Impact of Online Games on Players

This assignment examines the profound impact of online video games on players. It delves into the negative consequences of excessive gaming, including artificial adrenaline rushes, depression, loneliness, alienation from society, reduced sensation, and emotional instability. The essay also emphasizes the importance of parental, teacher, and counselor guidance in mitigating these harmful effects and promoting healthy gaming habits.

CU1000 English for Academic Purposes Assessment 4: Critical Essay (30%)
Hard copy in class submission requires (arranged in the following order):
1. JCU Cover Page
2. Plan / Outline / Mindmap – use the template below
3. Peer-reviewed (and signed) draft of the Essay - please indicate with watermark as
"Peer-reviewed"
4. Final edited version of the Essay – the exact same copy you submitted online for
SafeAssign plagiarism check.
Deadline for both soft copy & hard copy submission:
Lecture A: 28 September 2017, 12pm
Lecture B: 29 September 2017, 1pm
To write a successful academic essay, you need to have:
(1) An outline plan
(2) A clear structure
(3) A strong introduction – good thesis statement
(4) Logical and meaningful paragraphs – unity and coherence
(5) A development of an argument or discussion – provide counterargument and
refutation, supported by evidence and/or examples; synthesise and cite the work of
others
(6) A conclusion – restate thesis statement, and sum up main points made in the body of
the essay.
Use the template below to help plan your critical essay (Assessment 4). You may wish to
modify it slightly to suit your preference and to ease your essay outline and planning.

Critical Essay Planning
INTRODUCTION
Background
(To introduce the topic. May include
surprising or interesting facts, a
definition, and some background
information.)
Video and online games have great psychological, physical, social and
emotional impacts on the players specially the children and teenager.
Video games have emerged into one of the most important forms of
entertainment the tech-friendly children and young teenagers enjoy
today. The video games have aggressive and violent contents to make
them appealing and engaging to the players. The researchers and
psychologists today have proved surprising facts on the video games
played online on its players of these two age groups. They have
proved that these games engage their players and prolonged exposure
to them cause detrimental changes in the bodies, minds, psychology,
mind behaviour and life style of these players. There have been
reports of young players becoming aggressive, depressed and even
committing suicide due to the impacts of online games. The
advancement in science and technology towards the end of 1900s had
great impact on gaming culture all over the world. The development
of information and computer technology led to people playing games
using the internet platform as the arena though they are geographically
far away from each other. There has been much debate on the impacts
of online games on the players. Researches show that these games
have great detrimental impact on their players though there are very
few advantageous impacts on their players.

Thesis
(This is a statement of your
standpoint or the view taken – the
controlling idea of your essay that
you will develop in the main body. It
should be concise and convincing)
Video games and online games have deep effects on their players
among which most of the effects are detrimental or even fatal.
Outline
The essay has been divided into four sections to study the impacts of
video games on the bodies, minds, social behaviours and emotions of
the players. The first topic points out the impacts of online games on
the bodies of the players while the second section delves into its
impacts on their minds and psychology. The third topic deals with the
harm excessive playing of online games causes to their social lives
and ultimately the fourth section points out the fatal blow these games
give to their emotions and power to react to situations which leaves a
deep mark on their future development.
BODY PARAGRAPHS
(add more paragraphs if needed ↓)
Paragraph 1
Topic One Impacts of online and video games on the players’ body
Controlling idea
Impacts body’s physiological position, hormonal irregularity,
insomnia
Supporting
sentences
Point 1:

