| We have seen technology evolve and develop | | | | so much fun. A player gets a sense of fulfillment |
| through these years. Bringing many things that people | | | | when they get life points, find treasures or gain |
| don't have many years back. And one of these | | | | bonus points and prizes. Called "virtual economy", |
| things is virtual worlds provided by the internet. | | | | Wikipedia states that players are "driven by in-game |
| Often referred to as a "fantasy world", it is, in fact a | | | | needs such as equipment, food or trade goods." |
| new genre in online community. Forums, blogs, chat | | | | What motivates them even more is the fact that |
| rooms, social networking, and online games are | | | | you can get these rewards by not just playing once |
| products of man's ingenuity to create their own | | | | or winning once, but after multiple victories. With a |
| world with their own rules, own topics and where | | | | virtual economy, the harder it is to get the reward, |
| they are in control of almost everything. | | | | the more useful it is in the kid's virtual world. Thus, |
| Although it is true that engaging on these virtual | | | | the more challenging and fulfilling it is to acquire them. |
| worlds has its own pros and cons, what concerns us | | | | 4. Social Interaction – online games also has |
| more is the fact that these appeal to the younger | | | | underlying social motives. In game |
| mass. Online games for example are very popular | | | | where it requires team play, players interact with |
| among kids and teens. Online games (in whatever | | | | each other. It allows them to speak and share their |
| type or form) have become your kid's virtual world. | | | | knowledge to other participants. In the virtual worlds |
| Stating these fact lead us to a question: What pulls | | | | they find like-minded players they can talk to and |
| children to online games? | | | | share interests with. Scientists at Rochester |
| 1.#It's play time! - Kids consider playing video games | | | | University surveyed one thousand video game |
| as a "play". In a game, children participate in an | | | | players and found that the psychological need for |
| activity voluntarily rather than being forced to do so. | | | | connection to other players was one of the top |
| Kids play for delight and enjoyment. This is where | | | | three motivators for video-game players. |
| they get imaginative since online games are governed | | | | 5.#Mind Exercise – playing online games is a good |
| by rules different from the real world's "fixed rules." | | | | way to exercise the brain cells! It helps kids explore |
| Which brings us to… | | | | and discover new things. According to some |
| 2.#A dream world – because the gaming world | | | | research, online games enable the mind of the |
| has special rule systems, kids often find themselves | | | | players to be more active, especially those |
| in a world they only see in movies. But in a kid's | | | | puzzle-based games. It helps the kids to come up |
| virtual world, they are not only a part of that world, | | | | with decisions in tight situations, especially those |
| they live in that world. Fantasy-related elements are | | | | adventure games that keep them alert and strategic. |
| present in any online game. Here you can find heroes, | | | | There are also many games whose concept and |
| villains, go shopping, battle monsters and bringing | | | | design teach players about a specific subject, |
| order from chaos, having your own avatar, collecting | | | | understand an historical event or culture "expand |
| jewels, dressing your own pet, designing your own | | | | concepts, reinforce development or assist them in |
| village, owning a farm, managing your own store... and | | | | learning a skill as they play." |
| much more! Children often wish of becoming a | | | | A study conducted to 1,102 teens shows that almost |
| superhero, having super powers, rescuing the world, | | | | all kids and teens - 97 percent - play online games, |
| and then withdraw the dream because it can never | | | | and that the three most popular types of games are |
| happen in the real world. Well, possibility is endless in | | | | not violent. Instead, the virtual worlds your kids are |
| the virtual world. On online games, giddy children can | | | | on include racing, puzzles, obstacle courses and |
| do whatever they want. And be whoever they want | | | | sports. With proper guidance and supervision from |
| to be. It is a cool escape from their constructed | | | | parents, there is nothing to worry about. We may |
| reality. | | | | not like it, or understand it, but there is more to |
| 3.#Playing for Rewards - reinforcement and | | | | online gaming and our kid's virtual worlds than |
| gratification you get while playing makes online games | | | | smashing potatoes. |