JEDDAH, 24 February 2005 — High-tech fun or modern curse? Home video game consoles, such as the Sony PlayStation, are all the rage with young people, from children to college students. But as they sit transfixed, connected to an imaginary world by a hand controller, what are they accomplishing? Or what are they not accomplishing?
Your view of the game consoles may have a lot to do with your age. “Playing PlayStation is a way to kick out boredom from our life,” said Motaz Adnan, an engineering student. “The routine we suffer in our daily lives drives young men to hang out with friends harassing girls in streets and malls or going to cafes to smoke hubbly-bubbly (shisha).”
He says the gameplay doesn’t bother anyone.
“Gathering at a friend’s house to play videogames is fun and uses our energy in a way that prevents us from different inappropriate practices.”
Other people say the new versions of PlayStation games present graphics of girls wearing indecent clothes that don’t go with our society’s values.
“As we don’t allow our kids to see girls wearing indecent clothes, we should be aware of what games our children are buying,” said Muna Ahmad, a Saudi mother. “Nowadays, indecency has sneaked into our innocent kids’ games.”
Occasionally, you’ll find an adult who actually sees advantages in PlayStation or videogames in general.
“I think PlayStation games develop the concentration of a kid and expands his or her mental horizons,” said Abu Omar, a university instructor. “It makes them think of how to solve riddles and mystery of the game, which makes them improve intellectually and also improves their English language skills.”
All that competition, however, can make kids fidgety. Doctors warn of the harm of nervousness caused by the anger of seeing “Game Over” on the screen meaning the player has lost the game. A child also can become aggressive trying to imitate what he sees in fighting games.
Can sitting in front of a television be good for you?
“My son’s eyesight became weaker because of the long hours he spent looking at the TV screen,” said Yousef Ismail, a 43-year-old father. “I always hide the PlayStation on weekdays and let him play with it on weekends, but it seems that it doesn’t work because he stays all day long playing on the pretext it being the weekend. I allow it for only three hours each day on Thursdays and Fridays.”
Children also can become introverted and want to spend their time playing games alone.
“Kids become addicted to PlayStation. They forget to sit with their families. This machine replaces spending time with the family,” said Suha Muhammad, 31.
Fun or foolish? Delightful or dangerous? If you’re curious, maybe you should log some time on a game console at home or at a shopping mall, you’ll either become appalled — or addicted.
