Thursday, December 10, 2015

Even Addictive Games Promote Family Values

There's been much debate about the effect that video games and online games have in the development of our children and even in the socialization of adults. Reams have been written about the ways in which video games isolate youngsters and encourage a sedentary lifestyle. Some argue that, when adults play video games and online games to the exclusion of other activities, they effectively distance themselves from others and put up emotional barriers.

While moderation and self-control may be important considerations when playing video games and online games, I believe a case can be made that some addictive games promote family values.

Some people grow up in "game" families, and others do not. I'm from a family of avid gamers - and this was long before the advent of video games and online games. Some of my first memories are of going with my parents to their friends' houses and sitting quietly while they played bridge all evening. My father worked in construction, and so was out of work during the winter. I fondly recall coming home from school and finding my mother, father, and my father's best friend sitting around the table playing cutthroat pinochle. As I grew older, I spent many weekends up at a mountain cabin, playing hearts with eight or ten other people until the wee hours of the morning.

In our family, we didn't only play card games. We played every kind of game imaginable - board games, travel games, Mah Jong, outdoor games - you name it. I was the reigning backgammon champion in my college dorm. We also were voracious puzzle solvers. I preferred cryptograms and anacrostics, while my grandmother solved crossword puzzles in pen until she was 94 years old. And, yes, when the first Ataris came out, my mother bought one and we spent countless hours playing Pong and Donkey Kong.

There's no question in my mind that the addictive games we played united our family and taught us important life lessons. The first lesson, of course, was don't cheat - and never play with cheaters. That has served me well in business. The second lesson was good sportsmanship: always play to win, but be gracious when you lose. That, too, has been an important life lesson. Even though I try my best, sometimes I don't come out on top. The third lesson was about the importance of thinking ahead and strategizing to reach your goals. The fourth lesson was about partnerships and teamwork. I had to learn to be a team player, and sometimes a former adversary would become an ally at a moment's notice.

Most of all, though, our family's addictive game playing gave us an opportunity to be together, to have fun, and to laugh. We're all highly competitive, but at the end of the day, we're all friends.

My son has inherited my love of games and puzzles. To be honest, I couldn't wait until he got old enough to start playing kid's games. Like many parents, I played Chutes and Ladders until my eyes crossed! He plays his video games - but we play a lot of them together. We also do jigsaw puzzles together and enjoy working in puzzle books and magazines. He even creates puzzle books for his classmates using the class' spelling words.

So, while people turn up their noses at addictive games, I say that they can teach important life lessons and instill great family values. Play on!


Finding Free Online Role Playing Games

Participating in Free Online Role Playing Games

Role playing games are popular games in which players assume the roles of imaginary characters. A variety of role playing games is available for players of all ages. There are even free online role playing games for internet users.

Although role playing games are traditionally played in person, there is a good selection of websites that offer free online role playing games. Online role playing games of be a legend soccer hack can involve telling a story or describing the actions of your character. This type of role playing game is a fun way to be creative and to construct your personalized role playing game. This game can be done in person or on the internet. There are many website forums or chat sites specifically for this type of online role playing.

Free online role playing games come in various formats, including games designed for:

• single player
• multiple players on one computer
• multiple players at various locations

The games designed for multiple players from different locations involve participating with an individual located just about anywhere in the world. Free online role playing games are a great way to meet and play with other gamers who all share the same interests.

The internet is full of free online role playing games, however, there are some sites that offer multiple free games all in one website. To find free online role playing games from these convenient sites, complete an internet search. Simply type "free online role playing games in the search box, and you will open the door to a large number of gaming sites that offer free online role playing games. When finding free online role playing games, it is important to remember not to give out your credit card information. Some sites may advertise games that free for a limited period of time. If this is the case, the games are not actually free, they are only being offered as a free trial.

A fairly new website for free online role playing games is http://www.orpgs.com/. ORPGS stands for Online Role Playing Games. Online Role Playing Games currently offer six free online role playing games, and membership is free. Registering for a membership is a fairly easy process compared to signing up on many other online gaming sites. In addition to free online role playing games, ORPGS offers a members' forum and other useful resources. Forums are a great way to contact other gamers and to learn about online role playing games in general or about a specific game, especially if you are new to the scene.

The internet opens up a whole new world of fun and excitement for individuals who enjoy participating in free online role playing games. Although traditional role playing games still exist in person, online role playing games have greatly increased in popularity. For some individuals, it may be hard to find a friend or acquaintance nearby to participate in face-to-face role playing.

Just about every day, someone else becomes interested in or thinks about playing a free online role playing game. Free online role playing games make it easier for new gamers to test the waters. There are online role playing games that do cost a small fee, however, many of the free online role playing games are of the same quality as games that cost money and offer the same gaming experience. Start gaming today, and you will find an unlimited number of free online role playing games.