Violent video games are harming our children, say expertsSolutions for parents Some experts and researchers believe that video games can be educational and develop certain skills. Dr. Walid Al-Sharif, a Saudi social researcher, said that banning these games is not the best solution and might be difficult and impractical. Al-Sharif has suggested a number of measures to help parents: Buy only useful games and avoid violent and aggressive products. Encourage children to engage in team sports rather than just individual activities. Limit the time spent on games to two hours. Experts say children must spend 75 percent of their free time on physical activities and the other 25 percent on other activities. Direct children to participate in other interests such as memorizing the Qur'an, reading books, visiting relatives, friends or patients, and taking care of household chores and shopping. Ensure children are more aware of activities that can harm them, so that they can reject these things without parental orders or government censorship.Video games to cross off your child's list: • Grand Theft Auto • Assassin's Creed II • Borderlands • Brutal Legend • Call of Duty • Dead Space • Demons Souls • Dragon Age • Left for DeadSaudi Gazette JEDDAH – There is increasing evidence that violent video games are having a negative impact on children's behavior and family life, according to experts. “The problem is not the existence of these games, but the easy access to them,” says Sarah Bawareth, a mother of three boys who are addicted to PS3 and Xbox. Although the first video games emerged in the late 70s, violent video games came of age in the 90s, with games such as Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter and Wolfenstein 3D. In all three games, the main task is to maim, wound, or kill opponents. The graphics included blood splattering and sounds of pain, which were cutting-edge at the time. According to a study conducted by the University of Toronto on 150 4th and 5th graders, those children spending the most time playing violent video games are also most likely to agree with statements, such as “People with guns or knives are cool” and “Parents should tell their kids to fight if they have to.” Dr. Suzan Mashhadi, a social specialist at Al-Amal Hospital, said that studies show that children are severely affected by these games, with some suffering from tension and nervous convulsions. “Experts argue that a child addicted to these games, especially the violent and aggressive ones, could become violent. In the game, the child learns that killing and murdering are acceptable. The game allows children to become involved in various forms of violence, including beatings, murder, sabotage and kidnapping,” said Mashhadi. Dr. Suhail Abdul Hamid Khan, medical manager at the Mental Illness Hospital in Jeddah, said children become unsociable and introvert because they spend hours playing video games. The games also have a negative effect on academic performance. Salem Tuwairqi, the Director of the Guidance and Counseling Department at the Jeddah Education Directorate, said pupils addicted to these games do not develop proper study skills. “This may occur because of the long periods of time children spend playing these games. They may also develop eye problems which in turn affects academic performance,” Tuwairqi said. Saber Ali, the owner of a video games shop in the Red Sea Mall, said Sony and Microsoft are among the top manufacturers of consoles and video games. The games are also now being widely sold in the Arab world, compared to the past when only counterfeit copies were available. Ali added that the five best-selling video games in the Gulf and Arab world are Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Halo, Resident Evil and Monster Hunter. He said most of the games revolve around violence and horror. He said most gamers are between 12 and 23 years of age. Loay Samman, a PS3 addict, says that he has never feared violence and has always been anxious to know what it may lead to. “It's not the act itself but what hides behind it and its effects,” he said. Mike, a teenage American living in the Kingdom, said that one popular game - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 – allows a player to choose whether to join Russian terrorists and fire into a crowd at an airport. This encourages mass murder and terrorism in a virtual environment, he said. Sultan, a Saudi youngster, said Resident Evil 5, which is set in a fictional African town, has racist undertones. The game features Chris Redfield, a white male, cutting down scores of African zombies called “savages” who must be controlled by the “white man”. Ahmad Al-Zahra, a Syrian teenager, added that Resident Evil 5 also suggests rape in one scene: A group of African male zombies are seen dragging a white woman off to be “infected”. “My father just would not allow such games on my play station. I once played these games on my friend's console,” Al-Zahra said. The popular Grand Theft Auto series has sparked controversy, criticism, and even lawsuits for its violence, sexual content, and graphic imagery. The 2008 and 2009 versions of the game are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most controversial video game series in history, with over 4,000 articles published about them, which include accusations of glamorizing violence, corrupting gamers, and connection to real life crimes. __
