Manningham YMCA

The Video Games Project

Steven Dupon

97% of 6 to 15 year olds play video gamesGaming is the most popular entertainment for young people

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2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

The global video game market is bigger than the

music and film industry combined(in billion U.S. dollars)

music

film

WORLD TOP TEN COUNTRIES

4456

52

%

%

9

%

12

21

16 3220%%

%

%

11

(%) showing in circles is sales per capita

SPENDING MOST ON COMPUTER GAMES

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age 0 - 1 age 1 - 2 age 3 - 4 age 4 - 5

use a computeror tablet

use the internet

use a mobilephone

tv in own room

owns a gamesconsole

Kids start playing younger and younger85% of 4 year olds use a computer or tablet

What is the impact of video game playing on our children?

Let’s look at the benefits first and then some risks and concerns

Gaming can develop cognitive skills

• Problem solving skills

• Decision making skills

• Memory

• Analysing challenges

Gaming can improve your emotional wellbeing

• De-stress after a busy day

• Gaming is fun, having fun is good for you

• Games can regulate your mood effectively

• Games designed to improve mental health

Video games are a form of art and provide

an avenue for creative expression

Video games can be educational• Games are used in classroom settings

• Games specifically developed to have a positive impact

on people or community

• Games are used widely in rehabilitation

Unfortunately there are also some concerns and risks

ADDICTIONV I D E O G A M E

• Between 2 and 10 % plays obsessively and excessively

• Co-morbidity with mental health issues

• No consensus on definition of video game addiction

IN-GAME GAMBLING is not regulated, has unrealistic odds and

makes gambling look like harmless and innocent fun

Real money betting is becoming

more prevalent in gaming

Many popular games

on the mobile platforms

are clearly GAMBLIFIED

Many games feature inappropriate content

VIOLENCE

RACISM

SEXISM

CYBER-BULLYING

In 2012 Manningham YMCA started a program that finds

a balance between the positives and the negatives

After a year of study

Manningham YMCA published

‘the video games report’.

The report provides

recommendations on how to

use video games in youth

work

Soon after we started

delivering presentations and

training workshops to parents,

teachers, professionals and

young people.

In 2014 we presented to over

2000 people.

In 2013 we ran our first

video games event.

400 people attended a

night which provided safe,

social and positive gaming

experiences

In 2013 we started skill

development groups.

We teach kids with

Autism and aspergers

how to develop games

In 2014 we launched

www.videogames.org.au

The website provides

information about the

impact of video games on

young people

This is the Framework

for the Video Games

Program.

Invitationfor

collaboration

Steven Dupon presented the video games program at the

YMCA World Urban Network in November 2014.

If you’re interested and wish to receive more information on what

collaboration can look like

steven.dupon@ymca.org.au

Many YMCA’s expressed interest in collaborating on this project

www.videogames.org.au

Thank you !

Steven.dupon@ymca.org.au

@vg_org_au

+61 3 9848 5400