Comments about ‘Letter: Positives in video gaming’

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Salt Lake City, UT

I'll bet Pele didn't use a video game to learn soccer; Tom Brady didn't use a video game to learn football, and Michael Jordan didn't use a video game to learn basketball. They did it by actually playing their respective games. I never had video games (or even Sesame Street) when I grew up, but I seemed to do fine learning how to read, write, and do math. IMO, kids nowadays have less opportunity to develop mental, emotional, physical, and social skills because they spend too much time playing video games.

Video games may have their place (hopefully a very small one), but they are no substitute for engaging in the real world instead of a virtual world created by some faceless programmer in front of a computer.

Dietrich, ID

I know people that spend a good deal of there spare time playing video games. One that did did go out for the football team better time at practice than on nintendo even though he did not play much. In a rural town.

I know of people in football that do not kick or punt no matter what. In 8 man football it is rare as few schools have reliable kickers. However in real life how many coaches never use special teams? Realism there. When used properly can be good. When it causes you to miss work and not get anything done not so good.

American Fork, UT

Nice try. Sure, in some fantasy world educational and sports related games would sell. Out here in reality the only games I've ever seen kids play seem to involve constantly walking around killing things in futuristic war zone or something. The rendering of the guts and gore is spectacular, and disturbing. And they 'play' these games to the exclusion of homework, chores, social development, physical development, sleep and eating. The worst thing is that gaming addicted kids become adults, and they're pretty useless. I've known alcoholics and stoners who are way more useful human beings than video gamers. You're free to own and play your game, but don't tell me it might be good for you.

Salt Lake City, Utah

"Lure of the Labyrinth" is a great game for learning math skills, is free online, and is a lot of fun. It was developed by a math teacher and has different levels of difficulty.

(And no - I had nothing to do with the game and get nothing from telling people about it - but if we are going to talk about helpful video games, let's talk about helpful video games.)


My son is a little league football coach. Part of the reason he is so good at it is that he used Madden as a trining tool during the years he was playing. It allowed him to create plays and come to understand the game better - not just his individual role. Today, he encourages his 12 year olds to do the same. Understanding the game and being able to read a field makes a superior player. It is, of course, only one part of a strategy for success.

provo, Utah

Whatever world our children create will include the skills and practices they have learned while playing video games. It's a good idea to shape what that will be as a parent. I personally allowed my daughter to play all kinds of video games but I never bought "shooter" games for her. I didn't forbid her to play them occasionally, I just didn't buy them or have them in the house.

Game theory is being included in all kinds of online colabrations, learning courses such as khanacademy, collaborative sciences ect.

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