Many people believe that too much time spent watching television or playing computer or video games can be harmful to children's development. However, video games can also be useful. Gaming, in moderation, helps improve cognitive skills, such as attention, vision and multitasking. The gaming experience can be described as an activity in which the player is virtually embodied in the game world. Anyone who has experienced the world of video games knows how the immersive experience can manifest itself with “sweaty palms and shivers down the spine” (http://www.eludamos.org/index.php/eludamos/article/viewArticle/80/147) when you come face to face with alien creatures; or with the adrenaline rush we feel when driving a car at high speed head-to-head with a friend. The game is an excellent source of entertainment. It provides an opportunity for social growth, provides a meaningful form of exploration of expression, and provides greater sensitivity. Rather than creating social isolation, as some claim, I believe gaming provides an environment in which friendships often develop. As players interact, discuss game strategies, and consider rules and rule infractions, two separate scenarios occur simultaneously. Although the players are arguing on-screen, a friendship may form off-screen. Personally, I have gained many friends online over the years. The video game market has gone from being a predominantly male market to including the female population with games like The Sims, in which players build virtual worlds. Such games often give rise to online communities, where players create avatars and interact with others around the world. My sister spent hours on the computer building...... middle of paper...... we immerse ourselves in the situation, but when the game ends, we realize it's over. In real life no one is invincible. Bad things can still happen to you. Works Cited Sheri. “Video Games: Harmful or Helpful for the Brain.” Evidence-based living: bridging the gap between research and real life. January 6, 2011. Web June 7, 2011.Nielsen, H.S. “Computer Gaming as a Somatic Experience.” Eludamos. Journal for Computer Game Culture. 2010; 4 (1), p. 25-40. Web June 7, 2011.Schmidt, Aaron. “Great essay on video games.” Walking paper. December 21, 2005. Web June 7, 2011. Video game industry. June 21, 2011. In Wikipedia online. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_industryKoster, Ralph. Games as art. Tharsis Gate unofficial republication of the electronic magazine ImaginaryRealities. June 1999. Web 7 June, 2011.