Virtually Real Reality
www.WoW.com just posted a Blog linking an article regarding recent studies about how video game players view themselves vs. their digital avatars. For those who don't know what an 'avatar' is, it is essentially the character you play [within a video game] and bind yourself to on a regular if not daily basis. Your "digital" self.
This kind of stuff intrigues me, not only because I play video games on a daily basis, but because I at one point wanted to pursue them as a career [Video Game Design and Marketing] because one minute you have [specifically American] Politics and "Scientists" ranting about how video games are the leading factor in pre-teen and teen violence; they are a "corrupting influence" on our lives. The next minute you have the same people, or better yet, scientists and students who generally PLAY video games, giving you a completely different outlook on them that really make you question the validity of earlier, more negative outlooks, just as those presented by activist douchebags like Jack Thompson.
If you continue reading the blog post on WoW.com, you'll see another link to a previous study that focuses on the social aspect of video games, particularly MMORPG games [Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games, for those who are unfamiliar with the reference], and discusses how these games fuel the need to strengthen and better your social life. Whereas previously in my life, any article I've read about such things, talks about how video games ruin your social life. I would agree with both ideas, to be completely honest. In the end it really comes down to how you maintain your own person/mind, and balance your frequent digital time with your real life [ie. work, love, socializing, etc.]. A lot of times people become so absorbed in some of the games they play, especially MMO games, that they are reluctant to go out and do anything.
I've heard of people getting fired, losing friends, 'losing' family, losing wives, etc., all because they were so absorbed by a video game. At the same time, I've heard of people who have made jobs, met friends, played with family, and met wives, all online in a digital world. To be quite honest, it's a balancing act, and it really comes down to separating your reality from your digital reality; realizing that yes, these are just games, you can quit any time you need or want, but as long as you're enjoying them and maintaining a healthy life outside the pixels, there should be nothing to worry about or be ashamed of. They are labeled as a "hobby", a past-time event, and should be continuously viewed as such rather than being judged. There is a surprising amount of thought processing that goes into playing some of these games, a lot of time management and a lot of organizational skills. Some games require nothing at all save for your enthusiasm and enjoyment to continue playing, whereas some games require more effort and inevitably involve a lot of time sinks.
I just find these sort of studies amusing. Video Games have strongly increased in popularity over the last few years, and more and more about them seems to be popping up in the news, on a negative, neutral and positive level [also, somewhat humorously as well]. Here's one more.
I'm struggling to find an article/video that was on the news the other night about the growing popularity of Video Games and Video Game Design in general. Maybe it was on A-channel in London, maybe it was Global, I forget. Either way, since about 2007, specific news reports have began growing more and more regarding video games, and thanks to the companies like EA, who make Video Game renditions of movies regularly, coverage has been growing in the media a lot more frequently.
Sort of strayed a bit off topic there, just posting my excitement about this sort of thing. Obviously most of the real news is posted on Game sites like www.gamespot.com, or specific game-focused websites like www.WoW.com, but any time I see a link to an article elsewhere or hear something on the radio or on the TV, it sparks my interest a little bit and makes me smile knowing that something I enjoy so much continues and will continue to grow in popularity. Unfortunately there will always be those who disagree and those who seek to put an end to something that sells equally, if not more or the same, as such things as DVDs, CDs, etc. It's entertainment and as long as people keep buying and playing, it won't be going anywhere, hence the reason Ratings were developed [and are continuously ignored by parents, usually the parents who later complain about Video Games]. Etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.
Hard to pass up when consoles are essentially mini-computers now, when looking at the capabilities of the PS3 and Xbox 360.
Offtopicofftopicofftopicofftopicofftopicofftopicrandomcomment.
Fin.
This kind of stuff intrigues me, not only because I play video games on a daily basis, but because I at one point wanted to pursue them as a career [Video Game Design and Marketing] because one minute you have [specifically American] Politics and "Scientists" ranting about how video games are the leading factor in pre-teen and teen violence; they are a "corrupting influence" on our lives. The next minute you have the same people, or better yet, scientists and students who generally PLAY video games, giving you a completely different outlook on them that really make you question the validity of earlier, more negative outlooks, just as those presented by activist douchebags like Jack Thompson.
If you continue reading the blog post on WoW.com, you'll see another link to a previous study that focuses on the social aspect of video games, particularly MMORPG games [Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games, for those who are unfamiliar with the reference], and discusses how these games fuel the need to strengthen and better your social life. Whereas previously in my life, any article I've read about such things, talks about how video games ruin your social life. I would agree with both ideas, to be completely honest. In the end it really comes down to how you maintain your own person/mind, and balance your frequent digital time with your real life [ie. work, love, socializing, etc.]. A lot of times people become so absorbed in some of the games they play, especially MMO games, that they are reluctant to go out and do anything.
I've heard of people getting fired, losing friends, 'losing' family, losing wives, etc., all because they were so absorbed by a video game. At the same time, I've heard of people who have made jobs, met friends, played with family, and met wives, all online in a digital world. To be quite honest, it's a balancing act, and it really comes down to separating your reality from your digital reality; realizing that yes, these are just games, you can quit any time you need or want, but as long as you're enjoying them and maintaining a healthy life outside the pixels, there should be nothing to worry about or be ashamed of. They are labeled as a "hobby", a past-time event, and should be continuously viewed as such rather than being judged. There is a surprising amount of thought processing that goes into playing some of these games, a lot of time management and a lot of organizational skills. Some games require nothing at all save for your enthusiasm and enjoyment to continue playing, whereas some games require more effort and inevitably involve a lot of time sinks.
I just find these sort of studies amusing. Video Games have strongly increased in popularity over the last few years, and more and more about them seems to be popping up in the news, on a negative, neutral and positive level [also, somewhat humorously as well]. Here's one more.
I'm struggling to find an article/video that was on the news the other night about the growing popularity of Video Games and Video Game Design in general. Maybe it was on A-channel in London, maybe it was Global, I forget. Either way, since about 2007, specific news reports have began growing more and more regarding video games, and thanks to the companies like EA, who make Video Game renditions of movies regularly, coverage has been growing in the media a lot more frequently.
Sort of strayed a bit off topic there, just posting my excitement about this sort of thing. Obviously most of the real news is posted on Game sites like www.gamespot.com, or specific game-focused websites like www.WoW.com, but any time I see a link to an article elsewhere or hear something on the radio or on the TV, it sparks my interest a little bit and makes me smile knowing that something I enjoy so much continues and will continue to grow in popularity. Unfortunately there will always be those who disagree and those who seek to put an end to something that sells equally, if not more or the same, as such things as DVDs, CDs, etc. It's entertainment and as long as people keep buying and playing, it won't be going anywhere, hence the reason Ratings were developed [and are continuously ignored by parents, usually the parents who later complain about Video Games]. Etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.
Hard to pass up when consoles are essentially mini-computers now, when looking at the capabilities of the PS3 and Xbox 360.
Offtopicofftopicofftopicofftopicofftopicofftopicrandomcomment.
Fin.
posted by dial out : at 9:41 AM
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