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Have video games supplanted toys....

post #1 of 5
1/31/08 at 6:35am
Thread Starter 
When I was 8yrs old I saw a new movie called Star Wars. I was hooked and the first toy I got from the movie was an X-Wing fighter. Didn't even have a figure. Eventually, I got a bunch of figures, ships and playsets. So I know have a soon to be 5yr old son. He has toys that he plays with. But, we recently got a Wii and the Lego Star Wars game. Well he is hooked and can play for hours on end. What is amazing is that he really knows how to play the game. He knows the moves and the characters. We were watching one of the SW movies on tv and he knew what was coming from the game.
Anyway, he had a Target gift card from the holidays. So he wanted a figure. I got for him. Then I was able to get a few figures and a ship on ebay cheap. So I give it to him. He thinks its cool. But, never seems to play with them. He would rather play the game. When I was a kid. I would spend lots of time playing with the figures. Having battles with them. But, its the video game for him. I just think playing the video game is like playing with the figures just more "realistic". Why imagine the figures swinging their lightsabres. When he can see them do it for "real".
But, I will end this by saying he wants more figures and ships for his b-day.
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post #2 of 5
1/31/08 at 7:20am

Re: Have video games supplanted toys....

Without question video games have replaced many things in our society. Including board games, toys, out-door sports and even music to a certain degree. This is really a big problem to me. Board games and out-door sports in particular teach kids how to inter-act with each other, play by certain rules and how to "wait your turn" among other things. Toys teach them manual dexterity, how things go together and allow the imagination to develope. Video games are, for the most part, a one on one with the computer. In all fairness, video games are great for teaching kids about computers which is also essential. But to my way of thinking video games are to toys as tv is to books. Video games/tv are more fun and are important to a certain extent but toys/books are much better for the developing mind.
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post #3 of 5
1/31/08 at 8:53am

Re: Have video games supplanted toys....

Quote:
Originally Posted by gene c
Video games are, for the most part, a one on one with the computer. In all fairness, video games are great for teaching kids about computers which is also essential.
That says more about the gamer than the games. In my 25+ years of gaming, they've have a large social component. You crowd around a game system to rotate turns (teaches sharing and social hierarchy ). You cheer and jeer friends as they play, and they you. You also huddle in together to play multiplayer competitive and even for some co-op games. LAN parties with a roommate, or several friends at the office. And even playing solo -- you get talk with friends playing the same game and share tip and hints. Even discuss the game as HTF'ers discuss movies. And these days I look for games I can enjoy with my wife.

Computer games can certainly be isolating -- but how much more are books? They are almost a wholly individual experience.
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post #4 of 5
1/31/08 at 10:32am

Re: Have video games supplanted toys....

Surprised nobody mentioned that video games ARE toys.
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post #5 of 5
1/31/08 at 10:32am

Re: Have video games supplanted toys....

Quote:
That says more about the gamer than the games.
Yes it does. And while gamming can be a social gathering, I'm thinking about all the kids who run home from school to the computer (by themselves) instead of to the baseball field as I did. As an example, my brothers nephew spends hours and hours (and they try to limit his time) with headphones on playing games on the computer by himself. Occasionally he will have a friend over and they will use the x-box. Things are looking up, though. In the last year or two he has started taking guitar leasons and getting pretty good. And he bowles on Saturdays as well as working at a part time job. But for the longest time the only time I saw him was with headphones on. Everything is O.K. in moderation but I think gamming has become too popular.
Quote:
Computer games can certainly be isolating -- but how much more are books? They are almost a wholly individual experience.
They're supposed to be . And if kids spent as much time reading as some do gamming I'd be concerned about that as well. Variety is the spice of life.
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