GAME ON“ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TASKS MEN CAN PERFORM, HOWEVER MUCH OTHERS MAY DESPISE IT, IS THE INVENTION OF GOODGAMES. AND IT CANNOT BE DONE BY MEN OUT OF TOUCH WITH THEIR INSTINCTIVE VALUES.” CARL GUSTAV JUNG |
While the television cackles and splats with whoops-there-goes-my-dignity docusoap, there’s an altogether unreal form of family entertainment dominating our screens. No longer the exclusive domain of nerds, Kevins and testosterony lads, video gaming has turned catholic. Small c.
Its communion is now with a wider congregation and its demographic parameters blurred; the ‘spotty Herberts’ are still fingering their consoles in their rooms, but their parents – although usually more qwerty-minded – are getting some action of their own, in their home offices.
But while we, the ex-X generation, may choose to overwork our eyes, and encourage repetitive strain injury blasting baddies in our break times, should we be letting our kids on the console? Is it a good message we’re sending them? The quick response would usually be a tsk and a tut and an absolutely not. The fear for many: video games imprint messages of violence and aggression on to spongy young brains (although the inventors of Tetris would probably beg to differ). But aggressive games can be avoided, and research is showing that video gaming, in general, in moderation, can give kids a beneficial kick in the acumen.
Skill Rating“Why does a seven-year-old soak up… the intricacies of industrial economics in the game form of SimCity 2000 when the same subject would send him screaming for the exits in a classroom?” asked Steven Johnson, of Everything Bad Is Good For You: how popular culture is making us smarter (Allen Lane), in The Times. “To date, there has been little direct research into the question of how games get children to learn without realising that they are learning. But I believe a strong case can be made that the power of games to captivate largely involves their ability to tap into the brain’s natural reward circuitry.”
If you want a new dog to learn new tricks then a pocket of dusty choccy drops does nicely. For a child who is learning a skill in a computer game, a new power-pack, a new level, a higher score; these are all the rewards they’ll need. And with the surge in handheld puzzles, sudoku and brain games, it may be something we could actually take advantage of.
For 10 weeks pupils at a primary school in Dundee were told to play Dr Kawashima’s More Brain Training games (Nintendo DS) before school. The games claim to exercise the brain and quicken thinking through maths, memory tests and problem solving. And Derek Robertson, from Learning and Teaching Scotland, claimed that the enhancement in mental maths ability was dramatic, raising every pupil’s standards. He also noted an overall improvement in the behaviour of the children that has continued, beyond the experiment. Brain Training isn’t new – for a couple of years now it has been marketed at retirees to help them maintain mental agility and fight dementia. But while it appears to be working – or at least, the pensioners are enthusiastic – the benefits for a younger audience could be even greater.
There are two forms of commonly recognised intelligence. One is ‘crystallised’, which is defined by reactions and calculations based on accumulated knowledge; and the other is ‘fluid intelligence’, which is how fast and precisely
your brain can learn new information and solve problems. It explains why learning languages comes easier earlier, and why kids are better at video games. And the more exercise that capacity has, the smarter a child has the potential to become.
Intelligence test scores in the United States are rising faster than ever, experts say. Studies show video games make people more perceptive, training their brains to analyse data and situations more quickly. So while we may lament the disappearance of Cowboys & Indians and personally can’t abide the all-absorbing screen flickers and furious button-pressing, the world is changing. And to cope with the techno-advance maybe it’s the fast-reflex and decision-making honed in such pastimes that will put our kids ahead of the game.
Game over
So all things considered it’s a big ya-boo-sucks from all those formally branded as nerds. And not just ones born after 1990. All those who were pinned to the arcades in the ‘80s, or holed up in stuffy bedrooms with Sinclair Spectrums, have emerged from Beck’s study as winners in the business arena. “There weren’t that many ‘brain games’ years ago - so if our theory is right, the gamers who are now in the workplace probably grew up playing arcade, shooter, and adventure games much more than they did brain games. We believe that even the entertaining games are good for changing business attitudes.” So within the boundaries of being responsible parents, let kids have their fun with consoles. And if you want shrug off grown-up pressures and keep senility at bay, join them. It’s your turn.
Sites to See
www.parentsbbfc.co.uk is a classification board for parents, where you can check ratings and details of game content.
www.superkids.com offers a review of educational gaming software – it doesn’t look like education to the kid, so it’s well worth a look. There’s every topic from maths to ecology to construction and pet care.
