The World of Games

Millions of people are addicted to online games.  There are even games through social networking sites such as Facebook and virtual worlds like Second Life.

Games promote a variety of things such as competition, prizes and rewards, violence, and social interaction with both friends and strangers. 

They can be a way to escape from the real world.  With gaming sites and virtual worlds, you can create any character that you wish.  Being anyone you want to be has been extremely appealing and popular to many people.  One of the main reasons is if you’re not satisfied with who you are, for instance, not pretty enough or over weight.   

It is crazy to see to number of people playing games and creating fantasy characters for hours and hours a day.  I was surprised when I watched an in-class video on designated rooms that are filled with computers for the purpose of only online games.  That was so shocking to me.

I never really got into online games because I prefer to spend my time with other things such as school, family, friends, sports, music, and community service.  If I want to play a game, it would only be through the Wii with friends and family.  I think it is weird to play online games, especially if you are talking and interacting with complete strangers.  You could be interacting with a 50 year old man who has nothing better to do than find out your personal information; you just never know.  That is why I prefer to actually know who I am playing games with.  

I have also learned that the modern world is in fact slowly becoming more and more like a game. If you make a real life opportunity a type of game, then people are more easily stimulated to get the work done.  The main reason for this is because it is fun and exciting; never the same, old, tedious, and boring tasks.  However, it would be better if they are games in positive ways that help make a difference.  From thefuntheory.com, I have learned some great examples of a real life games used in positive ways.  One of the theories is putting a sound machine inside trash bins so when someone throws trash away, they will hear the fun sound.  It provides a positive way to make people want to pick up trash and keep our environment clean.  Another theory is putting piano keys on the stairs that are next to the escalator.  That way, it encourages more people in a fun way to exercise by taking the stairs instead of being lazy on the escalator.