Gaming Ethics

Gaming Ethics

Impact of computer games on society?

Games in society: concerns such as excess playing time, social isolation, cost, separation from reality, education; benefits (hand-eye coordination, brain training), thinking and strategy skills, future impact, impact on 'mainstream' application development.

Psychological factors: effects e.g. use of sound, high score listings, competitive games, peer pressure, fun, educational value, expectations and levelling.

- Games In Society

Excess Playing Time

A lot of gamers play for longer than the advised time for playing computer games (which is around 2 hours per day). But why is this? Is this normal? and does this have more benefits or negatives? Well as a teenager myself the current generation are surrounded by computer games whether that be on there phones, computers or modern day consoles such as Xbox 360 and PS3 and Xbox One and PS4. Gaming is very addictive is very addictive and once you have started it is very hard to stop for the simple reasons below. After doing research I found that many people play computer games for longer than they should but this has social and psychological benefits although they also have their negatives.

A male playing a computer game for an excess amount of time.

Social Isolation

When playing computer games for an access period of time, gamers sometimes go into social isolation. This where they don't want to do anything other than play computer games. This can be a huge negative as your social life will be hugely effect your lifestyle and could effect your relationship with friends and family. Social Isolation can include staying home for days or even weeks due to addiction of playing computer games. Some people may not even interact with their family that they live with, just isolating themselves to them themselves in the virtual game.


A man in a bubble, representing social isolation.

 

Cost

The cost excessive gaming costs you is massive. Not just cost in money, but the cost in money can be a lot from constantly wanting new games, but the cost in your body as well. For example when playing games for a very long time your body becomes physically un fit. For example, if a hardcore gamer tries to walk somewhere after a long gaming session they are more likely to get out of breath. Furthermore your eyes may become damage from long periods of gaming.

Separation From Reality

Gamers that play so much can have separation from reality, for example they treat life differently as if they are still playing in a virtual game. There have been extreme cases of this where people have forgot they are not playing GTA and have went out stealing cars and shooting people.

Education

Some games have been designed so that when you play them you gain education from playing. This is a good way for gamers to learn as they are playing games and still learning rather than putting pen to paper. Games that do this are games like brain tests on the Nintendo DS, as they give you a test to do and you can see your improvements, effectively making you more clever. Some people say that gaming has also helped them with their hand-eye coordination as well. For example a man said that whilst he was driving a car he missed an accident because his reactions were better because he had being playing computer games.

Thinking And Strategy Skills

Games that make the gamer make rash and quick decision help the gamer make better decisions in real life and they have been put in that position before and seen how it has played out so therefore can benefit off of it.

Future Impact

There are lots of job opportunities in gaming, it is a fast growing market with technology always getting better. Therefore it isn't a bad industry to go into. So the future impact of gaming hard now could benefit you in the future of getting a gaming job on good pay.

Impact On 'Mainstream' Application Development

Game developers are constantly looking for idea's for gaming so that everything new is original and everybody wants to buy it. For example when the Nintendo Wii came out it was original because of the sensor's and everybody wanted one to experience the gaming concept. But as generations move more people develop these types of sensors were used in other technology such as in the Xbox with the Kinect.

 

- Psychological Factors

Use Of Sound

Sounds in games are vital. This is because they need to create the right atmosphere that the developer wants. For example in a fight scene the developers need to create tension, they would do this by trying to select the right music to do so. So sound can really be a make or break of a game.

High Score Listings

When playing games with friends, you are constantly competitive and wanting to beat them. Therefore high score listings are a great addition to a game. You can see their high score and you can beat them and you can see it. However when somebody beats you, you will always want to play to be constantly beating your friends.

Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is all around us. When your friend buys a game, you may not even want the game, but the fact they have it and you want to be playing with them you buy even though you might not even know anything about the game, for example I brought NBA 2K14 because my cousin got it, I didn't even know any rules about basketball.

Leveling

Games which involve levels are highly addictive, for example you are constantly wanting to get higher levels in the game, to beat your friends. Before you know it you want to be leveling up to gain higher equipment for the game unlocking new things and getting higher in the leaderboards of levels.