What Every Parent Needs to Know About Video Games: A Gamer Explores the Good, Bad, and Ugly of the Virtual World / Richard Abanes

With sales over $30 billion per year—approaching Hollywood’s annual box–office take—video and computer games are now squarely in the mainstream of entertainment. Author/journalist Richard Abanes—an experienced gamer himself—offers this concise survey particularly to parents and other concerned adults. He discusses subjects like

• positives and negatives of game–playing and game content
• the rating system—its benefits and flaws
• family–friendly games, those that aren’t—and recommendations
• terminology and genres, such as sports, role-playing, shooter
• political­/cultural issues

The author’s unsensational approach will prepare readers to make better decisions—not just about what is shown in games, but how it’s shown... and what overall message is being delivered. Note: includes candid discussion of game content.