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Videogames seen good for children
Videogames can be good for children, encouraging creativity and
cooperation, a European Union report concluded Wednesday which
ran counter to the violent reputation of some titles.
In conclusions that may either surprise or reassure parents of
game addicts, the study by the European Parliament Committee on
the Internal Market and Consumer Protection found a number of
benefits and no definitive link to violent behavior.
"Videogames are in most cases not dangerous and can even
contribute to the development of important skills," said Toine
Manders, the Dutch liberal lawmaker who drafted the report.
"(They stimulate) learning of facts and skills such as strategic
reflection, creativity, cooperation and a sense of innovation,"
a news release on the report said.
The report avoided any call for EU-wide legislation banning
certain games, and instead urged the bloc's 27 member states to
work together in strengthening an existing voluntary code in
Europe known as "PEGI" which rates games according to content.
Total revenues from the video gaming sector amounted to more
than seven billion euros ($9 billion) last year, the report
said. In Britain, separate research last year showed videogames
outselling music and other video products for the first time.
The EU report noted that not all games are appropriate for
children, but argued that some books and movies are targeted for
an older audience. It acknowledged that violence in some games
could "stimulate" violent behavior in specific situations.
The report stressed parental involvement by proposing
development of a "red button" that could allow parents to
control content and how long games are played. It did not
elaborate as to what form this button would take.
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