A '''video game''' is an electronic game, which is played on a device such as a [[computer]] or console. Video Board games are generally designed to be such as [[addiction|addictivechess]], as this helps to build and maintain a profitable have also been made into video games. Video games provide the user base, with audio and sell visual feedback when the product to those who may try itgame is played. Today, they are often played with others, either in-person or over the [[Internet]].
Violent Often, video games bring people together and create spaces for positive social interaction.<ref>https://www.jcfs.org/response/blog/video-games-are-social-spaces-how-video-games-help-people-connect</ref> However, on the other hand, it should also be mentioned that some video games are particularly addictive and harmful for teenage boys and young men. Often the more violent a <ref>https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/video-game is, the better it sells-addiction</ref><ref>https://americanaddictioncenters. '''''Many of the [[young mass murderers]] have been linked to addictions to violent video games, and org/video -gaming-addiction</ref> Video games are also sometimes associated with dropping out of school, obesity, and other bad effects'''''. <ref>https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-all-night-gaming-results-in-dropping-out-of-college-11566898208</ref> The video game industry is criticized for exploiting its workers, too.<ref>http://www.carillonregina.com/labour-exploitation-rampant-in-video-game-industry/</ref>
At least one study showed that "young men are playing video games instead of getting jobs," as reported by the ''Chicago Tribune''.<ref>https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-video-games-jobs-emploment-20160923-story.html</ref>
Replacing a habit of playing violent The video games with a hobby of playing [[chess]] is a great way to break the harmful game industry itself also receives significant government support; in Quebec, all large video game [[addition]]projects can receive tax credits up to 37%, which they are loath to give up, increasing either public debt or taxes for everyone else. <ref>https://www.montrealinternational.com/app/uploads/2019/02/industry_profile_videogame_2019-1.pdf</ref>
== Nature of video games ==
Video games in the course of their existence have grown from the simple arcade-style games, and have become more detailed and separated from one another. Genres can now include [[first person shooters]], [[racing]], [[Simulation game|simulation]], [[role-playing]], [[sports]], [[action]], [[strategy]], massively multiplayer online (MMO), puzzle, Sport simulation, and many others.<ref>https://www.idtech.com/blog/different-types-of-video-game-genres</ref><ref>https://thoughtcatalog.com/jane-hurst/2015/02/12-types-of-computer-games-every-gamer-should-know-about/</ref> Even then, games can combine genres, such as ''Mass Effect'' (Role Playing and Third Person Shooting), or not fit nicely into any genre, like ''The Mystery of the Druids''. The most popular genres tend to be shooters, action, and roleplaying games. Some video games are based on movies, such as Star Wars.
== Popularity & Controversy and controversy ==
Games have risen in popularity over the years, as is shown in the rise of video games sales from the 1980s until today. This has brought with it a various amount of controversy as the video game industry continues to grow with its original player base.
''See [[young mass murderers]] for their connection to video games''.<br />
Video games have been accused of being linked to [[Young Mass Murderersmass murderers|murders by young people]] and other [[violence]], stress-induced health problems (including unexpected heart attacks),<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/world/europe/russian-teenager-dies-after-playing-online-computer-game-defence-of-the-ancients-for-22-days-in-a-row/story-fnh81p7g-1227512824314 Teenager dies from a video game addiction]</ref> [[atheism]], [[obesity]],<ref>[http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/child_obesity/ Childhood Obesity] Department of Health and Human Services, retrieved Sept 18th 2011</ref> and [[sexual immorality]]. Several prominent murderers in recent years were inspired by video games.<ref>https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-316491/Teenager-gets-life-Manhunt-murder.html</ref><ref>Adelmann, Bob (August 5, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/33028-search-for-motives-in-recent-mass-shootings-ignores-impact-of-violent-video-games Motives in Recent Mass Shootings Should Include Impact of Violent Video Games]. ''The New American''. Retrieved August 5, 2019.</ref> [[Young mass murderer]] [[Adam Lanza]] was "immersed in a perverse video game world" and "killed himself to prevent law enforcement from taking his 'points.'" He plotted his rampage far in advance and "learned the principles of ... the tactical reload" from his [[video games]].
Video games has also been used as "murder simulators" by American army, in order to desensitize young man, into triggering the gun better, and with less doubt, thus killing enemies more efficiently.
