Recently, the American Medical Association gave serious consideration to classifying video game addiction as a legitimate diagnostic disorder.

But a pair of researchers at Scotland’s Brunel University claim that online games can actually be good for kids.

As reported by The Scotsman, since players are exposed to those of other races and nationalities while gaming, MMO’s may teach important lessons in dealing with diversity. 

Nic Crowe and Dr. Simon Bradford of Brunel University’s School of Sport and Education spent three years researching players of RuneScape, a popular online role-playing game. The researchers also found that online gaming sparked imaginations of its fans. Said Crowe:

Virtual environments form important new leisure spaces for the many young people who occupy them. In the real world, where streets or town centres have become inaccessible to many young people or are considered unsafe by them or their parents, it is not surprising virtual public space has become increasingly attractive as a leisure setting.

The appeal [of MMOs] lies in the provision of an environment in which young people can experiment with the cultural institutions and structures of the material world. It is a space in which young people can establish their presence, identity and meaning in ways that might not be accessible or permissible in their everyday lives.

Bradford added:
We met many players taking part in online role-playing, sometimes to extend or to compensate for experiences in the real world. For example, young people whose parents could not afford a summer holiday enjoyed virtual holidays online.

We noted how entrepreneurial young players engaged in business deals online, experiencing positive opportunities often not open to them in the material world.

At a time when emerging technologies such as the internet, and computer games continue to be subject to suspicion and concern, it is important we recognise the benefits of what is an increasingly important activity for our young people.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 2nd, 2007 at 1:06 pm and is filed under Controversial Games, Games & Culture, People, Video Game Research, Games & Health, Games & Education. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.