Why would young people want to go to the cinema to watch play station games? It might not be everyone’s idea of a good day out but that is what happened in Derry only last week. Our reporter went along to check it out.
| Psychologists argue that in theory video games are just as addictive as narcotic drugs. |
During the Young People’s Instinct festival the Nerve Centre hosted the first ever play station competition on the big screen in the city. Competitors were able to compete in two games - WWE Smackdown and Tekken 4. The strange thing is that dozens of young people from across the city actually came along to watch people playing them. Why you ask?
Psychologists argue that in theory video games are just as addictive as narcotic drugs. They claim people get the same thrill from completing a game or playing against someone else as they do if they take a drug. They also believe the rush of adrenalin can cause many problems however e.g it can set off more serious conditions such as epilepsy, but it can also have an effect on how often people eat and how often they go to the toilet. Trust me this is not a good idea!
However I think there are other positive reasons why people would come along to a day like the Big Screen tournament. Most people there, like myself, like to watch others and see how good they are and like most young people we are competitive.
There is also the factor that a day like this encourages young people who may spend too much time playing the Playstation in their own bedrooms to come out and meet people and interact with them, while there is also the novelty factor of having a giant screen in front of you.
If this is the case is the Playstation as evil as many adults make it out to be? When you think about it the play station contributes to three major areas in a young persons life; pleasure, sport and competition.
In case you were wondering Daniel Killen, 15, from the Foyle Road area, was victorious on the day, coming out on top in a close fought final!
About the team
This story was produced by Ryan McLaughlin, 15. It was published by Derry News on Sunday.
