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Many people hold a negative view toward video games. They complain and say that video games are addictive, expensive, and cause violence. I wish to explore these complaints that are made concerning video games. I hope to persuade you to that video games are inexpensive and not necessarily addictive. The complaint that video games cause violence is another area that I will briefly explore.

Critics complain that video games are addictive. David brooks interviewed 973 young people who frequented various video arcades in southern California. He found that although some of the youths were compelled to play, they were in a minority.1 The fact is that only half the kids in the arcade were actually playing games. The half that were not playing were socializing. Thus, arcade provided a social gathering place, and was more than just a place for compulsive play.

A test done by Edna Mitchell found that on average, people spend only 42 minutes of a day playing video games. This is hardly addictive when you compare it to the two and one half hours most children spend watching television each day.

How expensive are video games? Eighty percent of the kids interviewed by David Brooks spent five dollars or less each time they went to the arcade. That is roughly the price of a movie.2 In fact because they are better players, children spend less money than most adults. Greater skill is rewarded with longer play time. As skill increases, sometimes people can play a game for a hour and a half on one quarter.

Video games, like television, can have violent materials in their context. Researchers found that aggressive behavior tended to have more more of an impact in games that allowed only one player at a time. The same group of researchers that found recently found that two-player aggressive games whether cooperative or competitive, can actually reduce the level of aggression in children.3 A two player aggressive game can provide a release for aggression. Violent content is certainly not a necessary feature of video games. Many popular games are very non-aggressive.

From the facts that I have provided, I hope that you have gained some insight into video games. Video games simply serve as a form of recreation and fun for children as well as adults. Video games are an entertaining way to pass time and have healthy competition between people.