6. Romance
Believe it or not, a large number of online players are looking for love- in all the wrong places. Now, I am not against meeting someone online if the end goal is to be with that person in real life, but this is not the case with the majority of gamers. Many are content to simply interact with their "special someone" over the internet, all while keeping them at a safe distance and retaining their anonymity. What is worse is the fact that people already in relationships (even marriages with families) are falling prey to this form of e-romance, and the results are almost always devastating.
The 6 reasons I just mentioned pertain mostly to online computer gaming, but what about console games like Xbox(TM) and Playstation(TM)?
I believe a lot can be learned through looking at the type of games a person chooses to play. Most games have a goal, a way to overcome challenging scenarios and "win". Determining what these objectives are can provide great insight into why a person prefers some games over others.
1. Is it an aggressive game? Becoming more and more popular today are violence games. Players are encouraged to use any weapon and any means possible to inflict pain and death on their victims. It is entirely possible to use games like this to release bottled-up feelings of anger and resentment. Of course, it is far from healthy and it should be guarded against from an early age. Your child may not go to the lengths of real life violence, but the long term effects on their relationship skills can still be detrimental.
2. Is the game teamwork oriented? Many games involve players working together with each other to achieve a common goal. Sounds good, right? It can be, but again, the common concept throughout this BOOK is balance. Are your children also participating in real life activities where teamwork is encouraged? Commonplace in this genre are sports games and "capture the flag" scenario games. Both can be very enjoyable, but should never be a full-time replacement for the real thing.
3. Is the game highly competitive? Like myself, many people have a tendency to be extremely competitive, and a large number of games target those tendencies. Tied in with this is usually the desire for distinction, to be noticed and recognized by other players. Again, while competition can be a very healthy and rewarding experience, seeking it through video games should be never become exclusive.