Do you buy the whole ‘violence in video games causes violence in real life’ argument? Many of us believe that senseless violence in videogames is most likely worthless, and if something is indeed disturbing then one should exercise his or her right to turn it off. But pointing fingers is never productive.
That being said, there are many videogames that lack violence and are exceptionally good, as well as video games that use violence but have another message hidden underneath. Here are some picks for the games can do a lot of good for the development of people of all ages.
Tetris
Before Angry Birds, before Fruit ninja, there was a little puzzle game called Tetris. Every puzzle game since owes a debt of gratitude to this groundbreaking computer/game console/portable game that often just comes as a freebie with your cell phone. There’s nothing antiquated about this one, and it can really stimulate the part of the brain that was probably occupied by jigsaw puzzles and brain games in another generation. www.tetris.com
Our Verdict: Endless fun for people of all ages.
Bully
Using what they learned in during the development of Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar delivered this highly unique sandbox game that cast you as a bully at a private school that must eventually learn to cope with other people. There is an excellent lesson here for social misfits who may want to alienate themselves in the world – sometimes humanity has to come from you.www.rockstargames.com/bully
Our Verdict: A unique story for teens to young adults.
Yakuza (Series)
What’s so incredible about this PlayStation series by SEGA is that it is set in authentically recreated Japanese settings that (now on the graphically beautiful PS3) really seem true to life. You play a hard-boiled Japanese Gangster (Yakuza) who at once must juggle the responsibility of being a boss to caring for an orphaned girl. Who says you don’t learn about being responsible for others from a video game – and have fun doing it? www.playstation.com
Our verdict: Fun and meaningful for older teens and up.
Sim City
Forget ‘The Sims’, which can turn into an episode of ‘a cheesy reality show. Playing a game like Sim City (and its many offshoots) teaches about building a society rather than destroying one, and shows how satisfying it can be to create infrastructure, wealth and all the tenets of a stable community. This is probably what would get Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and even Donald Trump excited. www.simcity.ea.com
Our Verdict: Challenging for people of all ages.
WiiSports
While it may be one of the first games to come out for Nintendo’s ubiquitous machine, the original WiiSports is still one of our favorites. Players will find beauty in its simplicity, and players of all ages will be able to join in on all the action. And as you play your hand eye coordination improves, and you actually get off the couch and even get a little exercise (especially when boxing). While other systems have followed suit, you just can’t beat the original. www.nintendo.com
Our Verdict: A game to turn on anytime, anywhere.
There’s plenty of videogames that do good, and we want to hear which ones you think fit the bill. Give us your input in the comments!
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