This is a research paper on the effects of video games. It is pro video games, and argues against the negetive effects.

The Art Of Gaming:

The Effects of Video Games

Video games have been under a lot of scrutiny the last few years. Many people believe that they have harmful side effects, and that children and teens should not be allowed to play them. I happen to love video games, and I wanted to examine for myself the research that has been done, and decide if the critics of video games really have a case. So that is what I did. I found that there are many physical, and mental side effects, but that neither of the two is significant enough to cause alarm.

Mental Effects

Video games do produce some mental side effects, but what many people don't know, is that there are negative, as well as positive effects. The negative mental effects of video games are the single biggest worry, among critics of video games, so lets take a look at them first.

No Video Games

Video Games

Video Games

The first big negative effect, is a phenomena called 'new violence.' According to Michele Steinberg, in 'Programmed to kill,' 'new violence' is the use of Nintendo style games, and related means, to transform young children and teens, as well as law enforcement personnel into 'samurai'-style programmed killers. This wave of criticism was brought on in large part due to the murders of 13 students and teachers at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado on April 20, 1999. It brought about he criticism because both of the murderers came from well to do families, and both were avid players of violent video games. Michele goes on to say 'The very same video games which were originally designed to train soldiers to kill, are those being mass marketed today--to children!' Problem?? Could be, we will look more into this later.

Other negative mental effects are violence tendencies and...