Video gaming brings both good and bad consequences

Ground Kontrol in Portland, Oregon

While many people offer the negatives about video gaming, there are also the positives as well, although many of these good aspects are hidden in the hype about video games.  Recently some of these aspects were examined, both good and bad, and here's what is said about them.

On the positive side, video gaming can increase patience.  Children learn to wait, watch and have the will to observe what happens, a transferable skill that can be used in school with reading and academics.  Eye-hand coordination are also part of the positive aspects of video gaming, as the ability to manage some of the game icons and movements and match these with instructions and what is seen on the screen requires coordination on several levels.

The games can also enhance reaction time and teach one how to focus on a task, then move to another in a certain sequence.  Decision-making skills are also a benefit of video gaming, as one must anticipate and think about the next move in the light of possibilities.

What are the negatives?  The critics underline some of the uselessness or the violent nature of some of the games.  Parents worry about children losing time from academics while they play games online or in arcades.  And then there is the aspect of video gaming used by people to make money.  Folks get hooked on the games, and to advance in some of them requires the outlay of real cash.  Then there are the negatives that affect health, as some of the game playing in the arcades has led to repetitive motion injuries.  Then there is the fact that video games can also be addictive.

Video gaming as entertainment has a wide following.  But it's how it is used, and what controls may be exercised, can be make the difference in whether the consequences of playing these games are good or bad.  They are an economic force, experts say, that are part of the world of possibilities, but like any possibility the consequences may be positive or negative depending on the nature of the game and how it is used.