11/30/07
As I sat playing NBA Jam for my Sega Genesis during Thanksgiving break, several questions came into my mind. First off, why doesn’t the NBA allow the rim to ignite on fire after a player scores three times in a row? Secondly, why isn’t the phrase “razzle dazzle” still used. Finally, do video games rule our lives?
I dreamed of busting out the Sega for several weeks and played until blisters formed on my fingers. When it comes to Madden for the PlayStation 2, I find myself drawing up plays during class.
Video games are everywhere. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are now the frontrunners to be found in the average room. The Nintendo Wii is also becoming popular. The systems have been around for ages and continue to gain popularity through advancements in technology.
Over the years, arena football, college baseball, rugby and other sports have made their way onto the video game screen. Tons of games have been made for basketball, baseball, football, hockey, golf, racing, etc.
The options of these games are ridiculous. One can take control of a team and make trades, create a playbook or create new players to add to the team. The team can add new players through drafts or recruiting, and one can play more than 30 seasons in most cases. It’s so intricate that on a college football game a player can actually have his or her team put on probation, which includes the loss of scholarships. Talk about a downer.
With all these options, it’s easy to see why more and more time seems to be devoted to these video games. They allow the user to drift away from the usual into a dream world. This world creates an opportunity for people to put their minds toward a goal that can take hours to achieve.
Obviously, the negatives have been listed before. Kids aren’t outside when using video games and thus aren’t getting exercise. In my opinion, a perfect balance can occur. If a kid can learn sports knowledge from a video game and relate it to outside games, a positive process is in the works.