Perception of video games changing

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

As children and adolescents are becoming overly involved with video games, there is a need to educate them about safety in video gaming to protect themselves from the dangers of electronic crimes and guide them to adopt game design as a professional career.

This opinion was voiced by school and university students, amateur as well as professional video gamers who created a buzz at the VGX Event that took off on Wednesday at the Expo Centre, Sharjah.

The exclusive gamers’ meet being organised by Funn — the Sharjah-based organisation that promotes and supports media arts learning for children and the youth in the UAE — will run till Friday.

Sheikha Mariam Saud Al Mualla, head of Events Department at Funn, said that the aim of the event, the first of its kind to be held in the emirate of Sharjah, is to tap the popularity of video games among children and young people and use it to benefit them by increasing their creativity, intellectual skills and stimulate lateral thinking.

“This event is more focused on education than the fun part of the game. This is aimed at educating youth and children to the negative impact of gaming as well as guiding them to use their love for the games to achieve a positive result. They can learn developing games and creating characters for the games,” she said.

Beginners as well as experienced professionals were able to access the latest versions of games. On Thursday and Friday, there will be tournaments where amateur as well as professional video gamers will compete to prove their expertise and win fabulous prizes.

“This is a good opportunity to take children out of house where they meet like-minded people, because gamers have a tendency to sit alone at home and play for hours with someone sitting in another corner of the world. Here they will have the opportunity to realise the diversity of video gaming. It is educational and fun both as they have an opportunity to play together,” said Sheikha Mariam.

The video game developing competition organised as part of the three-day event has created a buzz among the amateur as well as professional game developers, who said that game developing should be included in school curriculum or activities.