Video Games and You...

[TheLoneOne]

Alrighty boys n' girls... it's probably not too much of an overstatement to say that just about everybody has played a video game at least once in their life. And there has been plenty of controversy regarding video game violence and actual violence. So, here's my questions to you. What is the first video game you ever played? And, if you still play video games today, what is your favorite game/genre? How much time do you usually play per week? Which system(s) do you own?

And regardless if you're a gamer or not, do you believe that there is a connection between the violence in video games and the violent tendencies in teenager today? Let's hear your thoughts.

[CuteKitten2C]

The 1st computer game I ever remember playing was duck hunt. My cousins had it and I used to play at their house. To this day I still enjoy the basic games the most. I love all Mario games and have recently become addicted to the intereactive games for Wii (tenis, baseball, bowling, fishing etc). I also LOVE guitar hero. We have a Wii and I also have an orignal nintendo.

As for a conneciton between video game violence and violence in teenagers....well I would not say that video games have caused kids to be violent but I wouldn't say that it had absolutely no effect either. I think most violence is learned through the way a child is raised so I am much quicker to blame parenting than any outside influence.

However, I do think the amount of violence and the way violence is sort of trivialized does cause some kids to become numb to the real effects of violent behavior. I think some kids lose sight of how terrible violence really is because it is turned into a marketing tool by movies, games, and tv.

BUT I think a child who is raised and parented well can go through live playing video games, watching movies and tv and grow up to be perfectly unviolent. I think it just has more to do with how the parents handle the influence of the violence in our society when dealing with their kids. If a parent never talked or teaches their child (whether they play violent games or not) about the effects of real violence that is where the problems come around.

[cybastov]

my first video game, on a home console, was pong, on this console, that I forget what it was called, I just remember it was orange, with a knob you could turn to control the bat. These days I would say I love RPG's, I like the whole storyline thing, also I used to play D&D when growing up, so it kind of harks back to that. I think violence in games effects those that cannot distinguish it from reality, some may say it is there environment at fault there, be it parental, or peers. In the end these people would still have that tendency even without games, games just make it easier to find that connection.. or lack of in this case

[Nooky]

Uhhh ... I think my first game I ever played was on an Apple 2E. I believe it was called Blaster, or something like that :shrug

Today, I own a PS2 and I typically only play sports games. My father likes to go out and buy me hunting games but I never play those ... I do have a couple military games that I play periodically too.

[PB DrunkIdiot]

My first game was King's Quest on an IBM PC jr.

[the jerk]

Hmm first I ever played. Well this will date me quickly. Has to be with out a doubt the King of all video games. Donkey Kong I was 6 or 7 I had the top score at the pizza hut for a year. Then came out Joust!!!!! That game still rocks.

As far as the violence thing go's I do have an opinion, though I will just keep it to myself.

[cybastov]

the company I worked for made a conversion of Joust for the Palm.. I feel quite geeky now

[Indemnis]

I think my firt was the oregon trail.... I remember something from Atari before that but can't remember the name of the game for the life of me.

[Anathema Device]

My first video game was probably either Pong or Space Invaders (if I remember correctly), but the one that holds the most special place in my heart is and always will be Beyond Zork. I haven't played video games on a regular basis for years, and Lord, does it show!

As for violent video games and violent teenagers, I'd say there's definitely a correlation, but I really couldn't say much more.

[Indemnis]

right now I have been playing on my nin ds alot. Just got the adapter so that I chan play against others on line..... oh the joy of makeing 12 yr old boys in china cry when their creature gets destroyed by something half it's level from the comfort of my couch

[TheLoneOne]

oh suki, do I know that feeling. my friends and I have been making a lot of lil teenagers mad takin all their experience points in Ghost Recon hehe