Can Video Games Teach You to Be a Better Person?

Question

Many critics believe that video games make kids violent. But what about the exact opposite opinion? Can video games actually teach ******** to become better people? It's not a popular position to have, but Trip Hawkins has it.

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Hawkins is the founder of Electronic Arts and is most famous for creating John Madden Football, one of the most popular sports simulation games of all time. Now, he's created a fantasy adventure game called IF, which aims to instill positive traits like empathy and compassion onto its players.

What do you think about a video game that tries to teach impressionable kids and teenagers how to be better people? Do you think it's plausible? And would you be open to giving the game a go?

Answer 1

They've already made video games in which the outcome of the game is dependant on moral decisions made by the player throughout the game.

And MMORPGs can teach teamwork and socialization if the player chooses to team-up.

Answer 2

I know playing Tiger Woods golf helped me with my putting in real life...weird.

Answer 3

I agree this is the same as when parents blame TV for its affect on their ********!
It's not anyone but parents' fault for the upbringing of their *****. theres a word: Negligence learn it!

Answer 4

Yes, no doubt. Just take Mass Effect as an example, all about saving the universe, making personal sacrifices and embracing people from different cultures and backgrounds.

Answer 5

Anything with a story can make you change the way you are thinking and potentially make you a better person. Anything that is inspiring can do the same. There's no reason why it couldn't be a video game that did it.

Answer 6

It helps you in your life to make tactical decisions

Answer 7

yes,,but education is number one

Answer 8

it actually could, but people shouldnt have to be influenced by a game to make themselves a better person

Answer 9

There's this adorable game called Animal Crossing, and even though it's probably for little kids, I enjoy it as a 13 year old. Not that playing a game 24/7 is good for you, but if any game teaches you to be a better per son, it's that one.

Answer 10

for me NO because sometimes especially on ******** they adapt it on true life.

Answer 11

Not necessarily. In my opinion, I think games contributes violence and rude behavior to one's mind. They're addictive. And lead to many intolerable issues at hand.

Answer 12

That is the kind of thing you see in a person with gaming addiction -- similar to any other type of addictions. Essentially, it is not the video game or the gaming. It is the person. If it weren't video games, it would be something else.

Answer 13

Correct! Have a nice cookie! To become an addict one must have a certain mind set/ chemical balance in the brain, if you took 100 people made them play a game for an hour less than 50 would have gotten an addiction, having an addiction unless due to psychological conditioning or chemical dependency is highly unlikely!

Answer 14

Good games are always good and teach us many new and creative things. One most important thing they teach is management. I like video games.

Answer 15

Baby goats don't play video games.

Answer 16

May I point out to you, Goat Simulator.

But anyways, your point is irrelevant.

Answer 17

In some games, you must be patient, so in that respect, it can make you a better person. Some games require strategy and quick response..... some can improve your intelligence but that's not the same as being a "better person".

Answer 18

Not the fault of any game.

Answer 19

Well I know that games can teach you a lot. For example, LA Noire taught me to be ********** when I thought there were no underlying details to be found. Mostly because one of my career choices is to be in law enforcement.

Other games test your decision making, even if the game is violent. For example, Fallout. You can make good choices, always help the good guys and do everything with honor, even when choices tempt you otherwise ("Messiah" rank at Level 30). Or, you can do everything evil, **** up megaton (a town with an inactive atomic bomb in it, though you can reactivate it) and achieve the "Devil" rank at Level 30. Of course, playing the same way can get boring, though I never bothered taking the evil route.

Another game where choices weighed heavily on the ****** was Fable, especially the third game. Be a "hated" king, but save the lives of many, or be a "great" king and save the lives of the few. That one was a curve ball, I can tell you that much.

These may be decisions that no one will ever have to make, but games can teach you what is right and wrong, though most of us know deep down which is which.

I have not heard of the game in this article, but it does sound like a great concept and I would love to see what it's like. I think it could be a great thing, and I wish the best of luck to the project.

