VIDEO GAMES

Objectives
By the end of this chapter you will be able to define video games and identify all
its characteristics. You will also be able to talk about the positive and negative
aspects of video games.
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1. A short history of video games

A. In your opinion, when do you think the first video games
were invented?
B. Read the text and complete the text with the appropriate
words below.
Spacewar! - cinematic graphics - smartphones - scientists - home consoles - 3D
- 1950s - entertainment - fourth - golden age - video arcade - large market Atari 2600
The history of video games goes as far back as the early., when
academic computer began designing simple games and
simulations as part of their research. Video gaming did not reach mainstream
popularity until the 1970s and 1980s, when .. games
and gaming consoles using joysticks, buttons, and other controllers, along with
graphics on computer screens and home computer games were introduced to the
general public. Since the 1980s, video gaming has become a popular form of
.. and a part of modern popular culture in most parts of the
world. One of the early games was .., which was developed
by

computer

scientists.

During

the

1970s,

the

first

generation

of

. emerged, including the popular game Pong and various

"clones". The . of arcade video games was from 1978 to
1982. Video arcades with large, graphics-decorated coin-operated machines were
common at malls and popular, affordable home consoles such as the
and Intellivision enabled people to play games on their
home TVs. From 1976 to 1992, the second generation of video consoles emerged.
The third generation of consoles emerged from 1983 to 1995. The ..
generation of consoles emerged from 1987 to 1999. The 1990s saw the
resurgence and decline of arcades, the transition to .

video games,

improved handheld games, and PC gaming. The fifth generation of consoles,

which were 32 and 64-bit units, was from 1993 to 2006. During this era, mobile
phone gaming emerged. During the 2000s, the sixth generation of consoles
emerged (19982013). During this period, online gaming and mobile games
became important. The seventh generation of consoles was from 2005 to 2012.
This era was marked by huge development budgets for some games, with some
having . the launch of the top-selling Wii console, in which
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the user could control the game actions with real-life movement of the controller;
the rise of casual PC games marketed to non-gamers; and the emergence of
cloud computing in video games.
In 2013, the eighth generation of consoles emerged, including Nintendo's Wii U
and Nintendo 3DS, Microsoft's Xbox One, and Sony's PlayStation 4 and
PlayStation Vita. PC gaming has been holding a .. share in Asia
and Europe for decades and continues to grow due to digital distribution. Since
the development and widespread consumer use of., mobile
gaming has been a driving factor for games, as they can reach people formerly
uninterested in gaming, and those unable to afford or support dedicated
hardware, such as video game consoles.

C. Would you be able to recognize those different video games

consoles and guess the date they were introduced?

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D. Talking point
What could your parents tell you if you spent too much time playing
video games? What are people misconceptions about video games?

Discuss in pairs. What could be the benefits from playing video

games?

E. Listening point
Now listen to 15 MISCONCEPTIONS Some Parents Have About Their
Gamer Kids and compare with your answers. Write them below. Do
you agree with them?

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 Watch the video Can Video Games Make You Smarter? and write
down the positive effects of playing video games. Compare them
with you answer from the previous page.

In your opinion, which features can make a video game addictive?

What kind of video games do you like and why?

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F. Reading point
Read the article below and answer the questions.

Most adolescents like to spend at least part of their free time playing video
games. But for some, what starts out as innocent recreation can become
an addiction. Soon, friends, family, school, and even personal hygiene are
neglected as nearly every spare moment is spent playing the game.
But what makes a game addictive? Are there certain characteristics that
make some games more addictive than others? Why are some teens more
susceptible than others to this kind of addiction?
Having a hard time getting your child away from the TV or computer? Read
"Why Won't My Child Stop Playing Video Games?" for help on weaning your
child from games and the Internet.
As with any addiction, video game or "gaming" addiction is usually a multifaceted issue. For starters, video games are designed to be addictive. Not
"addictive" in the clinical sense of the word, but game designers are
always looking for ways to make their games more interesting and
increase the amount of time people will spend playing them. There are
Web sites devoted to gaming design where gamers try to answer the
question, "What makes a video game addictive?" They want you - once
you log in or pick up that controller - to never want to stop playing.
Consequently, games are designed to be just difficult enough to be truly
challenging, while allowing players to achieve small accomplishments that
compel them to keep playing. In that respect, the design of video games is
similar to the design of gambling casinos, which will allow players to have
small "wins" that keep them playing. There are several "hooks" that are
built into games with the intent of making them "addictive":
The High Score
Whether you've tried out the latest edition of Grand Theft Auto or haven't
played a video game since PacMan, the high score is one of the most
easily recognizable hooks. Trying to beat the high score (even if the player
is trying to beat his own score) can keep a player playing for hours.
Beating the Game
This "hook" isn't used in online role-playing games, but is found in nearly
every gaming system. The desire to beat the game is fed as a player
"levels up," or finds the next hidden clue.

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Role-Playing
Role-playing games allow players to do more than just play - they get to
actually create the characters in the game and embark on an adventure
that's somewhat unique to that character. Consequently, there's an
emotional attachment to the character, and the story makes it much
harder to stop playing.
Discovery
The exploration or discovery tactic is most often used in role-playing
games. One of the most popular online games currently is World of
Warcraft, and a good portion of the game is spent exploring imaginary
worlds. This thrill of discovery (even of places that don't really exist) can
be extremely compelling.
Relationships
Again, this is primarily an online "hook." Online role-playing games allow
people to build relationships with other players. For some kids, this online
community becomes the place where they're most accepted, which draws
them back again and again.
Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) can be
especially addictive because there's no ending. Unlike standard games like
Super Mario Brothers, where you win when you save the princess, you
can't rescue the princess in an MMORPG.
Another consideration is that some people are more prone to addiction of
any kind than others, gaming or otherwise. Kids who are easily bored,
have poor relationships with family members, feel like outcasts at school,
or tend toward sensation-seeking are more easily drawn into video game
addiction because it fills a void and satisfies needs that aren't met
elsewhere.
In addition to the psychological addiction, it's now believed that there may
be a physiological element to addictive game playing. Researchers at
Hammersmith Hospital in London conducted a study in 2005 which found
that dopamine levels in players' brains doubled while they were playing.
Dopamine is a mood-regulating hormone associated with feelings of
pleasure. The findings of this study indicate that gaming could actually be
chemically addictive.
Though the debate rages on as to whether gaming addiction is a
diagnosable disorder, the behavior undeniably exists. The combination of
intentional programming by designers and the predisposition some teens
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have to addictive behavior means this is a real issue that parents,

teachers, and friends should be aware of and take action to prevent.

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 According to the text, what makes a video game addictive?

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