Socialising through
games.
The gaming community
has grown significantly over the last few years with the explosion of online
gaming. MMOs (massive multiplayer online games) have proven to be very popular,
in these games you join a large community of players from all over the world to
play together. Player communities are formed and people make teams and talk
with one another, some people only talk about the game they are playing working
together to get through a certain part in the game. While others like to make
friends and use the socialising aspect of the game to its fullest. Following an experiment in (2006 by Constance
Steinkuehler, Ph.D., and Dmitri Williams, Ph.D). in which they were looking
into social online gaming, writing that people may spend ours absorbed in these
games but it doesn’t mean they are antisocial. They came to the conclusion
after interviewing some of the players that it was a very positive experience
and they felt more confident and they didn’t have to worry about what they
looked like and where happy they weren’t being judged on their looks. The
experience broadens peoples friendships with a wider range of people, however
for those looking for deeper and more supportive relationships this was not the
answer and should not be used as a replacement for real-life relationships.
(Article by Miranda Hitti 2006 “Online Games Provide Social Connection”)
Kate Schneider wrote an article in 2008 about a
study done by the Pew Internet & American Life Project about
whether video games were improving young peoples social skills and not causing
them to become violent like a lot of myths and speculations out there. The
study showed that gaming involved a large significant amount of social
interactivity that could help teens engage with the world around them. It shows
that around 97% of teens play video games and is a important part of their
social lives with their friends and family, “dispelling the myth that gamers are
anti-social outsiders”. (“Video games social, not violent, study finds” 2008) “The
study, released last week, also found 52 per cent of teenagers played games in
which they considered moral and ethical issues; 43 per cent played games in
which they made decisions about the way a community, city or nation should be
run; and 40 per cent played games in which they learned about a social issue.”
(“Video games social, not violent, study finds” 2008) The study gives a very
positive outlook on people reactions to video games, going against many
speculations, the report then goes on to say that young people who play games
together are more likely to volunteer to do things for society and be able to
make arguments politically as well.
Article
from http://www.news.com.au/technology/video-games-social-not-violent-study-finds/story-e6frfro0-1111117579541
Video
games have a lot of potential as a means of teaching young people life skills,
there needs to be a way that these messages of socializing and being active
within the community should be integrated more into games, so those who might
play alone or with people online can learn the same skills. Young people could
have a better chance of being ready for difficult social problems and life
issues if they are maybe exposed to them within a gaming environment, where
they feel comfortable, and have to solve those issues in the game with a
positive outcome. Hopefully by learning skills like these they would be ready
for problems that they might come across or be able to deal with problems they
may already be experiencing.
No comments:
Post a Comment