Computer games are safe, says inventor

One of the video games industry's most important figures has called for an end to the debate over whether such games are harmful to children. Will Wright, the man behind the world's best-selling game, The Sims, said he believes fears are symptoms of a generation gap.

"I think there's always been a generation gap between people who play games and people who don't." said Wright, 47. He explained that negative things said about video games today were similar to comments made about literature and the cinema in the past.

"If there's a school shooting, it's always a case of 'did they play games or not?'. You don't really hear about what movies they watch or what books they read," he said. "But 50 years ago that's exactly what you heard. They blamed social problems on anything that was to hand."

His comments came as the British government started a review into the effects of video games and the internet on children. The investigation, headed by TV psychologist Tanya Byron, called for evidence from parents and children.

"I really want young people to have their say about the internet and video games - what they love about them, what they think the risks might be and their ideas for the future," said Byron.

Wright makes games with educational aspects that simulate the real world. A new version of Sim City, which allows players to build and manage entire cities, will include models of climate change.

The Sims lets players build families and live virtual lives. This game and its sequels have sold more than 30m copies worldwide since 2000.

His next game, Spore, allows players to follow evolution and make new life forms. "I'm interested in how gaming can get people more involved in the real world," he said, "I think the industry hasn't even begun to realise its potential."

Lesson Plan

Write on the board "The Sims". Pretend to students that you have no idea what it is. Encourage the class to explain it to you. During this stage elicit, check and write up the key words: video game, gaming, character, virtual life/world, simulate, simulation. - 10 mins

Write on the board the words: frequently, often, sometimes, occasionally, hardly ever, never. Put them along a line with frequently at one end and never at the other. Students copy down. Ask: How often do you play video games like The Sims? Students mark a cross on their line. They then show and explain their response to a partner, for example: I often/hardly ever play games like the Sims because ... - 5 mins

Tell students they are now going to read an article about Will Wright, the inventor of The Sims, and recent comments that he has made. Write the following questions on the board. Check unknown words. Class feedback - 15 mins

1. Wright wants to ___ the debate over whether video games are harmful to children.
   1. start
   2. stop
   3. continue
   4. encourage
2. The Sims is the world's ___ video game.
   1. most famous
   2. most detailed
   3. best loved
   4. best-selling
3. In the past people blamed social problems on ___.
   1. books and films
   2. songs and music
   3. paintings and photographs
   4. games and sport
4. ___ has started an investigation into the effects of video games on children.
   1. Will Wright
   2. The games industry
   3. The British government
   4. The BBC
5. When people play the new version of Sim City they can explore ___.
   1. social problems
   2. city violence
   3. evolution
   4. climate change
6. Wright thinks playing video games can involve people more in ___.
   1. the real world
   2. the internet
   3. science
   4. politics

Focus students back on paragraphs 4 and 5. Ask: What questions do you think Tanya Byron is going to ask young people? Elicit and write up the following questions:

• What do you love about video games?
• What are the risks of video games?
• What is the future of video games?

Then put the students into groups to discuss these questions themselves. Each group nominates a secretary to make notes and report their ideas to the class at the end. - 20 mins