increased aggressive
behaviors, thoughts, and emotions, as well as decreased
empathy. But it's not all bad. Tech media company inverse
published a report about the changing landscape of gaming.
Writing that the industry is prioritizing empathy by
diversifying characters and creating different goals. Many
times, games can enhance learning and curiosity in
players...and can even be educational. Video games known
as "stimulation games" like the popular Tycoon series and The
Sims are a good examples of this. In Rollercoaster
Tycoon...players must successfully build and manage an
amusement park...bringing in enough guests to keep it afloat
and managing every aspect of the business. And of course...we
can't talk about strategic life simulation games without talking
about The Sims...where players have to build and decorate a
home, manage relationships, and stay happy while on a budget.
(Yeah...unless you knew that Rosebud cheat code but let's
pretend we played fair.) The nonprofit Games for Change has
been contributing to this so-called renaissance in
gaming...rewarding innovators and raising interest in games
with positive real world application.