ETHICS of Digital Games

1) What are some PROS and CONS of playing videogames for individuals and societies?

        One of the PROS is that videogames can increase children's engagement and interest in active learning since they can learn and play at the same time. For example, someone has invented a medical-themed game, which players can know about medical erudition and treatments by shooting down malignant cell inside a patient's body. I'm quite sure that such game provides young people the greater incentive to gain knowledge. Besides, videogames can also improve one's communication skills. Many games require team work and people who want to win must learn how to express themselves and inform others precisely.
      However, some action games often advocate violence and may cause bad influence to children's mental development. Yet I think the most serious problem is indulgence, especially for the teenagers.  They can be addicted to these games easily and mix up their real life with the virtual one. Videogames may influence one's daily life if that person doesn't have well self-control.

2) Is there any evidence that digital games can encourage aggressive values and anti-social action in the real world? Do you agree?

        There are some military games which are used in training soldiers to shoot and kill, so the generation of young people who play such games may similarly being brutalized and conditioned to be aggressive in their everyday social interactions. The tragedy of school massacre is a forceful example. Besides,  research has also proved the negative effects of violent digital games on players. For example, the result of MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) from a video game player. The result is,  the part of his brain which control the aggressive feelings is activating rapidly. 

        I agree aggressive values can be encouraged through these games, especially through First Person Shooting games such as Counter Strike. Players often feel excitement and extremely powerful in the virtual world, which cause them attempt in the real world. Yet, such cases usually only happened to teenagers who are mentally unhealthy. A mentally-mature player should know how to make correct choices.

3) Should governments have the right to ban a certain game or place age restrictions on it?

     Yes, they should have the right to do that. Since some violent or prono games have bad influences to young people's values, emotions and mental development, government has the responsibility to protect them by setting up certain restrictions.

 

Interviewing classmates:
      I've interviewed one of my classmates, Vivian, about her digital game experience. Her favourate game is the SimCity, which is an city-building and urban planning video game series.

  
     In SimCity, the player is given the task of founding and developing a city, while maintaining the happiness of the citizens and keeping a stable budget. Vivian likes this game because it has great design and creative elements. She also thinks it should be considered as an artwork. Since you can create whatever you like in the game, this game deals with people's imagination and creativity. Players can create a settlement that can grow into a city by zoning land for residential, commercial, or industrial development, as well as building and maintaining public services, transport and utilities.  You can make designs at your own. This game encourages communication as it provides network connections between players. Vivian likes the multiplayer, connected, collaborative SimCity experience where your city and others' were working together.