| A video game is a game that involves interaction | | | | Institute of Entertainment [citation needed], video |
| with a user interface to generate visual feedback on | | | | games have been proven to improve hand-eye |
| a video device , most commonly a television. The | | | | coordination, vision, logic skills, SAT scores, reading |
| "video" in "video game" traditionally refers to a raster | | | | speed, memory, hearing, reflexes, social skills, and |
| display device.[1] However, with the popular use of | | | | communication. This makes them, by comparison, the |
| the term "video game", it now implies any type of | | | | most educational and informative form of |
| display device. The electronic systems used to play | | | | entertainment commonly available to the middle class. |
| video games are known as platforms; examples of | | | | Scary Reality about gaming Claims like this are based |
| these are personal computers and video game | | | | on the work of researchers who represent one |
| consoles. These platforms are broad in range, from | | | | relatively narrow school of research, "media effects." |
| large computers such as mainframes, to handheld | | | | This research includes some 300 studies of media |
| devices such as cell phones and PDAs. Specialized | | | | violence. But most of those studies are inconclusive |
| video games such as arcade games, while previously | | | | and many have been criticized on methodological |
| common, have gradually declined in use. The user | | | | grounds. In these studies, media images are removed |
| interface to manipulate video games is generally called | | | | from any narrative context. Subjects are asked to |
| a game controller, which varies across platforms. For | | | | engage with content that they would not normally |
| instance, a dedicated console controller might consist | | | | consume and may not understand. Finally, the |
| of only a button and a joystick, or feature a dozen | | | | laboratory context is radically different from the |
| buttons and one or more joysticks. Early personal | | | | environments where games would normally be |
| computer based games historically relied on the | | | | played. Most studies found a correlation, not a causal |
| availability of a keyboard for game play, or more | | | | relationship, which means the research could simply |
| commonly, required the user to purchase a separate | | | | show that aggressive people like aggressive |
| joystick with at least one button to play. Many | | | | entertainment. That's why the vague term "links" is |
| modern computer games allow the player to use a | | | | used here. If there is a consensus emerging around |
| keyboard and mouse simultaneously. Beyond the | | | | this research, it is that violent video games may be |
| common element of visual feedback, video games | | | | one risk factor - when coupled with other more |
| have utilized other systems to provide interaction and | | | | immediate, real-world influences - which can |
| information to the player. Chief examples of these | | | | contribute to anti-social behavior. But no research has |
| are sound reproduction devices (speakers) and an | | | | found that video games are a primary factor or that |
| array of haptic peripherals (i.e., vibration or force | | | | violent video game play could turn an otherwise |
| feedback). In scientific studies by the International | | | | normal person into a killer. |