Task 2 - Effects Debate

For this task I shall write an article emphasizing the positive effects of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I shall also provide arguments against the negatives aspects of Skyrim and I shall use the programme Are Video Games Really That Bad? as my main source of evidence.

Overall, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has many positive effects to playing it. Video Games are generally vilified by the media and bold claims are made that Video Games cause great harm opposed to positively affecting the people who play them. This is explored in great detail in the BBC Horizon programme Are Video Games Really That Bad? Multiple scientists come together in order to determine how video games affect the body and mind. For example, the scientists test for reactions to violent content in both video games and real life and see what changes after playing violent video games.

This is just one of many tests taken in order to determine the effects of playing video games. One advantage to playing Skyrim is that it could potentially expand your attention span. A study was taken by Professor Adam Gazzaley, and it was proven that by playing video games consistently over a long period of time, a players attention span would be increased. Due to this, any video game, including Skyrim could improve a players attention span. This would help with skills such as multitasking which would prove useful in day to day life. This particular skill was tested. A woman by the name of Daphne Bavelier produced a test where a gamer or non gamer had to track a certain amount of balls across a screen. A large amount of balls were put on a screen with constant motion and the testers had to follow a certain amount of specified balls. Daphne found that testers that played video game's could track more balls across the screen. Due to this, it had been proven that by playing video games and at an extension, Skyrim, you can improve your ability to multitask.

Another positive aspect to playing Skyrim is that it can also help reflexes. This is due to the fact, Skyrim requires controls such as a a game pad to control, and if used for a long time, players can gain faster reaction times in real world activities such as driving and sports. This is was taken advantage of when a Doctor who specializes in keyhole surgery, created a game specially designed to teach surgeons to perform keyhole surgery without using the low simulation tests used previously for keyhole surgery training. By playing Skyrim, you could potentially gain faster reflexes over time which adds another positive effect of playing Skyrim.

Due to the frantic nature of video game gameplay, scientists believe that video games can combat mental decline. A woman by the name of Simone Kuhn tested elder's in order to see if playing video games could prevent the mental decline seen by most people at an older age. Certain tester's had to play Super Mario 64, and the others had to not play any video game. After two months had passed, their brain activity was tested. What was found that by playing Super Mario 64, the players had to think of how to pass by multiple different situations, and as such their brain was tested often enough that they experienced no mental decline, while the testers who didn't play video games lacked the simulation to prevent it. Due to its nature as a video game, Skyrim can help combat mental decline due to the simulation that it can provide.

One commonly noted negative effect video games can provide is addiction. It has been covered in the media ever since the industry's first years. Skyrim is no exception. Due to its nature of an RPG that lets you do anything, Skyrim is a prime candidate for inciting addiction. However, multiple studies have been taken to determine if video games are addictive by nature. Two conclusions were drawn. Professor Mark Griffiths felt that reactions to video games depends on the rewards offered, and Dr Valerie Voon discovered that those that crave immediate reward are the ones that tend to get addicted to video games. AS such, games like Skyrim aren't addictive by nature, but it depends on the temperament of the player.

Overall, Skyrim has more positive effects than negative. It can increase your attention span, ability to multitask, improve reflexes and combat mental decline. And all this was proven by experts in their respective fields. While a game like Skyrim can get a player addicted, it is due to the nature of the player, and it is their responsibility to play games such as Skyrim in moderation. Overall, this proves Skyrim has plenty of positive effects.

Video Reference (BBC Horizon Are Video Games Really That Bad?:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x38qzq8