1 December 2021
Shamilah Mdlongwa
Science and Information Technology Reporter
Computer games are an ever evolving community that has over the years blossomed to be one of the most profitable entertainment industries world wide with the advancement of technology.
They are fast growing to be one of the most competitive computer programmes, with over millions of subscribers and players worldwide.
“What is a computer game?”
A computer game is generally a coded enhanced and controlled written program that reflects a real game as it were, where players interact with objects displayed on screen for the sake of entertainment.
The first ever recognized example of a computer game was a mathematical based game, “Nim”, which was unveiled by Dr. Edward Uhler Condon at the New York Worlds Fair in 1940.
However, Ralph Baer’s the “Brown Box” was the first commercial home use prototype computer game in 1967 which allowed two users to control cubes that chased each other on a television screen.
During the same year, Sega and Taito companies were the first to attract the public’s interest in arcade gaming when they released the electro-mechanical games “Periscope and Crown Special Soccer.”
Two decade’s later saw the introduction of mobile gaming with a pre-installed form of Tetris in 1964 which came with a mobile phone called the Hagenuk MT-2000.
In the last 19 years mobile games evolution has been incredible, from playing Tetris squinting on a small screen, waiting for a beep sound to show you’ve won to playing “Snake” on Nokia phones, “Angry birds”, “Candy Crush” and now video games like “ARMED and FIFA” on smartphones.
Meanwhile, IOS devices games are also evolving with Texas Hold’em game being the first released for iPhone uses.
Although these modern games are entertaining there are considerable debates about their impact on individuals particularly children.
Researches have shown that video games improve basic visual process as the players develop the ability to visually detect direction of movement and it is also good for visually impaired children.
Video games enhance executive functioning, which is the ability to rapidly and effectively solve problems, multitask and increase mental flexibility.
Videos games can help ease anxiety and depression in children and also improve their everyday life skills.
However, in as much as video games are said to ease depression, studies have shown that they might exacerbate these conditions instead as most children that play these games are usually lonely children that get heartbroken or depressed if they keep losing the games.
Playing video games may be very detrimental for young players as they are addictive and decrease their ability to concentrate.
Studies have shown that games like “shoot-em-up” that stimulate firearms are directly linked to more children being violent and rebellious.
Throughout its progression, computer games have seen multiple trends wane and tide being replaced by new technology, though “Snake game” and “Angry Birds” are still holding on, the future seems bright for advancement of these games.
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