6 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2008

–ed and –ing adjectives; expressing opinions

1. GTA 4 is an 18 certifi cate and not suitable for users under 18. 2. MP = Member of Parliament

Screen Games: Do they Influence You?

2 computer games … 2 controversies* …1 question: Do Internet and computer games really infl uence YOU?

Amy, 14, is playing the latest craze Miss Bimbo, an Internet game for 9-16-year-old girls. She’s just looked at plastic surgery* clinics for her ‘Bimbo’. Now she’s taking her to the tanning salon*.

Malcolm, 18, is on his PlayStation. So far he’s stolen a car and had a fi ght with a gang on the streets. He’s playing the biggest-selling game of the year, GTA 4 1.

*

TW_TEAM1_p6_7.indd 2 25/6/08 06:22:27

ANSWERS ON PAGE 15 ➧ SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2008 7

SPECIAL REPORTCD 1 Track 4

Page 18

✱WORDWISE ● to influence (verb) – to change the way you think ● controversy (noun) – a lot of argument about something ● plastic surgery (noun) – operations to improve the way you look ● tanning salon (noun) – a place where you can use a sunbed or get a fake tan ● harmless (adjective) – it doesn’t cause any harm ● menace (noun) – danger ● insecure (adjective) – not confident ● damaged (adjective) – psychologically harmed ● to reflect (verb) – to show what is already there ● car-jacking (noun) – stealing someone’s car

Are these games harmless* fun or do they really infl uence your behaviour? Will Amy feel she must look like Miss Bimbo to succeed in life? Will Malcolm move on from screen fi ghts to street fi ghts?

Read the opinions below. Tick (✓) the ones you agree with.

Will Miss Bimbo influence Amy?❑ “Yes,” says Bill Hibberd of Parentkind, a group for parents. “If a young teen sees the bimbo as a cool role model, the game becomes a menace*.” �

❑ “Yes,” says our TEAM testing panel of 15 and 16-year-olds. “It makes girls want to look better than they are already, which is unnecessary,” says Hattie, 16. �

❑ “Yes,” says Becky Crowson, who developed anorexia when she was 14. This game “will create insecure* girls who will turn into damaged* young women,” says Becky. �

❑ “No,” says Miss Bimbo’s creator, Nicolas Jacquart. “It’s just harmless fun. It isn’t a bad infl uence for young children. They learn to take care of their bimbos. If they eat too much chocolate, for example, it is bad for their bimbo’s bodies and happiness. We are not encouraging young girls to have plastic surgery, we are just refl ecting* real life.” �

What do you think of these two games?

● boring ● interesting ● annoying ● stimulating

Will GTA 4 infl uence Malcolm?❑ “No,” says Joe, 18. “I’m never going to be a car-jacking*, murdering gang member. But it’s interesting to see what your life could be like if you chose that path.” �

❑ “No,” says Michael Chettleburgh, Canadian gang expert. “If you ask young gang members for the top ten reasons why they joined a gang, you never hear them talk about the infl uences of video games.” �

❑ “Yes,” says Keith Vaz, MP². “A young person’s mind is impressionable ... GTA is going to have an impact on them.” �

❑ “Yes,” says neuroscientist Sarah Greenfi eld. “While you game,” she explains, “your brain produces dopamine. This attacks your brain, affecting your imagination and your ability to concentrate.”�

DISCUSS IT!● What screen games do you play?● How long do you play these games per week?● Are you influenced by them?

TW_TEAM1_p6_7.indd 3 25/6/08 06:22:42