I don’t really have a proper perspective on these questions, but it seems to me that this is a service, just like the USCCB posting movie reviews. Now, you likely see more Catholic undertones in movies than games, but what’s the difference? I don’t think anyone would argue that they’re actively encouraging less faith. Rather, they’re advising and directing Catholics towards leisure activities that won’t be a detriment to their faith.

Allie - thanks for chiming in with your perspective. It truly helps with my discernment of this topic. I hope others will share their thoughts and ideas too.

I agree also with Allie. There are families who are going to enjoy gaming as part of their hobbies (often together! I am thinking of things like Wii where there are multi-player games), and when those parents are seeking advice, if it can be given to help choose better games, or help with ideas on limiting screen time and still having quality family time, then it’s a good thing. Even though some don’t like gaming, I don’t think gaming is a bad leisure activity. Our family enjoys our game time quite a bit, but we do limit it. As our children get older, it would be helpful to know other faithful parents have advice and reviews to offer about which are good choices for our children. Not all individuals or families are called to equal amounts of service. Our prayer lives are all different, as we’re all in different stages of our journey towards greater holiness. I believe that any discussion about leisure and entertainment here will be carefully thought out, prayerfully considered, and each family will choose how they are best going to live God’s call.

Lisa - I’m 28 and JUST discovered a hobby that I love. So, let me be totally clear here - I’ve NEVER had a hobby I enjoyed before. Yeah - I would read some books that I enjoyed here and there, but wouldn’t call myself an avid reader. I enjoy baking, but it’s not a hobby. When people who didn’t know me would ask my husband what I liked or was in to he couldn’t think of anything. zilch. He’s the hobby king - he loves playing and tinkering with guitars, pop culture, music, tv, etc. When I found my hobby, knitting, it was like an entirely new world was opened up to me! I could sit, relax, and not feel guilty that I wasn’t doing anything, because I was actively creating something. Now, I understand that when someone is gaming, they’re not creating something, but it is an outlet. Maybe thats what it all gets down to. Hobbies should fulfill us and help us expend energy in a helpful way. It’s just so *human*:) My husband is a doctor as well, Lisa, and if he didn’t have his guitar as an outlet the stress would do him in. He simply wouldn’t be able to handle it. And of course, just like a lot of things in life, the hobby itself can be a morally neutral thing, and we’re the ones that can make it good or bad. Hence - balance:)

I would love to see reviews of video games.  My kids play but mainly on rainy days or if they are sick or something.  It’s hard buying something like that because we can’t see the whole game when we get it.  I don’t think it takes away from spirituality at all.  If my kids played games but didn’t pray…that would be a problem…but a problem I would deal with at home.  Not all hobbies need to be spiritual, as long as they aren’t pushing out the spiritual.  I often think of God’s majesty when I bike around our lakes and trails, beautiful!  I also think it’s pleasing to God when we do something for others, like when we join our kids on a bike ride, or even a video game.

Lisa
The Church has docs on leisure, I’m afraid I can’t point you to which ones exactly, I think John Bosco has talked about this.But I do know considered very important.
As a parent of teens I’m most keen to see this area addressed.  Currently my dh is the deciding voice in this area, our boys know the rules of what is acceptable for our family. Like with music, movies and books we have to teach our children discernment in this area. I once would have said gaming is isolating, but I have seen in our family it does not have to be so.  Our boys have networked their computers and are always versing each other, having all computers in the one room, 7 children at a time does not make for isolation.  The playstation is also played as a group venture.
Yes I do have to be the screen police, but that is also teaching habits, I have to do the same with a daughter who is addicted to reading.

Lisa, I think it’s great that you’re adding this service to your website.  I don’t play computer games, but my husband does.  He has acknowledged that they have the potential to be addictive, and he sometimes struggles to keep this at bay.  If he were still single, I think the struggle would be greater.  But he is a very responsible person who has his priorities straight, so by the time he goes to work, cares for our son, does yardwork/home maintenance, and spends time with me individually and with our family, there really isn’t time for him to be addicted to his games.  The time he spends on them is very reasonable.  I’m thankful for the example that he is setting for my son.  If my son ends up liking computer games, he’ll see how his father has managed to keep his hobby in moderation.  And he’ll see that his father doesn’t play games that are immoral.

