Gaming lands on campus

With March Madness in the atmosphere and the NBA playoffs approaching, basketball is at the forefront of attention. In the days of the great players such as Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain, all they had was a ball and a court to enjoy their true love for basketball.

In these days of modern technology, with the Xbox and PlayStation game systems, things are a little different.

With video game sales at their highest in history, playing games has become a phenomenon prevalent in the everyday lives of millions.

Video games have become an alternative to real sports.

According to its Web site, Electronic Arts Sports, one of the world’s leading video game producers, had an estimated $1.4 billion profit last year and NBA Live was one of its top games.

College students, in particular, seem to find more time to play video games than anything.

“Playing video games are addictive,” said Marques Willis, a sophomore general studies student from Fort Lauderdale. “Once you start playing it is hard to stop.”

Willis said it’s not that he doesn’t like the real game or can’t play, but video games just give him something to do.

So is the case for many other students.

Brian Moore, a sophomore criminal justice student from Miami, said he plays video games because they allow him to feel like that is where he can be a star.

“Playing the real game is not for me,” he said. “Where I can’t master the real game, I can surely master the art of the video game. I was never that great a real player but I am in (video) games.”

New games emerging such as NBA Street V3 and the old classics such as NBA Shootaround and March Madness give students more options and reasons to play.

While some think video games have become an exercise that has replaced the real game, many opt not to play video games – and still prefer the actual game.

Edwin Siler, a sophomore general studies student from Enterprise, Ala., said he would choose the real game any day over a video game.

“Playing games are ok, but its nothing like getting out there on the blacktop or the hardwood,” Siler said. “Once you start playing, you’re in a zone just having fun.

“I’d rather get a workout than sit in front of a TV playing games.”

Anthony Raiford, a sophomore political science student form Clarksville, Tenn., said he chooses to workout because he gets bored with games after a while.

“Once you play video games for so long, it gets old,” he said. “But playing an actual game, there is always something new – more to reach for.”

Contact Kenjuan Lockhart at klockhart19@hotmail.com.