1.
BUSTING
5 COMMON
GAMING MYTHS
OASIS
16.2.2015
Mikko Meriläinen
University of Helsinki
@MVMerilainen
mikko.merilainen@helsinki.fi

2.
WHY MYTHS MATTER
● They’re not true
● They shape (and often misdirect) discussion
● They can inform decisions
● They spread rapidly

3.
MYTH #1 – “THE CHILDREN!”
● Gaming is not destroying our children (probably)
● Correlation does not equal causality
● Most gaming related problems result from more
traditional ones
● Focus shifted from parenting, education and society
to technology
● Is medicalization and criminalization the best way to
go?

4.
MYTH #2 – “IT’S HARMLESS”
● Often encountered in discussions about #1
● A common pitfall for gamers and professionals
● There are several known risks associated with gaming
● The existence of other factors does not nullify the role
of gaming
● The wider gaming culture has an even larger set of
problems

5.
MYTH #3 – “LONELY BOYS”
● The majority of gamers are adults
● All genders game
● The typical buyer of a digital game is in their 30s
● Important to remember when discussing games as
culture
● Distinction between children’s content and adult
content
● Stereotypes can be harmful in many ways

6.
MYTH #4 – “JUST GAMES”
● It’s a multi-billion dollar industry
● Games often convey messages and ideas
● Problems of representation especially in mainstream
games
● The argument ignores the value of games as a
medium of expression
● Sometimes reflected in online behavior

7.
MYTH #5 – “DIGITAL NATIVES”
● Romantic illusion of great technical prowess
● Children are children
● Often poor media literacy skills
● Risk of excessive use
● Adult guidance needed

8.
A lie can travel half way around the world
while the truth is putting on its shoes.
- Mark Twain

9.
Thank you!
Mikko Meriläinen
University of Helsinki
@MVMerilainen
mikko.merilainen@helsinki.fi