Games Are Good for You
Roger Altizer, Ph.D.
Senior Research Fellow, EECS/CHI Queensland University of Technology
Associate Director, EAE, University of Utah
Associate Professor, Population Health Sciences, University of Utah
Director of Digital Medicine, Center for Medical Innovation, University of Utah@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.au

@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.auTHE GAPP LAB

Therapeutic Games and Apps Lab
University of Utah

Tetra-Ski

Tetra-Ski is a skiing game simulation developed for tetraplegic patients wanting to use the Tetra-Ski
device. The software includes a customizable controller, which will allow a user to export their input
settings to the actual tetra-ski chair or any other compatible device that uses joystick and/or sip & puffcontrols.

Tetra-Sail

Tetra-Sail is a kayak game simulation developed for tetraplegic patients wanting to use the Tetra-Saildevice. The software includes a customizable controller, which will allow a user to export their input
settings to the actual tetra-kayak chair or any other compatible device that uses joystick and/or sip &puff controls.

Folks Love
Talking About
the Negatives
Aspects ofGames@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.au

Vegans lovevideogames…?
• Interest in the positive
impacts of games• Calls for ‘responsible gameplay’• Reference common concerns

There is academic work on thenegative impact of games●“…there is now a growing movement that views anumber of behaviors as potentially addictive (e.g.,gambling, computer game playing, exercise, sex, andnow the Internet).”●

Griffiths, M. & Davies, M.N.O.. (2005). Chapter 23 : Does Video Game
Addiction Exist? in Raessens, J. & Goldstein, J, Handbook of computer gamestudies, Massachusetts: The MIT Press, pp.359-369.

@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.au

●
●
●
●

NegativeBehaviors●●●

Stealing to buy games
Truancy from school toplay
Poor grades
Skipping social activities toplay
Playing longer thanintended
Irritability and annoyance
if unable to play
Griffiths, M. & Davies, M.N.O.. (2005).
Chapter 23 : Does Video Game Addiction
Exist? in Raessens, J. & Goldstein, J,
Handbook of computer game studies,
Massachusetts: The MIT Press, pp.359369.

@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.auExercise Addiction?

●●

●

●

Exercise addiction has
been studied since 1979
Can cause injury,
compromise the immune
system, mental healthcomplications, social
isolation
Withdrawal symptoms:
defecation difficulties,
unstable heart rate, anddepression
Jee, Yong-Seok. “Exercise Addiction andRehabilitation.” Journal of Exercise
Rehabilitation 12, no. 2 (April 26, 2016):
67–68.
https://doi.org/10.12965/jer.1632604.30
2.

@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.auExercise is Good for You@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.auGames are Good for You@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.au●●Participants wereprescribed Bejeweled
2 and saw a reduction
in state and trait
anxiety
Fish, Matthew T., Carmen V.
Russoniello, and Kevin O'Brien.
"The efficacy of prescribed casual
videogame play in reducing
symptoms of anxiety: arandomized controlled study."
GAMES FOR HEALTH: Research,Development, and ClinicalApplications 3, no. 5 (2014):
291-295.

@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.auExamined over 200
articles• Positive Emotional
Impact• Healthy Relationships
and Social Capital• Self Esteem@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.au●Johnson, D., Jones, C., Scholes, L., & Carras, M. C.
(2013). Videogames and wellbeing: A comprehensivereview. Melbourne, Australia: Young and Well
Cooperative Research Centre. Retrieved fromhttps://eprints.qut.edu.au/105915/1/2013%20CRC%
20Report%20Videogames_and_Wellbeing.pdf@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.auPositive Emotional Impact●●

Positive mental wellbeing has been associated withvideogame play as a means of relaxation and stress
reduction (Russoniello, O’Brien & Parks 2009; Snodgrass,Lacy, Dengah, Fagan & Most 2011; Wack & Tantleff-Dunn2009).
Depressed mood has been found to be significantly lower inthe moderate players of videogames compared to thosewho ‘never’ play videogames and those who playvideogames to excess (Durkin & Barber 2002).

@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.au

Healthy Relationships and Social Capital●●Videogame players report higher levels of familycloseness, less risky friendship networks and betterattachment to school than non-players (Durkin &Barber 2002).
In a WoW study, two fifths of participants said theywould discuss sensitive issues with their online
gaming friends that they would not discuss with theirreal life friends, and with female players more likely
to do so (Cole & Griffiths, 2007).
@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.auSelf Esteem●●Videogame play may allow players to express
themselves in ways they may not feel comfortable
doing in real life because of their appearance, gender,sexuality, and/or age (Coles & Griffith 2007).
The anonymity and fantasy of MMORPG virtual worlds
can free players from their real life history and socialsituation, allowing them to be more like the person
they wish to be (Bessiere, Fleming & Kiesler 2007).
@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.au

Contrary toconventional
beliefs…
Calls for balanced research on games
and focuses on how games impact
four main domains:●

Cognitive●

Motivational●

Emotional●

Social@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.au●Granic, Isabela, Adam Lobel, and Rutger CME Engels.
"The benefits of playing video games." American
psychologist 69, no. 1 (2014): 66.
https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/ampa0034857.pdf@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.au

Talking points●●●No need to dismiss that some people experienced
harm via games, it’s the same for sports
Talking about the positive aspects and impacts ofgames deescalates the binary
Just like with exercise, it can be true that somepeople have bad experiences, but perhaps it’stime to talk about that as an a concern, but not adefining characteristic@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.auPlay is Healthy
Roger Altizer, Ph.D.
Queensland University of Technology
University of Utah@real_rahjur
roger.altizer@qut.edu.au@real_rahjur - roger.altizer@qut.edu.au