Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Gaming in college


Subin Lee


Gaming in college

College for most students is a place to enhance their education. However, for some, college is a place for sports, partying or recreation. One of the biggest recreations that the majority of the students participate is online games. Colleges are the places where they host LAN parties, which is a gathering of hard core gamers. All sorts of games are played by college students, including first-person-shooting games, role playing games, simulation games, and even gambling. Colleges have one of the fastest internet connections in the nation. This therefore allows players to play in a faster cyber world environment.
The problem with online games is the issue of addiction. Games are just as addicting as cigarettes. Not just in the game play but also meeting people online. For example in RPG games, players meet new people, and make a party in order play through the game together. Sometimes, they even make schedules when to log in and play together. Major game addicts may play up to or even more than 15 hours a day.
Online games consume a significant amount of time. This can affect student’s health, daily life pattern, grades, and social life. Long hours on the computer or video games can kill brain cells, deprive student’s sleep, and mess up eating schedule. Due to laziness, gamers might skip meals just to play more, and sleep at late odd hours.
Game can then lead students to miss classes due to daily improper schedule and increasing addiction. For online gamblers, it can also improve the speed of wasting a lot of money. Counseling services have been added to assist the estimated 11 percent of students who have a problem with these addictions whether it be card games with friends, online gambling or visiting casinos.
The harsh fact is that all college students own a computer, and most own a laptop. Laptop meaning portable, which means students can bring their laptops anywhere including their classes. This means that students can even play games on their laptops anywhere including their classes.

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