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Peaceful Video Games May Mean Happier Kids, Study Shows

by Leila Brillson on June 7, 2009 at 08:28 AM



Called mind-melting, violence-inducing time-killers, video games have gotten a pretty bad rap. Often overlooked are the potential advantages to having an immersive (and fun) entertainment experience. Yet, the Economist is now reporting that several different findings to be released this summer all that suggest "pro-social" games, or those that aren't based on blowing up or gunning down, actually encourage helpful and cooperative behavior.

The first study, conducted by Iowa State University, had 161 American children play helpful, violent, and neutral games, and then make decisions for their classmates. Kids who played the proactive selections made helpful decisions, while the destructive gamers picked the opposite for their peers. Similarly, a study from the University of Sussex showed that children who had played 'Lemmings' were more likely to imagine positive scenarios for problem sets than were kids who played 'Tetris.'

What this means, of course, is the case with any type of media. Violent suggestions lead to violent thoughts. But since plenty of video games involve problem-solving and fuzzy creatures, perhaps naysayers need to rethink their myopic stance. [From: Economist.com]

Feeling like you need to up your sympathy quotient? We've compiled some of our favorite thinking-and-creating games that will still keep you glued to your seat.



'N+'
Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP
A puzzle game involving a small ninja and the most basic of moves (up, down, left, right, jump), its users have to maneuver through levels before their metabolism runs out, solving puzzles all along the way. Nothing like going right back to the basics.



'Katamari Damacy'
Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PSP
For those of you that haven't been rolled up into the gooey ball of Katamari goodness, the main goal of the game includes picking up everything in sight, creating a massive ball, and then hoisting it into the sky to create a planet -- all with absurdly cute and catchy music in the background. It's the gaming equivalent of your favorite ice-cream flavor.



'LittleBigPlanet'
PlayStation 3
Adorable and catering to your inner architect, LittleBigPlanet allows you to control your customized Sackboy or Sackgirl through levels built by other users. You can build a level yourself, find your favorite user-made themes (from Judge Dredd to Contra), or just watch Sackboy/girl glide through the game. An exercise in 21st century side-scrollers, and creativity.



'Harvest Moon Series'
Sony PlayStation and Nintendo Platforms
Farming and dating. It doesn't get much better than that in this bucolic world, where players have to raise some cattle, plant some crops, and get married. Cheery characters help you complete quests like rescuing spirits or cooking food in this oddly addictive game. It's just as sweet as it is embarrassing to be seen with.



'Rock Band'
Sony PlayStation 2 & 3, Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360
Unless you live under a technology-free rock, you've heard about 'Rock Band,' your friends playing 'Rock Band,' your co-workers playing 'Rock Band' and even your parents playing 'Rock Band.' The reason is that the songs and the game are really fun, especially because the whole thing encourages group playing and interaction, nurtures musical development, and offers good, old-fashioned doses of humility.

Tags: children, e32009, games, kids, nintendo, nintendo ds, NintendoDs, nintendowii, parenting, psp, sony, top, video games, VideoGames, xbox360

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