Good at Games
“According to our research, video gaming at a young age changes the way people believe and act later in life,” says John Beck. “Our study didn’t look at ‘smart’ per se, but we did ask about leadership styles, risk-taking behaviour, and organisational commitment. In all of these, people who grew up playing video games were more likely to express attitudes consistent with those taught at the world’s best business schools. They were more likely to be more global in their thinking, willing to take risks, more social, strong believers in themselves, more likely to believe in luck, and desirous of an income more based on bonus than on flat salary.”
Highest Score
Gamers are:
* better at handling risk and believe in
taking measured risks to succeed
* more creative at solving problems
* not afraid to tackle problems head on
* not discouraged by failure
* more flexible about change
* more outward-looking
Games teach us:
* to be an expert – get really good so you
can perform at your peak
* failing isn’t failure– persistence pays and
practice makes perfect
* everything is possible – big problems can
be overcome
* trial and error works – always look at
other ways to advance
*A study in Germany found that those who drive recklessly when playing virtual racing games are at greater risk of accidents and traffic violations.
*US researchers found that doctors who spent at least three hours a week playing video games made about 37 percent fewer mistakes in laparoscopic surgery than their non-gaming peers. And they also performed their tasks 27 percent faster.
Playing Solo
There are of course concerns about gaming. It can be addictive – the highs in self esteem when completing a task, a battle or a level, are something a player wants to repeat. And if the player fails at the next hurdle (as he is likely to do) the frustration is unbearable; he’ll want to keep playing until he betters his best score or his position, time and time again. The other concern is solitude. A young child who plugs himself into his cyberworld for hours on end is missing out on meeting real people, and learning social skills and interactions that don’t require holding R2 while pressing X. This is where a parent needs to step in, impose rules on usage and try to engage the child in playing within a more sociable set of parameters.
Two Players or More
A family that plays together stays together. And if, after a tiring day, the alternative is television – which could be considered an antisocial activity – then perhaps we should be less harsh on the video game. Whether the family is backing the child, cheering her through mazes and monster battles, or participating in a multi-player adventure, there is an opportunity for a real parent-child union to be seized. Combined passion and joint effort create solid bonds. And sometimes, just sometimes, being a good parent is not shucking stubborn answers to questions like ‘what did you do today?’, but rolling up sleeves, leaving the adult at the door and enjoying playtime.
Go to the next level
By John C. Beck and Mitchell Wade, authors of Got Game: How the Gamer Generation is Reshaping Business Forever (Harvard Business School Press)
“We conducted a nationwide survey – about 2,500 US business professionals – looking for differences between those who grew up playing video games and those who did not. Among the gamers, we thought we’d find high technical skills, interesting ways of using those skills – and real gaps in things like teamwork, leadership, and work ethic. The data, with amazing consistency, proved us wrong. Professionals who grew up playing video games actually make better business people. They’re more serious about achievement; more attached to the company they work for and the people they work with; more flexible, persistent problem-solvers; more willing to take only the risks that make sense. In short, they’re pretty good executives right out of the gate.”
Choose Your Game
Violent games have been found to affect different areas of the brain to games that are fun, but non-violent. Brain monitoring has shown during violent games there is more activation in the amygdala, which is involved in emotional arousal, and less activation in the areas involved in inhibition, concentration and self-control. We suggest that you look at game classifications and keep your child’s game playing strictly within the realms of childhood. There are lots of adventure, skill and stealth games that don’t require blowing people to pieces or being hunted by flesh-eating zombies. You wouldn’t let your child watch that on telly, would you? With games the exposure can have more impact, as the child is part of the way it’s played out, and emotionally connected to outcomes. When your kids are young, choose games for them and check not only the rating but also the reviews. You’ll find plenty online. Look for games that are challenging and exciting without being violent. With older kids, it’s not so easy to keep track. Bought with pocket money, borrowed from friends – you’ll never be aware of what they’re plugging into unless you’re active in your role as overseer. Sit in on a session and see what graphics emerge – games get more intense the higher the level, so it’s a good idea to hang in there a while. An even better idea is to keep the games console in a family area. It creates a less solitary environment, tightens the divide between family and potentially ‘misunderstood’ gamer, and allows you to monitor the game content. If you’re doing the buying then find a game that corresponds to an interest; an educational twist would be a bonus. And look for games that involve two players, to create a more social pastime.
