NOTE: These links are given as a courtesy. The content shared is not a replacement for therapy or psychological support. Please seek consult from a professional for mental health concerns.
Geek & Gamer Links
Organized Messes Blogs & Videos on Gaming
The Power of Group Play in Video Games: RPGs & Protecting Others - Blog
8 Play Personalities: Video Games to Consider for Each Type - Blog
Why Kids Love Minecraft & How it Benefits Them - HuffPo guest post
Taking Games Away & Loss - YouTube Video
Gaming & Anger - Blog
On Art & Gaming (Guest Post) - Blog
Boonie's Thoughts on Video Games Playlist - YouTube Videos Playlist
Playing Games & Talking to Children - Youtube Video
Gaming & Memories - Youtube Video
Gaming & Avatars - Youtube Video
Online Gaming Communities
Twitch.tv - Live gaming broadcasts, averaging 45 million viewers per month.
Mixer.com - Streaming community
Steam Community - 40 million gamers, downloadable games for PC, Linux & Mac.
GOG - digital distribution of games and movies, promoting (digital rights management) DRM-free games.
Minecraft - Building game that can be single user or multiplayer.
Battle.net - Community for Blizzard games (World of Warcraft, Diablo III, StarCraft II, Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm).
Game-Related Sites
Jane McGonigal - Game designer, advocate. Awesome person.
The Strong - National Museum of Play
Gamer Therapy - Mike Langlois, LICSW
World of Warcraft - MMORPG
Blizzard Entertainment - WoW, Hearthstone, StarCraft, Diablo.
TellTale Games - The Walking Dead, a Wolf Among Us, Jurassic Park...
With the increased use of consoles and computers for entertainment purposes comes a sense of normalcy with socializing through games. Our culture deems certain repetitive behaviors as normal, while others are labeled addiction. The culture may also place certain addictions on a hierarchy of seriousness. For instance, drug addictions may seem more dangerous than smoking addictions or shopping addictions. Behaviors elicit a need to be met, and with any addiction, a serious consideration of underlying pain and emotional needs can humanize a person's struggle, despite the substance choice.
Articles on Gaming
Association of Video Gaming With Cognitive Performance Among Children - JAMA Network (Journal of American Medical Association)
Cognitive Benefits of Playing Video Games | Psychology Today
Geek Therapy Curated Article Collection | Scoop.it
History, Empathy, Systems Thinking, & Gaming | Edutopia.org
2015 Facts on Computer & Gaming Industry | The ESA
Signs, Symptoms, & Treatment | HelpGuide.org
Can Virtual Avatars Change Behavior? | PsychCentral
Make Love, Not Warcraft | South Park Studios
Gaming Infographics | Pinterest
What Gamers Can Teach Us | TED Talk | HuffingtonPost
Gaming Can Make a Better World | TED Talk
Your Brain on Video Games | TED Talk, Bavelier 2012
Gaming for Life Skills | Education Week
Game Builds Student Empathy | the Epoch Times
Online Gamers Anonymous | Olganon.org
5 Warning Signs of Gaming Addiction | CNN.com
Gaming Addiction Facts 2015 | TechAddiction.ca
Books:
Super Better, Jane McGonigal
Reality is Broken, Jane McGonigal
The Proteus Paradox, Nick Yee
Super Hero Therapy, Janina Scarlet
Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter, Tom Bissell
Getting Gamers, Jamie Madigan
You’re Never Weird on the Internet (almost), Felicia Day
Ready Player One, Ernest Cline
Reset: Psychotherapy & Video Games (e-book), Mike Langlois
Working with Video Gamers & Games in Therapy: A Clinician’s Guide, Anthony Bean
Superhero Therapy: Mindfulness Skills to Help Teens and Young Adults Deal with Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma, Janina Scarlet
Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight, Travis Langley (multiple titles)
The Psychology of Zelda: Linking Our World to the Legend of Zelda Series, Anthony Bean
Psychoanalysis, Identity, and the Internet: Explorations into Cyberspace, Andrea Marzi
(Note: This list is provided as a courtesy. Please take time to go over these sites with your parents. It is always an option to seek information or opinions from those outside this list)
APPS:
DISCORD free voice and text chat for gamers that’s available on phone and computer
https://discordapp.com/
SUPER BETTER Use gameful strategies to help you apply strengths in game to real life
https://www.superbetter.com/