This video is why we need to educate Filipinos about video games

Remember when Mineski CEO Ronald Robins talked about people in the media being ignorant? Well, I didn’t expect the media to prove him right.

(See: The Filipino media’s hate for gaming, and why that’s wrong)

A recent report by Philippine news anchor Ted Failon featured the dangers of online gaming and while this isn’t the first time Philippine media has made gaming look bad, this video report takes things to another level, and made me wonder if it was satirical. Here’s the video with subtitles:

If you couldn’t watch it, the video pretty much talked about online gaming and why gamers in the Philippines are addicted to it. It also mentioned the negative effects of gaming, such as aggression, violence, and crime. Online gaming was also likened to illegal drugs, in that a person’s brain shrinks if he is addicted to video games. According to the video, some agencies of the government have been taking measures to moderate online gaming in cybercafes by implementing curfews or time constraints for students and minors. There were also suggestions for parents who would like to keep their kids’ gaming in check, including having them play online Scrabble or Sudoku instead.

Apart from being incoherently put together, the report is also steadfastly ignorant and narrow-minded. After watching, I found myself questioning: what exactly was it against? Was it against online gaming or was it against cyber cafes (or ‘computer shops’ as the report put it)? At one point, it talked about the harmful effects of online gaming and then next thing you know, it’s blaming cyber cafes. It gives educated gamers the impression that all the media is doing is grasping desperately at any attempt to smear video gaming.

Gaming isn’t just about cybercafes

Failon’s report focused on just one aspect of gaming—online gaming in cybercafes—and went on to judge the entire gaming community based on just what it saw there. It’s true that cybercafes in the Philippines and the mini communities that have grown up around them need moderating, but even with such a narrow focus, Failon failed to look at it from all angles.

(See: How the Philippine gaming and eSports community can build its reputation)

There are actually several reputable cybercafes in Philippines which may not be as popular as the Mineski chain of cybercafes, but exist nonetheless. There are those that don’t allow children into their premises during the times they are prohibited from entering; those that don’t allow people to walk around shirtless in the shop; those that actually look at gaming as a safe and legitimate hobby. They’re not that difficult to find, but the report glossed over these more reputable businesses completely.

It’s about all of us

There was also no mention at all of the strong eSports and gaming culture that exists in the Philippines. Plus, there are a lot of online gamers who game in the comfort and solitude of their homes. It would’ve been helpful if the report had looked at all these other facets as well. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any of that.

Instead, based just on what had been observed at cybercafes, Failon’s report followed up with anecdotes from parents. Parents who had grown up in a generation that didn’t have access to nor understand video gaming.