News Flash: Video Games Can Be Good For You

By: Daniel Sieberg
Topics: Tech Talk

Tonight we begin a series on video games and children. It's largely inspired by a new study released today from the Pew Internet & American Life Project and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

It's a compelling read, and really shatters quite a number of stereotypes about what kids are playing and whether video games can be social and even beneficial. Certainly, there will be plenty of skeptics, but I recommend reading the whole study to get a complete picture. Of the more striking findings: 97% of children aged 12-17 are playing video games (99% boys, 94% girls), and the most popular genres of games are racing, puzzle and sports. There's also analysis in the study about how game-based interaction can actually steer kids towards civic and community involvement.

We'll talk about the study on tonight's Evening News with Katie Couric, and then later in the week we'll also look at a couple of major new games that are gathering quite a following: Will Wright's new "Spore" that takes "The Sims" concept to a whole new level; and "Rock Band 2," which is really giving "Guitar Hero" a run for its money. I hope you'll watch!

Until next time, stay connected.

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by cherryrein September 18, 2008 1:47 PM EDT: No Nat''l coverage?
HOPE-Anti-Palin Rally in ALASKA!Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was to be held outside on the lawn in front of the Loussac Library in midtown Anchorage.Home made signs were encouraged,& the idea was to make a statement that Sarah Palin does not speak for all Alaska women,or men.The rally was organized by a small group of women.These women hatched the plan, printed up flyers, posted them around town, & sent notices to local media.KBYR radio, home of Eddie Burke, a long-time uber-conservative Anchorage talk show host.Eddie Burke not onlyannounced the rally, but called the people who planned to attend the rally "a bunch of socialist baby-killing maggots," & read the home phone numbers of the organizers aloud over the air, urging listeners to call & tell them what they thought.The women, of course, received some nasty, harassing & threateningmessages.The protesters stretched the full length of the library grounds.A counter clicked off well over 1400 ppl.People honked & gave the thumbs up as they drove by.Then, Eddie Burke showed & tried to talk to the media, & was drowned out by a group of people who started shouting OBAMA so loud he couldn''''t be heard.Passing cars started honking like the Obama chant.The Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was bigger than Palin''s rally that got all the national media coverage!So sit back,& enjoy the photo gallery.Spread the pictures around to everyone to show that Sarah Palin does not speak for all Alaskans nor all women.; Reply to this comment


by jcan87 September 16, 2008 9:53 PM EDT: It is a great start that you are actually looking at the benefits of games. It is a dissapointment that you think that children are the target market. The average gamer is 32 years old, like me. We have the disposable income and grew up with games. We are the ones teaching our children about them and them media usually get it wrong, so we ignore you most of the time. Hopefully, this will be a refreshing change. I look forward to judging for myself.

Thanks.

John Dallas
Father / Gamer
Ottawa, Canada; Reply to this comment