Answer 20

I do not agree that video games make you violent, but in the same respect, I don't see how they can make you a good person either

Answer 21

GTA taught me how to drive, how to balance my spending with money, and lot's of good things.

Answer 22

Games like League of Legends offers teamwork to people. There's hundreds of games that offer similar and other traits. People just look at what they see and judge it then. Oh, she's shooting someone! Looks like she's gonna be some psycho when she's older.

Answer 23

I love games but I really don't think so. Learning to be a good person has a lot more to do with who your real life role models are (like parents and friends) than what video game you play. I know many gamers who play games that have different outcomes depending on player choices, such as Fable and Mass Effect, who for completion or curiosity sake play both sides. I don't think a game that tries to teach kids to be better will actually make that much of a difference in the long run, especially since they will most likely also be playing other games, perhaps ones like GTA.

Answer 24

It depends on the game, but yes some can

Answer 25

They can teach you how to lead a nation.

Answer 26

sigh

nigahiga did a whole vid on this exact topic.

Answer 27

Yep

Answer 28

Keeps your reflexes more accurate. Well, depending if you're any good at it.

Answer 29

Yes, yes, and let's add,
1: Murder
2: Strippers
3: ***********
4: Random acts of violence.

Fun, right?!

(No I actually love GTAV)

Answer 30

No

Answer 31

This is a problem with today's world; expecting other ppl or mediums to raise your kids and teach them values. Then we wonder why the world is in the chaos it's in.

Answer 32

Alot of the games ive had the pleasure of playing had some sort of morality scale, for instance;
Bioshock, The Last Of Us, The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us, Fallout 3. I mean there's even more games than that but I pretty much grew into those games and I think games gives perspectives of different scenarios. So yeah, it can give ******** a positive outlook on things.

Answer 33

Games develop skills required for success. One type of game that immediately pops into mind are MMORPGs. They teach you economy and social skills.

Role Playing Games (RPGs) in general cause people to learn planning (allocation of skill points) and decision making (Mass Effect. Need I say more?).

The RTS (Real Time Strategy) genre also teaches planning, but on a bigger scale: one must multitask, execute, and adapt in these games (e.g. Starcraft).

And shooters? Well, they don't really teach you anything, unless you're playing online. Then you might learn a new swear or two. But unless they're a hybrid shooter such as Mass Effect, then they're often bad anyways. Call of Duty is a great example of the latter.

Answer 34

Some games can change a person for the better, whereas at the same time time other games could have adverse effects. As an example:
A game portrays a graphic depiction of a brutal ****, now to the majority this should put away any doubts about **** and the circumstances that led up to said ****, making the person despise any and all forms of ****** *******, but to the few it could incite them to either like or conduct ****** *******. (Long term effects vary with age)
Now when I say "the few" I MEAN the FEW. Since games have been made they have been attacked by the media, most games are not all bad, most are made for fun like the COD series but, son also show the hidden side of experiences, take the ME series throughout the series the protagonist is portrayed as an unstoppable killing machine, but in the last of the trilogy it shows the protagonist going through PTSD and severe depression. So some can have adverse effects but the few brilliant games show the other side and this can improve a person.
Thank you for reading!

Answer 35

Many people may say that games like mmorgs develop social skills but would it not just be easier to socialise face to face.
any of the people that voted yes may also be using it as an excuse for spending as much time as they do on computers

Answer 36

You at yet you ignore that most of first world's youth do not healthily socialise, and infamously refrain to social media. My personal POV, thank you for reading!

Answer 37

No, it's not easier to socialize face to face. You don't just talk to random people on the subway. Even if they started talking first, and they were funny. That's rather awkward. However, if someone is particularly funny or helpful in, say, your raid party, then you might choose to add them as a friend. It's much easier to make friends online, because you aren't inhibited by walls such as awkwardness in online spaces.

Answer 38

Could make you more concentrated depending on the game