Why Games Are Good For You

Why Games Are Good For You

            The article “Why Games Are Good for You” by Steven Johnson, from the book “Interface Culture: How New Technology Transforms the Way We Create and Communicate” (1997). Has a very awkward look and intake on modern pop culture, and the author explains a personalized opinionated compare and contrast of video games and reading. He explains that reading isn’t all it’s thought out to be, in fact he feels that, “reading follows a fixed linear path and that video games engage the young in complex social relationships with their peers.” Johnson’s intent of this passage is to explain the subject of reading and video games through a younger more scientific perspective. He is directing the passage towards the middle-aged parents of teenagers and young adults. Do to the fact pop-culture is modern day technology and advances and most of the users of technology is our youth, and most of the down lookers are their parents or guardians. Johnson talks about what the world would be like if video games were brought up before reading and how people would criticize reading. Like how reading is less interactive and makes our youth less outgoing and more shut off from interaction with other students.

            Steven Johnson’s states how he sat down and played SimCity with his nephew, and just explaining the game to him made his nephew talk about how “high tax rates in industrial areas can stifle development.” He talks about how people might think the knowledge earned in games is because of the flashy graphics, and violence and sex. However he goes on to say, “Most of the best-selling games games of all time –have almost no violence and sex in them.” He believes that most critics of gamers and video games are in fact not gamers themselves and do not understand the complexities of gaming. Games can be very frustrating, because people get stuck on complicated levels. These levels take so long to figure out people think about how to beat the levels while conducting other everyday things like, work, school, shaving and playing sports. People spend hundreds of dollars of their hard earned money on guides to help people pass these levels. Johnson says, “I’d wager that I spent somewhere shockingly close to a thousand dollars buying assorted cheat sheets, maps, help books, and phone support to assist my usually futile attempt to complete a video game.” The frustrating aspect of these games creates long thoughtful nights and stressful days trying to figure out ways to complete levels or games. Video games move and connect the neurons in your brain and help memory and other hand-eye coordination and stimulations. Johnson talks about how kids in school learn algebra however ninety-nine percent of those kids will never engage their algebraic skills again. He makes the point of, it’s not the skill they are being taught it’s the mental muscle for which he says will come in handy somewhere else. “We teach algebra to children knowingly full well that the day they leave the classroom, ninety-nine percent of those kids will never again directly employ their algebraic skills.

            Conclusively, Steven Johnson explains differences and similarities between reading and video games. While not talking down on reading he explains the technological advances of video games today and how they have positive reactions on young or even older gamers. He states that if video games were invented before reading that people would look down on reading like they do video games today. People don’t understand the stimulants and positive brain neuron movements that video games create. However reading is still the most valuable way to give and receive information and create exclusive thoughts and stories; video games can create and involve almost the same type of learning and positive reactions on children or any gamer at that.

 

Work Cited

Johnson, Steven. “Why Games Are Good For You.” Literature: From Inquiry to Academic Writing. 2^nd ed. United States of America, 2012. Print.