All things in moderation.  Even things of the faith, like prayer, if not done in moderation is a type of gluttony, which then takes us away from other responsibilities we are called to.

I think having a Catholic perspective on various pop culture things (video games, movies, TV shows, newer novels, etc.) is valuable. Being Catholic doesn’t mean that we have to avoid fun or enjoyable things that the majority of people enjoy; being Catholic means we have to be more discerning about which things we can enjoy. There are bad movies and bad video games just as their are good movies and good video games.

I really enjoy European board games like Settlers of Catan. There is a Settlers video game and I don’t see how there is a moral difference between playing a board game and playing that board game with electronic media. Video games aren’t my thing and I don’t want my children doing them for other reasons, but not for moral reasons.

Of course, some people might argue that Catholics shouldn’t be wasting their time on any kind of sports or games, and to me that seems manifestly wrong. Because it is so obvious, I would have to think about reasonable arguments to give, I don’t know any off the top of my head. The one thing that comes to mind, which isn’t an argument, is that almost all religious orders have recreation time each day which can include sports or games. St Teresa of Avila felt that recreation time was very important for the nuns.

As someone with a medical prescription for a certain amount of enforced leisure (for anxiety/panic disorder) I think recommendations for worthwhile games that will use my time safely/morally are wonderful! And I’m sure the ratings will help me skip the ones that will appeal more to my 18 year old son than to my of-a-certain-age self.  Thank you.

I just wanted to chime in and say that I agree with what everyone has said. I think that gaming can be a fun leisure activity and it’s nice to get a Catholic perspective on what’s out there. Thanks for bringing the column to our attention!

I used to love to play video games, before my husband and I were married. We had friends that we would sit and play with for hours on a Fri or Sat evening. Fast forward 11 years and I kind of became anti-video game, mostly because of my belief that most of the games were violent and also the addictive nature. Then along came the Wii. We have yet to buy one but have been discussing it for the last three years. I think our kids are the age that they would love it, and I love that it has fitness “games.” But now that it is Spring here in NH, I think we will wait until the weather turns cold again before purchasing. I really want the kids to spend as much time outside as possible! So, I think game reviews from a Catholic perspective would be a great service to all us Catholic families. Thank you for all you do here and at CatholicMom.com!

Having someone review video games and computer games is a great idea.  The gaming craze is part of our culture, and our kids will be exposed to it.  The more we as parents know about certain programs, the better.  I’ll be honest, I’m not going to sit down and play a Wii game, but I sure would like to know which ones are to be avoided and which ones are actually fun.  There are some really cool problem solving and puzzle-type games out there!  Some time spent on video/computer entertainment is ok in my book, (especially if the games are challenging and mentally stimulating), as long as gaming is balanced with other life and faith activities, and most importantly…the games are appropriate.  Some games are obviously horrible and will never enter our house, and others may have subtle inappropriate themes…that’s where game reviews would be helpful!

I think that there is an important role for this sort of poster on CM. I think that there is a time and place for video games, and when a family does decide to allow their children to play, I think having a resource to find out which ones are “OK” is good.

That being said, I think there is a concern that by having a poster like this, there is a certain aspect of “Condoning” the practice of playing video games which some families would disagree with. I also think there is a lack of “labor” activities in this culture. In fact, I my most recent column at Catholic Dads Online discusses the need and importance of “Labor” related activities in our spiritual life. It is in line with what you said about Golfing. So while I don’t think that having a video game reviewer is bad, I do think that it needs to come with a qualification.

Hobbies and games come and go like fashion.  Does anyone know how to play Whist anymore? It seemed like everyone in Jane Austen’s novels partook in that, played the spinnet and drank claret.  How about jacks and dice?  My mom used to spend hours jump roping and playing cats cradle.  Video games are here and now; families, couples and children play them.  I think having someone review video games is a good idea.