1. “Current gaming world effects and implications for the future.” By Dianne Kechula Candidate Number: 0803458 Module: MC502

3. With the popularity of video games growing each year, parents and those concerned are becoming increasingly alarmed about the consequences these games maybe carrying not only physiologically but socially.

7. To overcome this issues parents would not only have to keep a close eye on the amount of time their children spend on games but more importantly the games in which they are playing.

8. Another concern could be that by playing videogames children's social skills could be at risk as gaming is seen as a more independent interaction although you can play with people online it is quite different to face to face interaction.

9. Here is a video on YouTube by a news channel in the U.S whereby a study took place on the effects on the emotional side of the brain whilst playing video games although no hard evidence was found it gave an interesting insight into how videogames could subconsciously have a negative outcome. Violent Video Games may affect the Brain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFMk17nDUVM&feature=related

10. Positive effects of Videogames It has been argued that videogames help the development of perceptual, cognitive and motor skills and ability. Players have to practice in order to progress through the game effectively therefore providing them with a sense of achievement once certain tasks and or levels have been completed. According to a BBC report videogames could improve peoples quality of vision a study found that they had better contrast sensitivity. This could be true as players need to be constantly aware of their surroundings and pay attention to even the smallest amount of detail. An interesting fact is that the average video game player is 35 years old according to the BBC although most of the media attention is how these games are effecting the younger generation. There is no real concern about how the older generation maybe effected as children seem to be more impressionable. Thomas and Macredie (1995) suggest that in a world more and more dominated by computers and requiring individuals with a high degree of computer literacy video games through cognitive skills play an important part in the social development of both children and adults.

11. Future of Video games According to Shaffer video games could in actual fact change the way in which we learn through virtual worlds social practices and skills could be taught. In other words video games create new social and cultural worlds that help people learn by joining together different ways of thinking , the interaction of different people using technology. Shuker (1995) argued that video games have now transformed themselves into cultural forms and might shortly substitute cinema and cable. Although it could be said this change is a long way off video games could eventually take over traditional media, meaning that in order for the big media outlets to keep up they may need to some how get involved in the video game industry or risk falling behind.

12. Future of Video Games In a number of ways the video game industry is fuelled by innovation with constant pressure by competitors and fans to top their last game on the market. As videogame become more difficult and refined so does the storyline with different narrative make-up and the ways in which characters are somewhat changing by their developers. Although there is a fair amount of dispute about whether video games should really be seen as a form of narrative it is difficult to ignore the similarity between this discussion and how cinema was received at the start of the 20th century. Conclusion In conclusion it is difficult to truly analyse the effects of videogames and whether in fact we should be concerned about what negative effect it could be having on the younger generation. If videogames are simply pushed to one side could we as a society be depriving the younger generation the opportunity to better themselves through the use of different literacy techniques, that could prove highly useful later on in life. A possible option could them be to try and regulate how easy it is to get hold of games so that there is a less risk if any by causing violent behaviour.

14. BBC. (2009). Video gamers 'older than thought' . Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8206163.stm. Last accessed 18th May 2010.

15. Newman, J (2004). Videogames. USA & Canada: Routledge. p2 - 3 .