So recently as I get achievements in the game of life, I wonder if my history in gaming has changed my view of the world. My soon to be wife has never been a gamer and likely never will, and I find we differ in opinion on many things. I also find that I defend gaming when no one even brought it up, like when I know an interesting fact about military weapons for instance, I always say afterward "see? gaming can teach you things too." Though I am hesitant of sharing my toys, I do intend to have children one day and I know that I will have to make the decision of what games they can play and which they cannot or even if they can play any games at all.
So I am left with the question, "Did gaming effect my development and my view on the world?"
[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":648799,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"gbunfiltered,","session":"B"}']Now when I first consider this question, I immediately say no. I say no because the games I played growing up were never realistic and so I did not feel that connection to real life in order of magnitudes great enough to influence my opinions and actions. My generation of gamers started when gaming started, or perhaps when super nintendo was the biggest game in town in the 80's, and because of this we were playing games like Super Mario Bros and Starfox. The games today and when my children will be growing up with, are much more "adult – themed" and mature in content. Imagine playing Grand Theft Auto when you are 5, and then taking those experiences of killing people and taking drugs to get power ups into school.
My personal opinion is that as a parent it is your responsibility to monior what your kids play, but what about at Timmy's house?
How can we help stave off any ill effects games might have on our kids? TALK TO THEM! Be a part of their lives instead of just the boss. I know that the simple act of disciplining your child makes you their boss and therefore they might see you as someone who does not understand or is not "hip" with the times. I can only hope that I can relate to my kids and who knows, maybe when they are old enough for xbox live (and who really is?) we can play team deathmatch on Halo1552: Still Reaching.
I fully intend to let my kids play video games and board games and explore their imaginations completely, as long as they are not exposed to materials that are not suited to them, but it will be on my terms not the ESRB's. Let's face it, games are not going to get less popular, and I intend to know exactly what my children are playing.