Video Games

When Pong was king...

Delaney Ruston, MD
March 21, 2016

TECH TALK TUESDAY #7
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES?

When I was a kid I used to play Pong and Pac-Man. The world is very different now. For today's Tech Talk Tuesday share with your kids what you played. Ask them about their favorite games and what they like about those games. Then, ask them whether they know about any games that are focused on helping people. If so, what are they?  If your child were to design a game, what would it look like? We'd love to hear their ideas.

There is a mix of opinion about whether violent video games actually lead to violent behavior. But there are plenty of studies that show right after kids play a violent video game they exhibit more aggression. In addition, there are studies that show longer lasting impact. Fortunately the impact is small, but it is real nonetheless.

There are alternatives: prosocial games that encourage the gamer to do something positive with their avatars. One, The Stanley Parable, even got the nod from my 16-year-old son, who called it “cool.”

Here is a list narrative-driven, non-combative games I like:

Fez

There are no bosses, enemies, punishment, or failure in this world. It’s all about solving puzzles and stopping to smell the roses.

Dear Esther

Walk along a beautiful deserted island with no enemies or anyone else--only the words of the narrator to you company. Curiosity and love of narrative drive the game forward.

Gone Home

You come home on a stormy night after being abroad for a year and no one is home. Piece together letters, memos, and pieces of your sister’s diary to find out what’s happened.

Ether One

You can walk right through this entire game and not do a single thing — just observe. Experience the story as a casual observer or test your wits against the game’s optional puzzles.

The Stanley Parable

Escape the 9-to-5 corporate job by winding your way through office halls, deciding whether to take the road planned for you from the beginning or a more unconventional route.

Journey

Journey toward a light that sits at the top of a mountain. As you make your way across the ancient ruins of a prosperous world, journey with an anonymous player perhaps even building a relationship through this three-hour game.

Minecraft

The massively popular game  allow players to build a digital replica of your house, down to the plumbing and light switches, and relocate the Arc de Triumph to the backyard. In Minecraft, you create the world you want to live in.

Portal

This game offers mind-bending gameplay that works your puzzle-solving skills and memories of eighth-grade physics, so much so that the sequel, Portal 2, is popular with K-12 physics teachers as a teaching tool.

Animal Crossing

Move into town a populated by anthropomorphic raccoons, penguins, and goats and a constantly changing world with plenty of hidden surprises to find. Critics have praised the simplicity and addictiveness of the game, even the parts that are essentially chores.


Braid

This game allows you to rewind time and redo actions, even if your character dies. You face difficult challenges and must collect pieces of different puzzles that will eventually explain the main character's affecting backstory and motivations.

Here is a video from the Screenagers YouTube Channel that talks more about this subject

Join
443
others who have made the pledge!
Thank you for making the pledge!
Please try again
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Order Here
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More
Screenagers Podcast

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Order Here
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the latest movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More
Video Games

When Pong was king...

Delaney Ruston, MD
March 21, 2016

TECH TALK TUESDAY #7
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES?

When I was a kid I used to play Pong and Pac-Man. The world is very different now. For today's Tech Talk Tuesday share with your kids what you played. Ask them about their favorite games and what they like about those games. Then, ask them whether they know about any games that are focused on helping people. If so, what are they?  If your child were to design a game, what would it look like? We'd love to hear their ideas.

There is a mix of opinion about whether violent video games actually lead to violent behavior. But there are plenty of studies that show right after kids play a violent video game they exhibit more aggression. In addition, there are studies that show longer lasting impact. Fortunately the impact is small, but it is real nonetheless.

There are alternatives: prosocial games that encourage the gamer to do something positive with their avatars. One, The Stanley Parable, even got the nod from my 16-year-old son, who called it “cool.”

Here is a list narrative-driven, non-combative games I like:

Fez

There are no bosses, enemies, punishment, or failure in this world. It’s all about solving puzzles and stopping to smell the roses.

Dear Esther

Walk along a beautiful deserted island with no enemies or anyone else--only the words of the narrator to you company. Curiosity and love of narrative drive the game forward.

Gone Home

You come home on a stormy night after being abroad for a year and no one is home. Piece together letters, memos, and pieces of your sister’s diary to find out what’s happened.

Ether One

You can walk right through this entire game and not do a single thing — just observe. Experience the story as a casual observer or test your wits against the game’s optional puzzles.

The Stanley Parable

Escape the 9-to-5 corporate job by winding your way through office halls, deciding whether to take the road planned for you from the beginning or a more unconventional route.

Journey

Journey toward a light that sits at the top of a mountain. As you make your way across the ancient ruins of a prosperous world, journey with an anonymous player perhaps even building a relationship through this three-hour game.

Minecraft

The massively popular game  allow players to build a digital replica of your house, down to the plumbing and light switches, and relocate the Arc de Triumph to the backyard. In Minecraft, you create the world you want to live in.

Portal

This game offers mind-bending gameplay that works your puzzle-solving skills and memories of eighth-grade physics, so much so that the sequel, Portal 2, is popular with K-12 physics teachers as a teaching tool.

Animal Crossing

Move into town a populated by anthropomorphic raccoons, penguins, and goats and a constantly changing world with plenty of hidden surprises to find. Critics have praised the simplicity and addictiveness of the game, even the parts that are essentially chores.


Braid

This game allows you to rewind time and redo actions, even if your character dies. You face difficult challenges and must collect pieces of different puzzles that will eventually explain the main character's affecting backstory and motivations.

Here is a video from the Screenagers YouTube Channel that talks more about this subject

More Like This

Video Gaming, What Works For Some And Not Others
April 5, 2022
Video Games

Video Gaming, What Works For Some And Not Others

Today I’m sharing two polar opposites stories of people’s choices around video gaming — extremes can be great conversation starters. One is from a kid who decided, on his own, to stop all video gaming essentially, and the other is about teens attending a high school that is 100% focused on video gaming and the video gaming industry.

READ MORE >
What's New And Noteworthy In The World Of Video Games
January 25, 2022
Video Games

What's New And Noteworthy In The World Of Video Games

Today I offer some intriguing stories related to video gaming, and I am confident you will want to discuss with others — even beyond just kids because data reveals that more and more people over 50 do some sort of video gaming. Do you know what Cozy games are?

READ MORE >
One Girl's Experience With Online Gaming And Strangers
December 21, 2021
Video Games

One Girl's Experience With Online Gaming And Strangers

Today I talk with an 11-year-old girl about what she likes about the popular gaming platforms Roblox and Minecraft, as well as some of the uncomfortable experiences she's encountered with strangers while playing video games … and what she's done in such situations.

READ MORE >

parenting in the screen age

for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.  

ORDER HERE
Parenting in the Screen Age book cover