<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/lupica-lanza-plotted-massacre-years-article-1.1291408#ixzz2NuWeFMNO]</ref>
Due to the sedentary lifestyle of many who abuse video games or play them for extremely long amounts of time, there is an absence of exercise - meaning [[addiction]] to video games can cause an increase in weight to unhealthy proportions.
[[File:Childhood obesity.JPG|thumbnailthumb|200px|right|The state of Utah was acclaimed with the lowest percentage of children overweight, and was found to have the second lowest proportion of children spending 2 or more hours on TV/Video game play.
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== Overcoming addiction to video games ==
As with any [[addiction]], video game usage can be hard to overcome as soon as one is drawn into it. Fortunately, [[faith]]-based efforts to overcome addiction can be effective and rewarding, and churches exist in part to help people overcome harmful vices in the world. (See also: [[habit]])The Online Gamers Anonymous website is a good example, and has chapters in many places, nooks and crannies.
[[Catholicism]] recommends that people give up something they like on Fridays, and throughout all of [[Lent]]. For some, it is easy to end a bad habit altogether once one is successful in giving it up at least one day a week, or throughout the 40 days of Lent.
===Violence===
Most of the controversy comes from the rising trend toward violence in video games, as pioneered by ''[[Doom (video game series)|Doom]]'', ''[[Quake]]'', "[[Spring]]", and the ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' series.
Some claim that kids who don't play video games at all seem to show more violent tendencies. Of course, as expected, those who played violent video games for large amounts of time also showed violent tendencies; the study, however, claims that this is a "risk marker", not an actual cause.<ref>http://wii.qj.net/New-research-reveals-kids-who-don-t-play-videogames-at-all-are-more-at-risk-of-violent-tendencies/pg/49/aid/118505 New research reveals kids who don't play video games at all are more at risk of violent tendencies</ref>
Multiple studies have shown a correlation between violent video games and increased levels of aggression, caused by playing some of the aforementioned video games.<ref>https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/014616702237649</ref><ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140197103000976</ref> However, in such cases, it is vital to keep in mind the fact that correlation does not equal causation. <ref>https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/false-cause</ref>
===Sexuality===
While evidence is somewhat conflicting, some also say that video games keep the participants engaged and more mentally active than alternative entertainment, such as watching television.
== Video Games & Society games and society ==As video games become more popular, their impact on society becomes ever more present. A prime example of this is the massive ad campaigns for the ''[[Halo (franchise)|Halo]]'' and ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' franchises. Advertising, merchandising, and even social pressures have changed in the ever-growing influence of video gaming.
As video games become more popularDue to their popularity, various corporations have begun placing advertisements for their impact on society becomes ever more present. A prime example products within the context of this is the massive ad campaigns for the game. ''[[Halo (game)|HaloSecond Life]] series'', an Internet-based virtual world, has attempted to blur the lines between real world and virtual world, and companies such as well as [[Grand Theft Auto]]. AdvertisingAdidas, merchandisingReebok, and even social pressures Dell have changed set up virtual stores selling real-world products within the game. [[Reuters]] also operates a news bureau reporting news in the ever-growing influence of video gaminggame.
Due to their popularity, various corporations have begun placing advertisements for their products within the context of the game. [[Second Life]], an Internet-based virtual world, has attempted to blur the lines between real-world and virtual world, and companies such as Adidas, Reebok, and Dell have set up virtual stores selling real-world products within the game. [[Reuters]] also operates a news bureau reporting news in the game. == Education in Video Games video games ==
It is unlikely that there is any educational value in video game usage, compared with better activities that could be pursued.
Some games are also created specifically as teaching tools. While they may not offer detailed, useful knowledge, they typically attempt at least to teach useful concepts or general information. An example of these is the now-dated game, Oregon Trail.
== Faith in Video Games video games ==[[Faith]] in Video Gaming video games has, as a rule, either led to the creation of new and dynamic antagonists, or video games that are mediocre, such as ''[[Spiritual Warfare]]'' and ''[[Bible AdventureAdventures]]'' for the NintendoEntertainment System, or ''[[The Bible Game]]'' for various systems. ''Bible AdventureAdventures'' in particular is infamous for its poor design and playability.
The Bible, or other such religious texts, tell a story spanning many different viewpoints. Turning these ideas into a video game, however, most often leads to games that tend to bore most video game audiences.
