Several small stories to bring to light today:
First up, a new virtual reality game used by therapists to help patients stop smoking. From the article:
The patients have 10 weekly sessions with a therapist to discuss coping techniques, like what to say to people who offer you a smoke, and what to tell yourself when tempted. Then the patients try those techniques out in the virtual world.
Patients use nicotine patches while in the virtual rooms, which can be anything from a bar to your car while stuck in traffic.
Emphasis mine. While I understand the need to ween a person off of a nicotine addiction, shouldn’t they be teaching people to deal with real-world situations without it? Perhaps that’s next, though. The article didn’t go into many details, so I’ll reserve judgment. Regardless, it’s an interesting idea.
Next up is an $80,000 scholarship being offered by a university in Virginia for the winner of an online gaming competition. The article did throw me for a loop, though:
Liberty U officials say the online gaming will not involve any graphic sex or violence.
First, if there’s an online game that involves graphic sex, I have yet to hear about it. Second, what game are they going to use in the competition that doesn’t have any violence? Crate Stacking VI? Finally, how exactly does being good at a video game prepare you for college? Shouldn’t that scholarship go to somebody with, you know, academic achievements? Don’t get me wrong. I love video games. But give the scholarships to the people that deserve them.
Last, in a story that most of you are probably already familiar with, we have Coca-Cola’s Grand Theft Auto commercial.
I saw the commercial, and it was cute. My only comment is that I wonder how long it will be before Jack Thompson condemns Coca-Cola as the devil. Or possibly one of his helpers.
