The 4 year review printed in 1999 by the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification, stated that hardly any of the members of the community saw games as a social issue. Part of the findings stated that there was no proof that watching material seen in R18+ games causes bad behaviour in over 18’s. Australia is one of the few countries in the world without an R18+ category for games. Looking at it when I was around the age of 13 and 18 I was watching DVD’s and Movies that werent legal, age wise. A bit of why it was so thrilling was due to the fact I wasn’t supposed to, so it just gives a product more kudos applying a rating.

We understand that children's relationships with computer games vary widely from youngster to youngster, with some children playing frequently, others rarely at all, with preferences varying from strategy games to shoot-'em-ups to puzzles. We also understand that there are large differences in terms of constancy and varieties of computer games played amongst boys and girls. Gaming can be hugely successful in promoting moral or social values basically by creating an evocative, plausible universe in which the user makes moral decisions. The down side isUnfortunately, many teens charge through their homework so that they will have larger amounts of time to watch TV, a movie or to use computer games (understandable, if not exceptable!).

Computer games and graphics have developed to such a degree that they occasionally blur the borders between the actual and the virtual. Games like 'Crysis' have really shoved the edge of the envelope in this matter. Games can be works of art and literature – and they're still developing. The messages they can tell, and the experiences they give, are more and more complicated and amazing.

There are teaching games that have the graphic qualities and engagement of normal games, but are made to attain particular educational goals. One example is DoomEd, which has modified an existing game to create a 'first-person-shooter' in what the player navigates around the London underground during the second world war killing aliens, the education is that they need to understand radiation and chemistry in order to defeat dangerous obstacles. (Obviously not one for younger children)

Research discoveries are more varied, however, when it comes to the effects on children's social development. Although little evidence indicates that the reasonable use of computers to play games has a negative influence on children's friendships and family relationships, current survey data shows that enlarged use of the Internet may be linked to increases in loneliness and depression (Lets face it, if your child is just sat in front of a box 24/7, they arent going to be making any friends).

Austin Hughes
Information Assurance