Get your game on

Is it just me, or do kids these days have any reason to ever go outside any more? I mean, why go outside and play cops and robbers when you can play Grand Theft Auto III or Halo III? Why go play tackle football with your buddies when you can play Madden ’08? Let’s make it even more ridiculous with the advent of the Wii; why go bowling, play tennis or shoot a round of 18 when you can do it all from your couch?

Back in the 90s when I wasn’t watching Saved by the Bell, I was out trying to show my buddies my best Troy Aikman impersonation out at the school yard. Back then, the kids that stayed inside to read or play video games all the time were easily identifiable by their paleness. Mind you, with my Irish/English roots, I’m not exactly the quintessential representation of healthy olive colored skin, but when I was a kid I always had a sweet farmer’s tan.

In a Dallas Morning News article that ran last week, librarians are resorting to throwing video game tournaments at their libraries in order to woo young non-readers into local libraries. One librarian was quoted saying that even though a kid might come in to play video games 30 times in a row, they’re banking on the hope that on the 31st time the child might wander into the books to take a look. It’s the idea that if they can just reach one child then the experiment was completely worth it.

On the other hand, libraries will need to be careful not to alienate other visitors that are there to wait for it, wait for it....read. When it comes to video games and TVs in general, kids and many adults are sucked in like flies to a fluorescent lamp of death. Librarians should know that kids like hanging out with other kids and when a child has the choice of playing Guitar Hero with their friends or reading a book, I’m putting my money on Guitar Hero.

So, as our kids have more opportunity than ever before to squander away their chance to educate themselves with a good book, we, as responsible parents and adults should be the ones to step up and lead. Kids are always going to be kids and if we don’t start acting like adults we might need to start worrying about our own future at the hands of these future leaders. A bit dramatic, I know, but there is no room for Guitar Hero in our libraries.

The question of the day is, naturally; will the libraries have the gamer handbooks available for checkout?  - John Herrington

Photo courtesy of Adrian on Photobucket.

Comments

[Paul Herring]

Gotta say that if guitar hero gets more kids to read, I'm all for it.

Part of the problem is that reading books in general is declining. Most people would like their information spoon fed via sound bits, cliff notes, etc.

Dangerous 'cause it can create an environment where you just do what others are telling you to do or feel, not based on an in-depth understanding of the facts.

[Cam Beck]

I never bought the "If it helps one kid, it's worth it" argument. If limited resources could be better utilized, that's the way to go. They could spend a million dollars per child and only positively impact one. Most people would agree that just helping one kid with that kind of expenditure would not be worth it under these circumstances.

This is at best sending a mixed message. I'm all for creating a video game (or some other game) that encourages the development of useful skills (besides hand-eye coordination) in kids, but having them come to play Halo 3 at the library seems doomed to deliver dubious results.

They may be able to make the most of it by promoting books that are most likely to appeal to the gamers... but IMO they would have a moral responsibility to steer kids away from games that aren't appropriate for the ages of the kids who will be playing or watching the tournaments.

[jon burg]

Kids may not go outside as much, but few will abandon real world pursuits all-together in exchange for digital excitement. This is true even if kids don't have responsible parents and educators pushing to go outside.

The primary motivator for playtime with children is fun. If gaming is effortless and fun yet gives them that feeling of satisfaction, then they will play video games. However, if they have real world aspirations or talents, if they want to be like their father's idols - sport stars - they will continue to play little league and pee wee football.

Digital interactions will continue to grow against analog/real world interactions, but there is still depth and authenticity to real world interactions.

Any musician will tell you that there is a depth and quality to the analog interaction that digital media cannot recreate. Rock Star and Guitar Hero may be fun, but they don't give you that authentic experience. Even a child can experience this differential first hand.

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On that note, isn't it possible that Guitar Hero will drive a new generation of musicians? Isn't it possible that Dance Dance Revolution will drive kids to participate in dance competitions?

And even if this doesn't happen, is it possible today's children will invent new forms of art and interaction that live in their new digital lives?