Theme: “The
Effect of Mobile Games”
This day commemorates the 9th anniversary since the CUBIES
Game was approved as a Thesis Proposal during CBG 2006 or officially known as
Games of the VIIth Colympiad.
As hardware power increases, and prices decrease, the smartphone has
quietly made quite a foothold as a platform in the video game industry. Many
companies are using smartphones to target previously unreachable market
segments in video gaming, such as casual gamers and women. As this platform
becomes more popular, researchers are beginning to notice potential benefits
and dangerous behaviors associated with this type of video gaming that has
never been observed with any other type of gaming.
A.)
Positive Effects
The days of reading a book or magazine to pass time while travelling are
slipping away from us as a recent survey suggest a quarter of all commuters
aged between 16 and 24 are playing mobile games instead.
Because mobile gaming has become so mainstream and accessible Tipperary
Institute in association with Popcap Games, who carried out this survey, is
looking at future trends in mobile game development including game based
learning resources that can be used by students on consoles or mobile devices.
This survey came out to coincide with the Higher Education Authority
funded Computing Adventure Camp, which the Tipperary Institute is participating
in, and is part of an initiative to encourage students to pursue a career in
computing.
"We are delighted with the positive feedback received from
participants at this week's Computing Adventure Camp. They are taking part in
weeklong workshops in Creative Multimedia, Animation and Energy Technology;
skills which are required in the real economy and also applicable to video
games," said Aisling Lynch, creative multimedia lecturer, Tipperary
Institute.
Initial results, from looking at how gaming can impact on a student's
learning experience, suggest that it is having a positive effect.
"We have been using games based starter kits for the past seven
years; allowing students to compete amongst themselves and their peers. This
has led to improved academic performance and positive feedback from graduate
employers, who use results to determine student capability, how they work under
their own initiative and within teams," said Philip Bourke, games design
and development lecturer, Tipperary Institute.
B.)
Negative Effects
The first negative effect of mobile gaming is the potential for
distraction when performing another more important activity, such as driving.
Video games should never be played while driving. Some mobile games use the
internet and have the ability to push information and notifications to a player
even when the player is not actively playing. The game may send these alerts
while a player is driving, and the player may not identify the alert's origin
as being from a game, or be tempted to check it anyways, creating a potentially
dangerous situation.
Many mobile games have a social aspect, or rely on other players taking
turns or participating in the game. In games like this, it's common to have
alerts and updates throughout the day about various things happening in
different games. It's also very tempting to take several minutes and quickly
check on a game, or make a quick move. These micro-transactions can quickly add
up over the course of a day or week, resulting in many wasted hours of
productivity.
Mobile phones and video games have both been independently linked to
disruption in the sleep patterns of children in studies. Jan Van den Bulck, a
senior lecturer in psychology at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium,
found through surveys that one in five teenagers reported being awakened
regularly by their mobile devices. Playing video games on mobile phones will no
doubt continue to prevent children from getting the rest they need. Disruption
in sleep patterns, like the ones caused by mobile games, have been linked to
behavior issues, and sleepiness during the day.
Many mobile games operate on a "free to premium" business
model, where the basic game is free, but extras within the game cost money.
Some players have found themselves spending large sums of money while playing
games, in an out of control fashion. These types of games are potentially very
dangerous to gamers with any type of addictive personalities. There have also
been reports of parents allowing their children to use their devices to play
their free games, and their children have somehow managed to purchase items
accidentally, with no way for the parent to receive a refund.
Once again, HAPPY CUBIES DAY TO EVERYONE!!!
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