As with just about everything today, video games have both positive and negative effects on those who play them. It is important to stress, however, that almost everything is circumstantial and is not necessarily applicable in all cases. When children are very young, they are still learning about reality and fantasy; distinguishing between the two can prove both difficult and harmful. Violent video games are actively marketed to all age groups. The companies of course want to sell as many copies of each game as possible; and, as long as pare

• EC – Early Childhood: Content may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.

Parents do not have an easy job. They have an endless list of things to worry about. Because video games are a relatively new form of media, enough information is not available to simply tell parents which games are appropriate for which children. It is the job of parents to decide what types of video games their children play, and how much time they should be allowed to play. After all, nobody knows their children better than their parents know them.

• M – Mature: Have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain mature sexual themes, more intense violence and/or strong language.

There is one danger which has been becoming more and more frequent in teenage gamers today - addiction. Online games are all the rage today. Many teens use these games to create a new identity, allowing them to escape from the pressures of the everyday stresses of being a teenager. Two types of online games have been said to be addicting – role playing games and first person shooters. The first, role playing games (RPG’s), are typically fantastical games where the player can create his own unique character and interact with other player’s characters. The second, first person shooters (FPS’s), is a game where each player assumes the role of similar characters who all have the same abilities. This is a war type game where each player will join a team and work together to complete a certain objective. Both games can have the same effect. The players become so involved in becoming the best at the game that they lose a sense of time. They play for endless hours, ignoring everything else in their lives. This is, fortunately, a very small percentage of the players. Almost all players can enjoy the game without this problem.

• AO – Adults Only: Content suitable only for adults. May include graphic depictions of sex and/or violence. Not intended for persons under the age of 18.

Video games do have plenty of benefits as well. They do not get the same attention as the possible dangers, but they are no less important. Many of today’s

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