If you had asked me to assess the societal value of video games last year, I would have probably told you that the world would be better without them.
I can no longer so confidently say that.
Granted, if video games suddenly disappeared tomorrow, I am sure that the sun would keep shining and the world would keep spinning. Video games are not a necessary means of survival. They are, rather, an adaptation.
However, I am struggling to pinpoint exactly how I feel about the benefits and necessity of video games. Now, I may be a little biased. While I am having fun with WoW, I just do not enjoy gaming. Overall, it bores me. I just cannot bring myself to care about it.
That said, I cannot say that video games are pointless. I particularly appreciate McGonigal's discussion of value and meaning. Our texts and class discussions have helped me transfer this meaning from video games to the "real world" outside of virtual worlds. I had really struggled to understand how something that is virtual, and thus "unreal," could have any meaning in the real world. According to my previous self, because video games are not real, they are not important. I have since learned to respect these virtual spaces.
I think last week's discussion became an either/or debate. The family can choose the camping trip or the video games. Several people mentioned the need for moderation. I would argue that the greater need is balance. (And video games are not the only problem here.) We spend so much time watching TV, browsing the Internet, and just sitting around doing nothing. We need to go camp together (or shop together or bake together or fish together), but that does not mean that we can't also game together. We just need to add diversity to our routines. This may be an extreme use of this term, but in order to have a full and meaningful life experience, we need to engage in multiple literacies of fun and adventure.
I do worry about the immersive growth of these virtual spaces, though. They are still separate from reality. These virtual spaces are human constructions while reality exists beyond us. We can control our avatars and many features in our gaming worlds that we cannot control in reality. For example: death. Is it possible to get so immersed in the virtual world that we neglect the real world?
This can be broken down further, though. I have a very black-and-white understanding of reality. However, another lens could argue that even my conception of reality is just representation of reality. Thus, my reality is not any more real than the virtual world (though I would continue to argue right on back...). Shannon touched on this in class, referencing the migrations to virtual worlds and wondering if our beliefs about reality will change.
Any thoughts?
"Video games are not a necessary means of survival. They are, rather, an adaptation" Naa dog, just naa. Though I just responded to your response on mine I will do it once more lol. I like your counter ideas of mine when it comes to games. I don't really know your reality (That part was interesting enough for a blog in of itself) but in mine games aren't a crutch. Rather they are just another way of exploring ideas and other peoples minds. I've loved the arts all my life. When I enrolled in college I kept away from the arts because of all the negative things people say about jobs in the arts. Then one day I was in a comp class just learning about programming when I just couldn't take it anymore. I didn't like it, I loved being creative and I knew that's what I wanted to do. So when I play a game it is more than just me, it is a group of peoples ideas and dreams being made into a reality, something to me I can only dream of doing in my life. While this may just sound like some mumbo jumbo wish wash from a guy who's played one to many games, experienced one too many movies, seen one to many pictures, and heard one too many songs; it is a way of living. People want to escape from their life, it is a mentality that is worldwide. I think we are all born with a creative side and the arts have the ability to tap into the creative portion and stimulate not only that part of a person, but their whole foundation. Idk if you would agree with that, but I would like to think that no matter who you are you can connect with something other than yourself, (i.e. kids with autism relating to games mentioned in my other response)
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I do somewhat agree with is that there needs to be diversity in ones life. While mine may be slightly limited compared to others, I do think that camping (not a activity I enjoy much) or doing something inside/outside your house with friends, family, or just yourself, is a kind of requirement people should have in life. Verity is the spice of life, and as long as you can somewhat agree that video games can belong in the verity, you are more than okay in my book ^^.
One last thing though "I do worry about the immersive growth of these virtual spaces, though." I think that is best left to the Wachowski brothers (well I think ones now a girl.... so yea about that... lol) movie the Matrix, we can never let them completely take over!
P.S Once again, sorry if I sound like a mad man quibbling about games, its just something I care about lol. And in a P.s.s you should definitely explore your reality ideas in a future blog or something. Maybe also include how games fit (or don't, I guess is more likely) or could fit* into your/persons life.
Ah yes. You have revealed my bias! I also agree that we need diversity, creativity, and diversity in life. 100% yes.
DeleteAfter reading your comment though, I realize that I have excluded video games from those things. I do have a greater appreciation for video games from class, but I suppose that I am still struggling with my previous prejudice against them.
I am still having difficulty relating my own escapes from reality (listening to music, journaling, reading poetry, etc.) to gaming. [For the sake of sounding really stuffy] I suppose that I have not completely relinquished my hierarchy of acceptable diversions.
You have challeneged me to define my understanding of reality, so I post on that later. This is just for my reference: People want to escape from their life, it is a mentality that is worldwide.
Sarah, I think we are on the same page with video games and what we can learn from them and how we value them. WoW, for example, is a really fun game that I can see why people become addicted. However, at the end of the day, it is not real but the abscence of reality. I appreciate video games and what you can learn from them. I understand the principles of how you feel when you play, the depth of the virtual space, and how it fuctions as it its own society. In a way, video games teach us valuable things but sometimes I think people forget how out of touch they are with reality. For example, Mcgonigal may argue that people don't level up in real life or as fast as they do in WoW. She has a point but in the real world, like you stated, we don't die and come back to life. I think video games are a great way of learning, just to everyone. I think it is a branch or an approach we need to cater to when we teach; however, it is not something I think everyone will find valuable. I also feel like each person is different in how they socialize and connect with people and family. If you want to game then go do it, honestly. But if you enjoy listening to music, going to get coffee, travelling..etc. then you should do that too. I don't doubt that video games bring people together, I just can't force myself to agree with Castronova or Mcgonigal
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