So what is it—are video games harmful enough that game makers are liable for the violent actions of their players, or therapeutic enough for even hospitals to use?
A recent study in Adelaide is leaning towards the latter.
Compared with when their dressings were changed under the cover of painkiller drugs alone, the children reported much less pain when they were allowed to also play the computer game.
The average pain score with drugs alone was 4.1 out of 10, compared to 1.3 out of 10 with drugs and use of the computer game.
If this is the case, I wonder what it will mean to those anti-video game zealots who claim that video games lead to violent behaviour–I suppose now that these kids are still in the hospital, they can be easily restrained or treated for their erratic and abusive behaviour from playing these games. </sarcasm>
If you want to be cynical or paranoid you could go as far as to say that this is irrefutable proof that video games desensitize children.
Although I think thats somewhat the point when going for pain killing.
Nah… just sounds like the kid’s distracted to me….
Jedimaster7705: I think that’s the point. We could also go far as to say that it’s testing the theory that a some perceived pain could be psychosomatic, and when distracted from the stimulus, you can’t feel it. :-)
Well, politcains always find a scapegoat. If video games are proven good for you, they will just find another thing to attack for brownie points.