How are you, my love and children? Today I want to share about me
A lecturer that play games? Is it possible? Why not? I started play games when I was young age. That time, the only console is MicroGenius, a brand name used for Famicom (Family Computer) clone consoles. It is aims toward several countries where Nintendo did not have an official presence especially Malaysia. It is compatible with Famicom game cartridges. Normally, I will buy a cartridges containing multiple games for I can play a lot of games without bored with one.
Gaming in Age 6-12 (condition)
When I was 6-12 years old, in order to play game I need to fulfill 2 conditions:
1. I only allow to play when it is School Holiday (Public Holiday not included)
2. To play the games or buy a game, I must be in Top 6 in class.
So, what if I failed to get in the ranks ? When I Primary 4, I was ranked 9. My mom angry and caned and ban me from playing during the school holiday. I never forget the “weapon” she used- cloth hanger. 2 lines in one go. Nostalgic.. After that, I boost myself to rank 6. Not bad technique but I don’t think nowadays parent would use this method and over protected them with love. The games I love to play are Street Fighters, Super Mario and Ninja Turtles. I really enjoy when play with friends and siblings.
Gaming in Age 13-24
I did not have other consoles till Form 3 (Secondary School Third Year) where I had a Pentium III- personal computer (PC). Thanks to my brother who bought it. The first game I played was Starcraft that was received by my dad during his company Annual Dinner Lucky Draw. Then, I began my journey to Cyber Cafe to play games, Starcraft II, Counter Strike, Warcraft III, Diablo II, and Dota. That is my crazy age on games till entering arcade to play Daytona and SoulCalibur II. Installment of Streamyx, is where I started my MMORPG – Ragnarok, MapleSea and etc. Even study in University (UNIMAS), we played DOTA 5v5 among friends in hostel.
Gaming in Age 25 – Current
After completed my Master degree, I got a job as tutor in Miri, Sarawak, 2012. I built my own gaming PC (I7 with GTX 970) and play Dota2, Starcraft II, & Diablo III. Then, I received PS4 (1st batch, slightly problem in disk drive. Price: RM1700) as my Birthday present in 2014, the same day, I received good news that I going to be father. Now, I am lecturer, give a lot of impression that we are professional and not a gaming type of people. Then, what is your expectation on lecturer weekend activities? Doing research and teaching preparation. Haha. Actually, not really, we are human too, we have our interest to do. Just I more towards gaming. I even tell my students, I am gamer and some of them shocked. We only talk about games after class. Don’t think we discuss in class. No, I know my responsibility and quality I had with me as academician. Don’t judge my professional attitude. Lol
Negative Perspective on Gaming
Traditional Asian mother like my mother always discouraging me on gaming. Their mindset is that this hobby is only for children and shouldn’t be play by adult or teenagers. Teenagers should focused on their so-called hobbies like outdoor sports, study, and other except Gaming. Can’t blame them, because they didn’t experience it and have their mind set from their childhood experience which they think is the best for their kids. Gaming can’t earn money which is old generation think off. But now different era. It is like entertainment. It is similar to sports during long time ago where these entertainment is not yet recognize. Now, what do you see? A lot of Youtubers, Twitch and FB gaming. Besides, worry the study will get affected because spend too much on gaming. However, there are similar cases like letting kids watch cartoon or Youtube for a long period. So, parent please don’t look on gaming only. If parent able to manage their kids timetable or revise some work with for the kids, I think it will be ok.
Last one, is the Gaming Addiction. It is similar to drug, smoking and alcohol. It is bad so parent please guide your children on the matter else health, lifestyle and learning will badly affected. So, guide them properly, can scold but give reasoning without negativity mindset to your children. Try the best to give them positive feedback.
One of game addiction factors is the reward systems of games. A lot of gamers always try to grab all the achievements. Normally, boys will like to achieve all so they can brag their success with their friends. End up, the cycle of competing each grows and addiction come. If you ask me the achievements attractive. I would say yes because I wish to get all the achievements or trophies in each games that I play. However, I have a short time playing games due to focusing on family, work and others. So, gaming addiction didn’t influence me. Gaming addiction become getting serious till World Health Organization had to list the gaming addiction as mental health condition for the first time. There are guides contains codes for diseases, signs and symptoms and is used by doctors and researcher to track and diagnose disease. If you think your love one and children get addicted to game, perhaps you can bring them to test it.
Don’t blame on one side
However, we should not blame just game industries for all the problems. Parents must take the responsibility to guide the kids especially current generation. Please, don’t say busy to work and don’t time taking care of them. You must take time to spend with children because they still not mature to think till the bad consequences. They do not have any idea how to manage their time. We can try to set a time for them when they allow and stop. My eldest son are allow to watch YouTube or use Ipad on weekend. Week days we just let him play toys. Another problem that parent need to watch out is kids using their parents’s mobile wallets without permission to spend money on games. We need to teach them the need of money because they had no idea how the money work.
Benefits of Gaming
Nevertheless, we can’t just look at bad side of Gaming. Recent research has proved that gaming has some benefits and main is the development of cognitive skills.
When playing games, adult or child is not just staring on the screen. They need to coordinate their visual, audial and physical movement. RPG Games (Assasin Creed, Horizon Zero Dawn) normally involve puzzle or certain rules to solve a mission or gain rewards/achievements. So, you need to think on solving the problem. Normally, you required visual and audial.
Gaming can improve coordination, problem-solving skills, memory attention and concentration, multitasking skills, and social skills. If you ask me, is it true on the facts. I would said yes, I play counter-strike, I am quite alert on things surround me. Shooting and fighting improve my reflex and mind. Strategic games (Age of Empire 2, Starcraft 1 & 2, Warcraft 3 and Red Alert 2) help me to think fast and plan properly towards every build I done. I need to use critical thinking skill. One of the important to me, it help released my stress and tension in work and business and improve mentally health for tomorrow.
Advise from me
As lecturer, my final advise would be have a right attitude and time management towards gaming world for it is just a fantasy world as you need to face the real world. If you interests to be Esport player, this is profession or job. Don’t think it is fun and enjoy. Every jobs are not easy including Esport industry. Just your passion that can sustain or increase your focus towards work. Playing games are just fine for Gamer.
Challenges for me
Christian – For this is just a leisure and I have 2 kids. So I have responsible to take care on their learning. My mother-in-law wake me up to be a Christian father. Praise the lord is our priority. So my time of playing have to change to night time when they all sleep. Sometimes it is impossible to avoid, so once a while if got people come and play, I stay beside my son and guide him.
Father – For most of the games I play content violence, so I need guide them well. The eldest son, I always “brainwash” him. I said “son, fighting must be inside TV. Don’t do it in school or anywhere. All the fighting and killing is only can be done in TV.” Now, I will ask him when can he fights and the reply will be “inside TV”. But they will grow up and it is my responsibility teach them what they want to be.
JOSIAH Miri 