Participatory Culture: Gaming...Enough Said

A participatory culture that I find myself apart of is gaming. I find myself wrapped up in games for hours without end, trying to complete the task that has been set out for me. Gaming is becoming an everyday activity due to the fact that they can be found anywhere. (Ex: internet, computer, consoles, newspapers, and handheld devices) Every since I was little, playing games with my older brothers has become a habit. Since then, I continue to have a large involvement with buying new games, and playing with friends when I have free time. I find it a good way to pass the time because the games get my brain active while playing. I believe that gaming has become one of the worlds largest phenomenon’s, due to its easy accessibility and well-known games around the world such as Sudoku, and Solitaire.

Although I enjoy playing different types of games, I do notice the patterns and trends of violence constantly demonstrated. In a way, it is similar to social violence because playing these types of games could possibly trigger many to act similar to a character in the game they are currently playing. The media does this, as they are the ones who create these games for us. David Gauntlett wrote the “Ten Things Wrong with the Media “Effects” Model” which states: “To explain the problem of violence in society, researchers should begin with that social violence and seek to explain it with reference, quite obviously, to those who engage in it: their identity, background, character and so on”. This reference touches upon the idea that violence in society is created by people who are surrounded with violent acts daily, which could include games.

Games in general are becoming more apart of people’s lives, regardless of their age. There have been known positive and negative factors that have sprung from playing a wide genre of games, but based on my experience, I personally do not believe that I have had a negative side affect from playing. For many, games still remain a simple way to pass the time, while the gamer has no comprehension or thought of the way it impacts their lives, simply because people constantly have other forms of media on their plates.

Here is a humorous link that I came across depicting what games could do to children:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgw2slDfx9Q

Works Cited

Gauntlett, David. "Ten Things Wrong with the Media “Effects” Model." mass.communication.Nov 22 2009.A Wetpaint Site, Web. http://waysofseeing.wetpaint.com/page/Ten+Things+Wrong+with+the+Media+“Effects”+Model