Video Games. Oh how you’ve changed.

This week in class we took a short delve into a topic that I hold very close to my heart. Video Games. Growing up video games were a huge part of my life, not only were my two older siblings obsessed with Nintendo 64, game-boys, and the ever infamous game Cube. My own parents were also. The variety of all these tastes, being passed on and elevated with personal flare led to the conglomeration of my own tastes in video games.

So while my siblings were obsessed with things like Crash Bandicoot, Pokemon, and Sims. My parents were obsessed with classic games like Super Mario, Tetris, Donkey Kong and Pac-Man. My dad is actually the best Pac-Man player I’ve ever seen, he draws crowds at Dave and Busters on the jumbo version. This mix up of games and interest really led me to have an amazing outlook on games. There isn’t a video game I wouldn’t try. While now that time only allows me to play ever so often I seem to have found a home in First Person shooter games, The Call of Duty Franchise specifically. Right around here is where my problem with video games begins to come to light.

Are games hurting our kids?

Games have evolved extremely fast in recent years. Moving away from personal experience and single player modes. All with the goal of creating competitions that will make creators and sponsors millions of dollars. An un expected result of this more competitive focus of games is the level of bad sportsmanship that comes along with skill mixed backed by anonymity.

Without fail every time i go into a multiplayer game I can count on there being a person that sounds much much to young for a game rated 18+. And I could also put pretty good odds on that same child saying some extremely vulgar and offensive things. My almost automated response. “Where are your parents?” to which I am futher verbally assaulted by an 11 year old. The reason I believe this is significant is due to the fact younger kids are not able to differentiate. Meaning they start to use this disrespectful rhetoric with their friends and even family. My mom and sister constantly telling my 7 year old nephew to stop screaming “OOF” or calling us bro.

As of now I don’t see a change happening. Technology is moving towards a direction of connectivty. With VR at the forefront of truly connecting people with each other online. Maybe there will come a point where people are obligated to treat others with respect due to being so closely connected to your online persona. Until then I see video games getting more and more competitive, making people resent each other online more and more. Even in person gaming events have an immense amount of trash talk and a “drama” culture.

Video games have changed massively over the years, and while the games have gotten so amazingly satisfying. The direction of overall video game culture, scares me.