Ryan Rice

Mrs. Frere
English 1010 Casual Assignment
Period 2

Did you know that some hospitals use video games to help patients with physical

therapy? In 2007, hospitals began to incorporate the Nintendo Wii as a form of physical therapy

for their patients (Tanner). Video games have also been proven to increase mental activity and

improve reaction time. Most professional video gamers are capable of over 600 inputs per

minute with a keyboard and mouse when playing a fast-paced game (Lejacq). Although they

might seem childish, video games are beneficial to society as they cause the mind to focus, help

people to recover, and improve reaction times.

Video games have been documented to cause players to experience high brain activity

when playing certain genres. Games like Candy Crush Saga and Tetris are prime examples

of games that cause an increase in mental activity. Both games cause the player to think carefully

about the moves he/she can make. The planning that these game force, helps the gamer to focus

on his/her objective. Strategy and arcade games are not the only genres that cause the brain to

generate high amounts activity. Another notable genre is the first-person-shooter, also known as

FPS. Gamers tend to be more focused when playing an FPS because of the stress that this genre

entails. Players must be aware of their teams location and the enemys location as well as make

judgements on what they need to do. The FPS genre requires a large amount of focus; however, it

can also help a video gamer learn to redirect their focus to other places. Video games have

improved the lives of civilians by helping people learn how to manage their focuses on tasks.

Since its launch in 2006, the Nintendo Wii has been used in hospitals as a form of

recovery for both young and old patients. Doctors have used the video game Wii Sports to

increase the range of motion for patients with broken arms. When the range is recovered, the

doctor might add weights to damaged limb to help strengthen the patients bone and muscle
Ryan Rice
Mrs. Frere
English 1010 Casual Assignment
Period 2

(Tanner ). This treatment is great for children, as they will begin to recover while entertaining

themselves, instead of having a stressful session with an adult they dont know. The Nintendo

Wii is also used in retirement and nursing homes as a way for the elderly participate in activities

that they used to be able to do. When it was first introduced into the nursing homes, the residents

could grasp the concept of themselves playing video games. However, once they were introduced

to Wii Sports, most residents took a massive liking to the game. Video games have made

recover and fitness something enjoyable for both the young and the old.

Video games have been noted to increase reaction times for some people. In real-time

strategy games (RTS for short), professional video gamers are capable of inputting around 10

commands every second (Lejacq). They have great hand-eye coordination and situational

awareness. RTS gamers work together with their teammates to quickly predict, react, and counter

their opponents. This line of thought is great for leaders, as they need to be able to plan for

events and prepare something else if something goes wrong. Similarly, gamers of the first-

person-shooter genre react to sound and moving objects. In many of the games today, players can

hear in-game sounds which allows them to hear the direction where their opponents are. Using

sounds, these gamers find and eliminate their enemy before they get eliminated themselves. This

improvement in reaction time is impressive, but it doesnt improve motor speed, meaning that if

the person is slow to move the increased reaction time might not matter.

Video games have helped society by causing minds to focus, teaching the wounded how

to use limbs again, and increasing a persons reaction time. Video games still aren't healthy to

play for long hours because they can cause people to experience a "fake reality" or cause people
Ryan Rice
Mrs. Frere
English 1010 Casual Assignment
Period 2

to destroy the nerves in their wrist. However, video games played for a short period of time are

fine.

Works Cited

Corso, David. A Review of Video Game Effects and Uses. Caravel Undergraduate Research

Journal, Mar. 2014. University of South Carolina, caravel.sc.edu/2014/03/a-review-of-

video-game-effects-and-uses/. Accessed 13 Mar. 2017.

Flanagan, Jack. "Violent Video Games Promote Antisocial Behaviors." Violent Video Games,

edited by Roman Espejo, Farmington Hills, MI, Greenhaven Press, 2015. At Issue.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010926206/OVIC?

u=owin94235&xid=8b4f7e2d. Accessed 3 Mar. 2017. Originally published as "It's True:

Violent Video Games Turn You into a Jerk" in The Kernel, 30 Jan. 2014.

Lejacq, Yannick. "How fast is fast? Some pro gamers make 10 moves per second." NBC News,

24 Oct. 2013, www.nbcnews.com/technology/how-fast-fast-some-pro-gamers-make-10-

moves-second-8C11422946. Accessed 12 Mar. 2017.

Leonard, Andrew. "Video Game Culture Does Not Promote Antisocial Behaviors." Violent Video

Games, edited by Roman Espejo, Farmington Hills, MI, Greenhaven Press, 2015. At

Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010926207/OVIC?u=owin94235&xid=fb158f33.

Accessed 3 Mar. 2017. Originally published as "'Grand Theft Auto V': Gaming's Dark

Misogynist Cesspool" in Http://www.Salon.com, 4 Oct. 2013.

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Mrs. Frere
English 1010 Casual Assignment
Period 2

"Opinions on Links between Violent Video Games and Violent Behavior." Gale Opposing

Viewpoints in Context, Detroit, Gale, 26 Apr. 2016. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/HTKNDX496554521/OVIC?u=owin94235&xid=936af448.

Accessed 3 Mar. 2017.

Reuters. "Nintendo's Wii Becoming Big Hit in Nursing Homes Nationwide." FOX News, 25 Mar.

2007, www.foxnews.com/story/2007/03/25/nintendo-wii-becoming-big-hit-in-nursing-

homes-nationwide.html. Accessed 12 Mar. 2017.

Tanner, Lindsey. Doctors use Wii games for rehab therapy. USA Today, Gannett Satellite

Information Network, 8 Feb. 2008, usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/science/2008-02-08-

wii-rehabilitation_N.htm. Accessed 13 Mar. 2017.