This has always been a interesting subject to me. Video gaming, and how it affect many aspects of your life beyond your couch potato skills. There's a huge misconception in society that video games influence the mind negatively, provokes thoughts to be violent, leads to being overweight, and corrodes your brain cells. Don't tell me that, as I will debate those opnions until your can't breathe or your blood pressure goes through the roof. As I was growing up, I'd say I was a "heavy gamer". I was the kid that had sleepovers where we'd stay up til 7am playing video games all nights. From mini-tournaments, to endless shootouts, wresting matches, you name it.
For me, it began with the NES as a youngster, starting off with the simplest games ever like Super Mario Bros., Punchout, and the first live shooter Duck Hunt (before all this stiff with the Wii existed...lol). Then the Sega and Super Nintendo got popular, and I was all for Sega Genesis. Sonic the Hedgehog 1,2, and 3. I even had some of the sequels to those. At that stage is where being outside with friends became more risky than playing games in the backyards and frontyards.
When the N64 hit the scene, mulitplayer was changed forever. With 1st person shooters taking off at a crazy rate, this created a new brand of recreational activities for youngsters, families and friends. For me, that meant tournaments, sleepovers, weekends fill with gaming. This direction keep my mind from wandering in the wrong direction. What's crazy in my personal life is others who were forbidden to play during certain times or who had some crazy stipulation took other routes in life. So when you think that it's doing harm to kids by them playing games, remember that others elements aren't being planted in the mind as well. Grant it it's not quite the healthiest of directions, but it's not as harmful as most people will make it to be. Better to shoot someone in virtual reality versus shooting someone in real life... Remember Grand Theft Auto...
When the N64 hit the scene, mulitplayer was changed forever. With 1st person shooters taking off at a crazy rate, this created a new brand of recreational activities for youngsters, families and friends. For me, that meant tournaments, sleepovers, weekends fill with gaming. This direction keep my mind from wandering in the wrong direction. What's crazy in my personal life is others who were forbidden to play during certain times or who had some crazy stipulation took other routes in life. So when you think that it's doing harm to kids by them playing games, remember that others elements aren't being planted in the mind as well. Grant it it's not quite the healthiest of directions, but it's not as harmful as most people will make it to be. Better to shoot someone in virtual reality versus shooting someone in real life... Remember Grand Theft Auto...
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