Scots Sports
6 October 2006
Volume 119, Issue 4
Bland, yet Spicy: tackling the issues
Video games killed my academics
By: Orrin Peterson
Contributing Writer
There are many things in college students’ lives which cause distractions. Dating, partying and hanging out with friends are a few of those distractions, but sports-based video games should not be considered one of them.
With all that goes on in a student’s life, there is a need for time to wind down and a relaxing game of “NFL ‘07” or “NCAA ‘07” is just what the doctor ordered. I regularly play the two aforementioned games and they help me relax after a long day.
These games are not only relaxing, but they are also educational. Gamers often gain valuable hand-eye coordination skills. Video games can be seen as better than watching TV as the gamers are gaining tools that they will keep with them for their entire lives.
Games like “EA Sports’ Madden NFL 2007” or the equally popular “NCAA 2007” teach valuable problem solving skills. The recruiting, free agency, disciplinary and drafting aspects of these games account for much of the learning time. Also, think of the skill that it takes to pick the right play and then find the right receiver to score. These games bring learning home in a fun way that makes gamers and students alike want to learn.
The gamers who participate in games like “Madden” and “NCAA” also gain a better understanding of the rules of the game without ever stepping foot on a field or in the stands. Think of it as a cheap solution to going to a real game. These rules and regulations built inside the infrastructure of these games only add to the learning process. It shows that there is a process to be followed and also real life consequences if these processes are not followed.
These games are extremely fun to play and are, for the most part, true to real life; however, they should take a back seat to one’s education. In the end, these video games are not inherently distracting. Some college students might let these games control their lives, but they should have been taught long ago by their parents to learn to control this urge and get their work done.
Every college student needs to relax to deal with stress, so if you like sports and don’t have any video games I would strongly recommend heading to the closest store and picking up an exciting sporting game.
By: Ryan Bland
Contributing Writer
Sports video games can be and are distracting to college students. However, video games do not have to be a distraction. Many people feel that gamers will go back to their dorm and play video games instead of doing their homework. This is not because they do not want to do their homework but because there is something greater pulling them to that PS2 or Xbox than to their notebooks and textbooks.
Students often feel like they are a part of the game that they are playing. This has become the case more recently than ever before. Video games today such as “NCAA ‘07,” “NBA Live ‘07” and “EA Sports’ NFL Head Coach” have given gamers more control than ever before. It is almost as if the gamer is physically drawn into that game.
For example, in “NCAA ‘07” the gamer can set up a dynasty in which they take on the duties of an NCAA Division I head coach. They control nearly every aspect of the team, from recruiting, discipline, playbooks, etc. Many students will talk as if they actually control a team and that this control is real. This is not the case for everyone that plays the game, but this is certainly something that occurs.
In “EA Sports’ NFL Head Coach,” team management of video sports games is taken to the next level. In this football simulator, the gamer does not actually control the players during the game. “EA Sports’ NFL Head Coach” requires the gamer to handle every aspect of the off the field issues that come up in the real NFL. Gamers must really devote a lot of time and attention to detail in order to be successful, or win, in this game.
The important thing to remember is that these are only games. Sometimes people, including myself, will forget this and get lost in a magical world of scouting 5-star athletes and reviewing statistical information before the big game against a conference rival.
If one can remember that studying for the test is more crucial than recruiting the next Heisman Trophy winner, these games should not be a distraction, but for those who cannot distinguish reality from fantay