(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
Sublette and Mullan(2012)Video games hamper the physiological
system of the players who indulge in playing these games for a
prolonged span of time. The players playing video games have show
tremendous changes in their physical behaviours, both internal and
external. The players’ brains start working like a brains of drugged
people. They sit and play for long hours in the slouched positions
which have detrimental effect on their spinal cords and their disks.
This stress on the spinal cord for a long time causes the physical
positions to change. Such people start facing problems in locomotion.
Researches depict that the people who play games online excessively,
show acute insomnia. There have been reports which shows that
gamers have lost their lives after playing for excessively long time at a
stretch. The lack of sleep develops a restlessness in the human bodies
which starts intervening with the normal cardiac functions. This
impaired cardiac functions have been known to caused deaths of many
young players due to sudden cardiac arrest.
Point 2:
Prolonged stress on brain due to excessive indulgence in online video
games has been known to have caused hormonal imbalance among the
players. The video games are more indulging than any other forms of
modern entertainment like television and music videos. These are
forms of entertainment which do not call active involvements of the
viewers. The video games on the other hand are far more indulging
than the television shows and the gaming designers use violence and
bloodshed in these games which keep on increasing with each level.

The players develops a feeling of virtual ‘victory’ and starts playing
each level with enhanced engrossment. This excessive engrossment is
known to have caused adrenaline surge in the players. They become
restless, impulsive and intolerant.
Counterargumen
t
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
De Grove (2014) states that the experts like psychologists in the
positive light view online games as forms of entertainment which do
not cause physical damage to children like outdoor activities can
cause. They view these games which help children and adults who do
not have access to play grounds or modes of outdoor entertainment to
enjoy their leisure times. However, it can be pointed out that these
arguments to support video games fail to hold good before the
devastating impacts online games have on the body of the players.
Summary of the
paragraph /
Transition to the
next
The online games have dangerous impact on the human body and
cause irrecoverable damages both within and outside the body. They
are apparently safer modes of entertainment but are actually more fatal
in the long run. They cause irreparable damage to the spinal cord,
causes hormonal imbalances, permanent sleep disorders and stress.
These interfere with the normal functioning of the heart which often
leads to sudden death due to cardiac arrest.
Paragraph 2
Topic Two Impact of online gaming on the mind and psychology of the players

Controlling idea Stress, over aggressiveness, withdrawal symptoms, cravings, relapse
Supporting
sentences
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
Prolonged and excessive indulgence to video games have fatal impacts
on the internal organs of the body including the brain which ultimately
impacts the mind and psychological actions. The intense stress on the
spinal cord and its consequent distortion exerts intense pressure on the
central nervous system which runs through the spinal cord. This in
turn causes devastating impact on the entire nervous systems of the
players. The players who are excessively involved into playing video
games show symptoms of addictions like drug addicts. Their brains
also start functioning like drug addicts. They start showing lack of
tolerance, conflict with others on trivial matters, experience cravings
and serious withdrawal symptoms.
Counterargumen
t
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
Online games and their addictions have been shown to have
devastating impacts on the minds of the players but they have their
bright sides too. The video games allow the players to socialise and
interact with each other while playing games. This company of each
other help the players cope up with loneliness and depression. Some
studies have shown that online games help the teenagers and young
people build and strengthen peer relationship. The players who are
able to socialise through video games have shown improved health
and well being. It can be also be pointed out that the limit of exposure
to video games should be decided and controlled by the players if they
are grownups. The parents of the children should be careful while

their children play games online and limit their timings. They should
also watch the behavioural patterns of their children and seek expert
advices if they notice any unexpected changes.
Summary of the
paragraph /
Transition to the
next
Video games undoubtedly have devastating effect on the minds of the
players but the effects can be minimised by controlling the exposure to
these games. In fact, video games are known to contribute towards
socialising of the players, which consequently resulted in their
wellbeing.
Paragraph 3
Topic Three Online and video hampers the social lives of the players
Controlling idea
Excessive playing of online games have detrimental impact on the
education and profession of the players
Supporting
sentences
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
Sublette and Mullan(2012) state that excessive playing of online
games hampers the social behaviours of the players. They tend to
withdraw from the society and indulge in the games avoiding the
professions and education. The players indulge in long hours of
playing and tend to avoid their responsibilities. The online games
make them aggressive and they exhibit features like withdrawal from
the society. These changes brought about by over indulgence of online
games hamper the mental and physical health of the players. These
deteriorating physical and mental conditions result in players avoiding
their professional and education responsibilities. Thus it can be

