Video games can mislead young minds, say experts

Sun, May 4 03:23 PM

Ashish Kumar Jha New Delhi, May 4 (PTI) They have succeeded in getting the gen-X and the gen-Y hooked, spending hours at the gizmos, firing away laser guns or racing formula cars. Targetting this huge market are software companies, who are now organising competitions for 'gamers', offering attractive prizes.

What is worrying psychologists and intellectuals, however, is a trend to politicise the video games by introducing themes that can mislead the new generation. "Children are very much vulnerable as they easily start identifying themselves with the characters of these kind of video games.

The games divert their delicate mindset in negative direction, which could be reflected in their emotional attitude and thought process in long run," says Roma Kumar, Psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. A video game 'Crysis', by a US software company, shows US army fighting against North Korean army in order to take control over a colossal asteroid on an island.

The story line of the video game 'Crysis', suggests the US army equipped with their futuristic and sophisticated weapons fight with the very low powered North Korean Army. However, later in the game, US and North Korean army unite to fight against the alien forces.

'Crysis' incidentally is one of the five games listed in a countrywide gaming championship organised later this month for the first time in India. The organisers claim the championship as a start of new era in Indian 'Gaming' scenario.

PTI.

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