(Image: MarkyBon Flickr)

Over the years, the videogame industry has come in for a lot of criticism as being a bad influence and detrimental to our society. Despite their growing popularity and the advent of high street retailers like Game Station and Game in almost every town – many people will still have you believe that playing videogames are the route of all evil.

Now in some ways I see the point when playing games for an excessively long time could lead to antisocial behaviour, aggressiveness, weight gain etc – and in extreme circumstances influence already unhinged members of society who may find violent games (Grand Theft Auto, Gears of War, Manhunt) an easy outlet – or even an excuse.

Yet in many games today (and to some extent in the past also) there is an element of problem solving, puzzles (Zak & Wiki, Brain-Training) and the requirement to have good reflexes – just try playing Ikaruga without decent eye-to-hand co-ordination, and see how far you get. Games such as Half-Life 2 are as much about figuring out puzzles (in this case, use of gravity, weight, water etc) to get from A-B, as they are shooting bad-guys, that elevate it from similar games that may be just about bashing buttons or blowing shit up.

Now when playing some games that get you thinking your way out of a given situation, you are therefore using your brain – and this has to serve some good, especially during younger development and at an older age, and anywhere in between really – and when you take for example Nintendo’s celebrated Wii console, some element of physical fitness comes into play, and that a round of Wii Sports can get rather tiring, therefore must be helping you in someway physically – you may loose weight if u play enough of it.

Now also consider the social element, be it gaining an army of friends through online gaming or in the case of the Wii involving members of the family who would never normally show interest. It can bring people together – Wii Sports (again), Guitar Hero, Eye Toy, Buzz, and any game involving a dance-mat.

Some may argue that watching films or reading a book is much better for you – but these forms of media have come in for similar criticism and accused of influencing people in all the wrong ways, such as Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers and J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. But unlike movies and books – you have a say in what happens in a game, you have a more fully rounded experience – more emotions and physical reflexes come into play – of course to fully benefit from any of this depends on the person’s ability or enjoyment – but then you could say that about anything.

So to close kids, anything done in excess is bad for you – television, alcohol, sports, videogames – but in moderation, and with other activities in your life – I believe playing games can improve your reflexes, keep the old grey matter working efficiently and even keep you fit – and in some ways educate you about world events and history (see the wealth of World War 2 games available) – now surely, that can’t be a bad thing.

Further reading:

BBC article 1

BBC article 2

USA Today article

The Register article