Are computer games really bad?

by Jerry Anderson
Guest Columnist

August 23, 2008 08:10 pm

— Many people remember playing various games with the children at Christmas and through the holidays. Some played card games; others played Dominoes, Monopoly and many other board games.
Many remember these times with great joy, and it brings back some very good memories, but now the kids are grown up and moved away, and you only get to see your grandkids once or twice a year.
But now with the computer age you can see them and play with them as often as you want. Every time that I would go and visit my grandchildren, I would end up on the floor paying a videogame with them, and they all wished that we could play more often, sometimes I was relieved that we didn’t because some of those games were not so great.
I went home and decided that I would get connected on the Internet with one of their games. Then I played every day so I could understand how the whole system works and how the games were played, plus get enough experience so I could help them out in the way grandfathers are supposed to be able to answer all their questions. I learned how to set up the voice communications between every one in the game.
I started a guild of my own just for the family, but soon had many others joined in, too. I made rules of no bad language and you had to help others out in the guild and play to have fun.
So after a couple of years of steady playing, I think it is great that one of my grandsons and me would play every night after he got his homework and chores done. We became like best buddies and side by side would fight the bad guys and investigate the dungeons and laugh and have fun just like he was with me in the family room.
We talked about everything — school grades, sports, dogs, cars, girls, TV shows and chores. Now I play with all my kids and grandkids. We will go on a five-man team quest that takes about three hours. Just think of it. I have my whole family together, and it’s great.
Now for some people who think this game playing is bad, let me explain some things. Most kids play anyhow so why not lead them in the right direction? And the game gets quite complicated as you advance. They learn about auctions and how much to bid or to sell to make a profit. They learn how to save money until they can buy a certain item. There is no credit in the game.
They learn how to make a living so they can sell the items they make and buy different items they might need.
It’s really easy to set up and get started; many computer stores will help you out with getting started, or just ask your grandkids. There are many different types of action games, sport games and, of course, action adventure games. You can even play Monopoly or card games if you want to. So if you want to spend more time with your children and grandchildren — just move up to the 21st century.
Jerry Anderson is a resident of Logansport.