inferred from the discussion that excessive playing of the online video
games result in tremendous damaging impact on the profession and
education of the players.
Counterargume
nt
(include the
source(s) among
the 9 articles you
wish to cite from)
Ward (2017) contradicts Sublette and Mullan and says that there is no
direct relationship between online games and harm to education and
profession. He states that video games help the players socialise and
get rid of loneliness and depression. Hence, in this light it can be
inferred that video games are likely to help the players improve in
their professions and education due to enhanced social skills.
Summary of the
paragraph /
Transition to the
next
Online video games hamper the education and profession of the
players if they indulge in excessive playing. However, it can also be
pointed out that players can also help video games to improve in their
profession and studies due to enhanced social interaction.
Paragraph 4
Topic Four Online games alter concentration and sensation of the players
Controlling idea
Playing excessive video games alters the concentration and sensation of the
players
Supporting
sentences
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
Dye, Green and Bavelier(2009) state that playing of excessive video
games results in negative alteration of human behaviour and sensation
to external stimuli. The players who play video games excessively
show change in sensation to stimuli like pain and happiness. They
develop a robotic attitude and suffer from lack of emotions.

Continuous playing of video games show increase in these lacks of
sensation and emotions. It has been found that players playing these
games are mostly young children and teenagers. Hence it can be
pointed out that these young players are not matured enough to control
their indulgence in the video games. The online games influence their
sensitivity, lack of emotions and exhibit robotic attitude. They
withdraw from social lives and suffer from depression and loneliness.
These harsh feelings at tender age leave a permanent deep mark in
their minds and impact their future development as well.
Counterargumen
t
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
Chen, Shen and Huang(2016) state that playing of online games are
not necessarily hampering to sensation and emotions of the players.
People have been known to video games and yet lead normal lives.
The players can control and limit the impacts of video games on their
lives by determining the time limits of their indulgence. Thus it can be
inferred that exposure to video games and online games can be
controlled by the players. It can also be stated that the parents,
teachers and psychiatrists have to play important role in counselling
and guiding the young players on the online game indulgence.
Summary of the
paragraph /
Transition to the
next
It has been proved that online games hamper the emotional stability and
sensation among the players. However it can also be pointed out that the
parents , teachers and counsellors have to play proactive roles in counselling
and guiding these players to limit their indulgence in online games and
minimise its harmful impacts.
Conclusion

Restate Thesis &
Summarise main
points
(The main aim of the conclusion is
to show that you have successfully
answered the question. It does not
include any new information, but it
summarises the main points made
in the body of the essay. It should be
clear and draw your argument to a
close and ideally, it needs to leave a
strong impression on the reader.)
Online video games have profound impact on the players who indulge in
these games excessively. These games have fatal influences on the bodies
and minds of the players. The games cause artificial adrenaline rushes in the
players due to excessive indulgence, which raise their heartbeats. Excessive
playing of video games results in depression and loneliness in the players.
They alienate themselves from the society and suffer from reduced
sensations and emotions. The players suffering from these symptoms hamper
their education and professions. The parents, teachers and counsellors have
to play proactive roles in educating these players about the fatal impacts of
excessive playing of online games. This in the long term can contribute
towards these playing leading healthy lives.
References
(at least
FOUR sources
– APA format)
1. Chen, W., Shen, C., & Huang, G. (2016). In game we trust?
Coplay and generalized rust in and beyond a Chinese
MMOG world. Information, Communication &
Society, 19(5), 639-654.
2. De Grove, F. (2014). Youth, friendship, and gaming: A network
perspective. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social
Networking, 17(9), 603-608.
3. Dye, M. W., Green, C. S., & Bavelier, D. (2009). The
development of attention skills in action video game
players. Neuropsychologia, 47(8), 1780-1789.
4. Sublette, V. A., & Mullan, B. (2012). Consequences of play: A
systematic review of the effects of online