Video game reviewers have sometimes unjustly attacked and reviewed games where real-world religion plays a notable role. One of the most prominent examples of this is the game ''[[Left Behind: Eternal Forces]]''.<ref>http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pc/left_behind</ref>
==Popular video game franchises==
*''[[Assassins Creed]]'' - Taking place, after a fashion, during the [[Crusades]]. Play as Altair, and kill leaders from both sides to stop a deadly plot.
*''[[Age of Empires]]'' - An [[Real-Time Strategy|RTS]] in which the player leads an ancient civilization.
*''[[Call of Duty]]'' - A series of [[first person shooters]] in which a player is either a soldier in World War II or a soldier involved in the [[War on Terror]].
*''[[Civilization]]'' - A strategy game in which the player leads a civilization from it's birth, and into the future.
*''[[Donkey Kong]]'' - An early platform game in which [[Mario]] (then known as "Jumpman") tries to save his girlfriend Pauline from a barrel-flinging ape named Donkey Kong. Both Donkey Kong and Mario went on to star in many other successful video games.
*''[[Final Fantasy]]'' - A very popular and long running [[RPG]] series in both the [[United States]] and [[Japan]]. Earlier games were rather child friendly, but the series has become more mature over time.
*''[[Gears of War]]'' - Mankind has been annihilated by an underground race of beings.
*''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' - A game series about gangster like characters who perform missions to rise to the top by killing, stealing, and other, sometimes violent, missions.
*''[[Guitar Hero]]'' - A game where players play the role of the [[guitar]]ist in a band. Uses a special controller in the shape of and played similarly to a guitar.
*''Half-Life'' and ''Half-Life 2'' - First Person Shooter series about Gordon Freeman, a luckless scientist turned hero-from-desperation. This game uses one of the leading physics engine in first person shooters, the Source engine.
*''[[Halo]] - A trilogy of games following a super soldier during a fictional future [[war]].
*''[[Harvest Moon]]'' - Farm life simulator, with many sequels spreading from various platforms. Character runs a farm, raises animals, and can eventually marry.
*''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' - A popular series of fantasy action-adventure games.
*''[[Mass Effect]]'' - A science fiction RPG for mature players.
*''[[Medal of Honor]]'' - A first person shooter series usually taking place in the front lines of World War II.
*[[Mortal Kombat]] - Multi-player fighting game which is famous for violence, blood, and gory finishing moves called "fatalities".
*''[[NHL]]'' series - A series of Hockey games produced by EA Sports.
*''[[Pac-Man]]'' - An old maze game. It was very popular with kids and adults back in the eighties.
*''[[Portal]]'' - A popular first person shooter/puzzle game using the same game engine as ''Half-Life 2'' involving inter-dimensional travel through portals in an abandon testing facility. This game is known for its deadpan sense of humor.
*''[[Resident Evil]]'' - Survival/horror video game series, revolving around viral zombies and the survivors of the zombie attacks.
*''[[The Sims]]'' - A life simulator produced by EA.
*''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' - Series of Nintendo fighting games. It mixes characters from different [[Nintendo]] franchises [with some exceptions] in wide environments.
*''[[Soul Calibur]]'' - A weapon-based fighting game. Revolves around the tale of two weapons, Soul Edge [Cursed] and Soul Calibur [Blessed], and those who fight for control or destruction of the weapons.
*''[[Street Fighter]]'' - One-on-one [[martial arts]] fighting game series, where a player selects one of various martial artists and battles other players or against computer-controlled characters.
*''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' - Side-scrolling platform game series by [[Nintendo]]. Players play as Mario and Luigi, two Italian plumber brothers, who explore the Mushroom Kingdom in order to rescue Princess Peach from the evil Bowser [called Koopa in Japan]. Possibly the most well known game in the world.
*''[[Tomb Raider]]'' - Series of games following the adventures of Lara Croft.
*''[[Pong]]'' - the first real video game, resembling 2-d ping-pong.
== Popular video game consoles ==
*[[Nintendo Entertainment System]]
*[[Game Boy]]
*[[Sega Genesis]] (named Sega Mega Drive in other countries)
*[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]
*[[PlayStation]]
*[[Nintendo GameCube]]
*[[PlayStation 2]]
*[[Xbox]]
*[[Xbox 360]]
*[[Nintendo DS]]
*[[Wii]]
*[[Nintendo 3DS]]
*[[Xbox One]]
*[[PlayStation 4]]
*[[Nintendo Switch]]
*[[PlayStation 5]]
==See also==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==