Mrs. Pietrantonio
English 12
10 November 2015
Gaming: Understanding Benefits and Stereotypes “If you don’t play games, you’re not just missing out, you’re ignoring the most rapidly evolving creative medium in history.” (Brooker.) Though we as a society know of the success and benefits for people of all ages playing video games, we still cling to the stereotypes of the past, as though games are nothing but a silly distraction for children and sad, old men. Why is this? Perhaps the fault is in the lack of the well known documentation on the study of gaming, and how even today there is still much to learn about the many untapped ways to use gaming positively. The benefits of such studies are widely disregarded, especially when …show more content…
Of course, while there are studies to show kids who do play games can be linked to violent acts, it is more often true that the real reason these kids act this way is to be blamed on a lack of common sense and improper care from parents. Many games these days teach valuable lessons, and can creatively teach morals often overglossed in today’s society, such as the tolerance of other people, respect for cultures and other ways of life, and better understanding of abstract or difficult life lessons, like the aspect of race/racial issues, ways and forms of life like sexuality and gender, and how these should be treated and understood. One great example is the game A Closed World, in which you play as a character representing a teen growing up as part of the LGBTQ-community. The game’s main purpose is to show players what it’s like growing up as a queer individual. In said game, you fight against the protagonist’s inner and outer demons, a representation of unsupportive family and significant-others, as they choose their own way against negative social situations with and against their partner. (A Closed World, a LGBTQ-Friendly …show more content…
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