Reading and Video Games

A concern about video games has been, among other things, that children spend all their time in front of the television playing games instead of studying and reading and things that are often considered much more productive by the academic world.

Fortunately, at least one author has addressed this concen and resolved the problem by writing a novel with a future video game in mind.  Mokoto Rich's New York Times article explained: 

The online game that Mr. Haarsma designed not only extends the fictional world of the novel, it also allows readers to play in it. At the same time, Mr. Haarsma very calculatedly gave gamers who might not otherwise pick up a book a clear incentive to read: one way that players advance is by answering questions with information from the novel.

In this way, to students who are not avid readers, the book becomes a bit like fanfic, offering a benefit for reading it.  And to those who are avid reaers, the video game becomes the bonus.

Libraries are also attempting to draw in teenagers by hosting video game tournaments at the libraries.  According to Rich:

In the first half of this year, the New York Public Library hosted more than 500 events, drawing nearly 8,300 teenagers. In Columbus, Ohio, nearly 5,500 youngsters have participated in more than 300 tournaments at the public library this year.

Skeptics say video gaming at a library does not necessarily increase the desire to read for teenagers.  However, with all the gaming blogs, forums, help guides, and websites available online to help gamers inprove in their games, gamers are reading, and those who participate in the forums are writing, as well.

While I believe there is no real substitute for a great novel, I am happy so many are trying to blend video games and reading for the benefit of teenagers.

If more people look beyond the initial criticism of "Why do they play video games so much?" and figure out how to get video games to work to gamers' educational advantages, we'll all be much better off, I think.