Talking to kids about gaming
January 26, 2019 1:52 PM Subscribe
A friend has a radio show and a podcast about geek life, including gaming. I suggested to her that five of my grandkids all play different computer and online games and she wanted me to talk with them for a special show about kids and gaming.
I've looked online to find questions specifically for kids about why they play, what they like about it and what they hear from parents and friends about playing. I can't find any. Can you suggest some questions for me to ask them other than the obvious ones?
I've looked online to find questions specifically for kids about why they play, what they like about it and what they hear from parents and friends about playing. I can't find any. Can you suggest some questions for me to ask them other than the obvious ones?
Response by poster: I didn't think of that one. That's a good one. Thank you.
posted by CollectiveMind at 2:38 PM on January 26, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by CollectiveMind at 2:38 PM on January 26, 2019 [2 favorites]
Questions that get at how much the social component of the game is of value: do your friend play this game? do you play at the same time as them? do you play with strangers or online-only friends? would you play if your friends didn't play? do you play by yourself? would you play a standalone version that didn't have a social component?
Questions that address whether the game designers manipulate in real-time how much they play: are there incentives to play on certain days? are there incentives to play a certain amount over a certain period - say win some number of missions over 48 hours?
posted by RoadScholar at 2:58 PM on January 26, 2019 [2 favorites]
Questions that address whether the game designers manipulate in real-time how much they play: are there incentives to play on certain days? are there incentives to play a certain amount over a certain period - say win some number of missions over 48 hours?
posted by RoadScholar at 2:58 PM on January 26, 2019 [2 favorites]
What do the adults in your life not understand about gaming? (My kids agree this is a good question.)
posted by Redstart at 3:30 PM on January 26, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by Redstart at 3:30 PM on January 26, 2019 [3 favorites]
How do you decide what games to try?
Do you try to find very difficult games (or very easy)?
Have you stopped playing a game because it was too difficult or too easy?
Do you spend time thinking about a game while not playing it (planning, researching, discussing)?
Have you met a a new friend through games?
Have you dreamt about a game?
Have you learned something about the real world from a game?
(All these are simple yes/no but if yes you can follow up by asking for elaboration, what/why/when etc. )
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:28 PM on January 26, 2019 [1 favorite]
Do you try to find very difficult games (or very easy)?
Have you stopped playing a game because it was too difficult or too easy?
Do you spend time thinking about a game while not playing it (planning, researching, discussing)?
Have you met a a new friend through games?
Have you dreamt about a game?
Have you learned something about the real world from a game?
(All these are simple yes/no but if yes you can follow up by asking for elaboration, what/why/when etc. )
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:28 PM on January 26, 2019 [1 favorite]
How have games changed your behaviour in the real world?
How do you feel when you encounter players who say things that maybe would be inappropriate in real life?
Do you feel like the passage of time is different when gaming? How?
posted by pseudostrabismus at 7:59 PM on January 26, 2019
How do you feel when you encounter players who say things that maybe would be inappropriate in real life?
Do you feel like the passage of time is different when gaming? How?
posted by pseudostrabismus at 7:59 PM on January 26, 2019
How do you find new games you play?
Are there any games you don’t think are very fun but keep playing anyway? Why?
posted by itsamermaid at 12:22 AM on January 27, 2019
Are there any games you don’t think are very fun but keep playing anyway? Why?
posted by itsamermaid at 12:22 AM on January 27, 2019
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I was going to suggest a question like "Does playing video games get in the way of other life activities, like homework or chores." But then, that's an obvious one, right? What exactly are you asking for?
posted by humboldt32 at 2:10 PM on January 26, 2019