スクリプトは事前提出されたものですので、ビデオの音声とは異なる場合があります。

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Smart Gaming

National Institute of Technology, Hakodate College

B: Hey, Tadateru. Why are you playing a game now? We have to start our presentation.

A: (looking annoyed and focused) Don't bother me! I'm almost done; I just need a little more time. And since our title is “GAMING,” that's what I am doing right now.

C: No, you are wrong. Our title is “SMART Gaming.”

A&B: “Smart gaming?”

C: Yes. It means to play games in a smart way.

B: But how can we become smart gamers?

C: If you are aware of the good and bad points of gaming, and learn how to control yourself when you play, you can play smart.

A: I see. Let's start our presentation.

C: What kind of image do you have of games? Many parents have bad impressions of games because children can easily spend much time and money on them. Actually, some people may develop addictions to games. In our school, there are students who just can't get rid of that bad habit. Recently, smartphones are widely used by the students, some of whom get addicted to social games and can't stop playing even in class. Social games are pushing users to play anywhere, anytime, and anyway they can.

B: Why do you think those students become addicted to such games?

C: Well, it is explained by the reward system discovered by Olds and Milner, the Canadian scholars. When a student is successful in a social game, he acquires extra points or money and unique items, in other words: rewards. You see, our brain is separated into two parts, both of which have different functions. In teens, the right brain, dealing with visual information is more active than the left brain which focuses on logical thinking. As dopamine, a natural chemical, increases in the brain, the student feels satisfaction, which in turn increases the motivation to continue. Sometimes, however, this reward system leads to the release of too much dopamine and in time, causes the brain to always need more: the student then becomes addicted and loses self-control, always wanting more stimulation and reward.

A: I have a friend who often spends more than 10,000 yen on social games and goes nights without sleeping just to get more items or weapons. He is totally addicted to the games. I feel bad for him.

B: Wait! It's not all bad though! I know a good thing about games. A medical research shows that games which require very precise controls are good to train laparoscopic surgeons. In some surgeries, they have to use a tiny camera and joystick-controlled tools to cut and sew. Medical students who had played video games for more than three hours a week made 37 percent fewer mistakes during the procedure, and got the operation done 27 percent more quickly. Video games were the determining factor, more than the years of experience, gender, dominant/non-dominant hand, all of that.

A: Games can be good practice for surgery simulations! That is something I should tell my mom! Now that you mention it, I also remember that pilots and train drivers receive special training using very realistic computer software. Flight Simulator developed by Microsoft helps pilots to safely operate complex controls through virtual reality, without risking any physical damages. Tell me Yusuke, are there any other good things about games?

B: Actually, I know that games help us make proper decisions more quickly. A great mathematician named Dr. Nash developed that theory. To make it simple, you can learn how to get the optimal answer by playing against other people. Good gamers make split-second decisions based on the probability calculated from complex data. In action games especially, players need to make decisions quickly and accurately based on the visual and auditory information, which tends to help the players in real life situations.

C: Nice research you guys! But how about some personal stories showing the educational benefits of games? Our English teacher, Mr. Taquet is a French native speaker, and has loved playing games since he was a kid. When he was 15 years-old, he really wanted to play Final Fantasy 6 but when it was first released in France in 1996, it was only available in Japanese or English. Therefore, he started studying English very hard to play the game and has since become our teacher. Also, our history teacher, Prof. Nakamura likes to play a historical role-playing-game with his son. He tells us that studying history through games is a fun way to understand the lives of historical characters, and the context they lived in.

A: After all, just like most things in life, games have two facets; a good side and a bad side. It's exactly like food. When I have a balanced diet, I can live a healthy life. However, when I eat too much at one time or only eat the same kind of food, the lack of balance may ruin my health. I should try to strike a balance when playing games.

C: You're right. You should use your time effectively to make your daily-life better. For example, you can divide one day into five sections: sleep, meals, school, homework and free time. Free time should be used for sports, talking with friends, reading books and games. Keep the balance within your free time as well. In that sense, gaming smart is living smart.

B: Using my smart phone only for games.

A: Is not smart at all.

C: From now on, W would like to live smart.