Author: Cherevik Maxim Teacher: Pestretsova Oksana Yurievna Everything bad is good for you

What is a video game A video game is a game that involves interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. The terms related to games are gameplay, storyline, action and feedback. Gameplay is followed by using video- audio- and other devices which make user feel involved into the world of game.

History The video games history starts in 1947, where the idea for a "Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device" was conceived by Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann. It was a primitive device consisted of radar display and game controller which provided user to control a vector dot on the screen to simulate a missile, being fired on targets represented by drawings fixed to the screen. The first video game as it is now recognized was ATARIs PONG. It provided Atari 2600 console which needed to be put through the television. It was the early prototype of what we now call a console. Its commercial success led other companies to develop numerous Pong- clones and their own systems, spawning the video game industry.

Platforms Platform - the specific combination of electronic or computer hardware which, in conjunction with low-level software, allows a video game to operate. The term "system" is also commonly used. There is also the term a "PC or Computer game. It refers to a form of media that involves a player interacting with a personal computer connected to a high-resolution video monitor.

Platforms There are now three commonly used and recognized consoles. These are X-box 360, Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3. X-box 360Nintendo WiiPlayStation 3

Platforms A "console game" is played on a specialized electronic device that connects to a standard television set or composite video monitor. The picture above shows people playing Tennis using Nintendo Wii console

Criticism and controversy Video games influence Senator Jack Thompson at California University calls against video games

The problem The problem of video gaming is very important for modern society. Indeed, the main part of playing audience is children. The fact is that video games have become more realistic. Now they provide photorealistic graphics, audio environment, and gameplay. And sometimes the things taking part in the screen are not suitable for children. Like related forms of media, computer and video games have been the subject of frequent controversy and censorship, due to the depiction of graphic violence, advergaming (a form of advertising in games), consumption of drugs, consumption of alcohol or tobacco, propaganda, or profanity in some games.

Violence It had been proved by Harvard university researches that playing violent games makes player more aggressive. However, it is known that students usually prefer active way of living that can be considered as aggressiveness.

Violence

MMORPG MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role- playing Game) game is a game that provides large community to interact among game world.

MMORPG The game world also called setting, usually fantasy or futuristic. The game has its own storyline; however, players are able not to follow it if they want. The main feature is, of course, interaction between players. They form guilds, unions, orders and other organizations. The main aim of these organizations is to help its members in solving game quests. Players earn money (in-game currency) or bonuses for doing quests. They develop game characters making them skillful and experienced. Highly dev eloped character of EverQuest

Age Ratings But there are few ways to warn a parent about game content. These are services for game ratings. The examples of these are ESRB, which operates in America and PEGI, which is recognized by Europe. We will pay them special attention.

ESRB Type Public company Headquarters Canada, United States Key people Interactive Digital Software Association (now the Entertainment Software Association) Industry Organization and rating system Parent 3DO Rating System (by The 3DO Company, now defunct), Recreational Software Advisory Council (now defunct), Videogame Rating Council (by Sega of America, now defunct) Website Examples of ESRB ratings

PEGI Pan European Game Information (PEGI) is a European video game content rating system. It was developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) and came into use in April The PEGI system is used in 30 countries. It is not associated with the European Union. Participation is voluntary, at the discretion of the game developer. To obtain the ratings for any piece of software, the developer completes a questionnaire, which is then evaluated by the Netherlands Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media (NICAM) and ratings are given. It's based on the Dutch Kijkwijzer system as well.

PEGI Age categories On CD-box

Icon Content descriptorExamples Bad language Grand Theft Auto, Fallout 2, The Warriors, Killer 7 Discrimination Original War Drugs Grand Theft Auto, Fallout 2, Deus Ex: Invisible War, The Warriors, NARC Fear NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, Silent Debuggers, the Silent Hill/Resident Evil games Violence Grand Theft Auto, Fallout 2, Doom 3, Resistance: Fall of Man, Max Payne 2, Mortal Kombat, God of War, The Club, Counter-Strike: Source, Devil May Cry 4 Gambling 42 All-Time Classics, Fallout 2, God Hand, Street Hoops, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas PEGI Ratings

The other side of gaming

Advantages: skills It has been shown that action video game players have better visuomotor skills, such as their resistance to distraction, their sensitivity to information in peripheral vision, and their ability to count briefly presented objects than nonplayers.

Researches

Advantages: learning To experience the game, the player must first determine the objectives, as well as how to complete them. They must then learn the game controls and how the human-machine interface works, including menus and HUDs. Beyond such skills, which after some time become quite fundamental and are taken for granted by many gamers, video games are based upon the player navigating (and eventually mastering) a highly complex system with many variables. This requires a strong analytical ability, as well as flexibility and adaptability The icons you see are the typical example of HUD – user interface

Advantages: learning Learning principles found in video games have been identified as possible techniques with which to reform the U.S. education system. It has been noticed that gamers adopt an attitude while playing that is of such high concentration, they don't realize they're learning- and that if the same attitude could be adopted at school, education would enjoy significant benefits.

Advantages: communication Online multiplayer games provide players with the opportunity to compete in real time with other players from across the globe over the internet. MMORPGs build on this concept with the establishment of vast, online communities existing in persistent virtual worlds. Millions of players around the globe are attracted to video gaming simply because it offers such unprecedented ability to interact with large numbers of people engaged simultaneously in a structured environment where they are all involved in the same activity.

The conclusion Since computer had been invented it has come to our lives forever bringing the new form of entertainment for all the mankind. The reaction on video games may be different. Many people claim that video games devastate childrens psychology, kill their free time, and dont bring anything useful. But on the other hand researches show not the harm, but the good games due to children. They develop not only childrens intelligence abilities, but even physical skills. And it must be clear that games, like any other form of entertainment, like films or books, should be controlled in content. If the right game used in right situation it may bring much fun and do good not only to children but to the whole family.