When do we talk to our kids about ethics?
Not often enough.
Video Game Cheats
Have you questioned whether video game cheats are encouraging kids to think that sometimes it’s acceptable to cheat in games, and in life?
Recently, I noticed that my kids and their friends were employing a variety of cheats on video games, and I wondered about the potential impact.
When is it OK to use video game cheats?
Even the most tech-savvy gamer will have a hard time completing many of today’s games without a little tip or an an extra life point here and there, so cheats have become a huge part of the gaming culture. Sharon Miller Cindrich, E-parenting: Keeping up with your Tech-Savvy Kids.
In single-player games, it’s argued that cheats are an acceptable solution when you’re short on time, or the game is too difficult.
When playing multi-player games; however, gamers complain that cheats invalidate the rules of the game.
Aren’t unfair video games just like the real world?
Not a stickler for rules, I wonder if the existence of cheats - which creates unequal opportunities - just make video games more of a real world experience. And, when we see gamers ripping off the gullible, isn’t this good preparation for what you can expect in life?
No, I don’t truly believe that human nature is inherently opportunistic. And, this isn’t a lesson that I want my kids to learn.
Regardless of whether video game ethics mirror real world dilemmas, or perhaps because they can, video games offer an opportunity for kids to learn about morality.
Marc Prensky, in Don’t Bother Me Mom - I’m Learning!, argues that:
… a far better way to learn about ethics is through dialog, discussion, and reflection. All three of these factors are vital to the ethical learning process, because ethics is a subject that is full of situational specificity, judgment, opinion, and even contradiction.
In other words, to make ethical judgements, we have to think about what we observe and do, and put it in some context. We also need situations to talk about and someone to talk with. Games, if we get involved, can provide both.
Well, I’m an engaged, involved parent, but it’s not so easy to explain to kids that there are costs to cheating.
Sure, my kids soon found that it’s impossible to find others to play against them when they have used cheats to become invincible. However, they still had no understanding as to the long-term consequences of a win-at-all costs attitude.
A lesson from the movies helped my children see where unbridled ambition can lead.
The Karate Kid
“He taught him the secret to Karate lies in the mind and heart. Not in the hands.”
It’s a cheesy tag line, from a cheesy 80’s teen movie, but The Karate Kid is a great movie for sharing lessons about personal discipline, bullying, and making good choices.
In this movie, a teen from New Jersey becomes the target of the affluent bullies at his new school in Los Angeles. An unassuming elderly man saves him from a beating, and promises to teach him Karate.
Wax on, wax off. Probably everyone in my generation is familiar with the story, and how the boy learns karate moves through chores.
Watching the movie as a parent; however, I noticed that the boy turned to an adult to deal with a bullying situation, and the adult arranged for the fight to take place within the “safe” environment of a tournament.
I was eager to see how my kids would respond when they saw the bullies’ coach advising them to show no mercy, sacrificing team members and targeting opponent’s injured limbs, in a win-at-all-costs approach to succeeding in competition.
By their horrified faces, I could see that it was obvious to my kids that this level of cheating was abhorrent.
This lesson was reinforced as the cheating team loses the tournament, and everyone’s respect. Ultimately, the players who believe that they must win at all costs, lose everything.
Now, I must admit that - while my kids agreed that the it’s wrong to bully and cheat your way to success - they still think it’s OK to use cheats with their video games.
It’s their opinion that they’re just having fun seeing what they can do with their single player game, and the cheats enhance that experience. In their minds, there is nothing wrong with cheats since they’re not playing against anyone.
They haven’t figured out that they’re cheating themselves. Yet. We’ll just have to keep on talking.
The infamous Crane Kick as performed by my crew.
Follow our Ethics Discussion:
Who wins with Game Boy Cheats?
Book Resources:
To find game-related conversation starters, visit GamesParentsTeachers, the companion website to Marc Prensky’s book.
If you’d like your own copy of these books, consider supporting On Living By Learning by using the following affiliate links to make your Amazon purchase.
 E-Parenting: Keeping Up with Your Tech-Savvy Kids: Sharon Miller Cindrich: Books
ISBN: 0375721657 |
 Don’t Bother Me Mom–I’m Learning!: Marc Prensky: Books
ISBN: 1557788588 |
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Leapingfromthebox 07.18.08 at 8:28 am
I agree that the cheats might not be welcomed in multi-player games, but in the individual games I don’t see the problem. Isn’t sort of like doing a Google search for information you need to solve any problem, whether a homeschooling issue, etc. Research skills. My husband has to search online for answers all the time for his computer job.
I know my kids used cheats a lot when they were playing against each other in Age of Empires, Age of Kings. As long as they were all playing by the same rules, using the same cheats, it wasn’t a problem with them.
Sandra Foyt 07.18.08 at 8:48 am
So, do you think cheats in general are just a tool, and not necessarily a short cut or means to gain an unfair advantage? Perhaps it isn’t the cheats themselves that can be a problem, but the way some cheats are employed?
Ann Duncan 07.18.08 at 7:39 pm
I agree with LeapingFromTheBox that
“As long as they were all playing by the same rules, using the same cheats, it wasn’t a problem with them.”
The ‘cheats’ my 15 DD finds out there are available to anyone else as well. In her 5 yrs of using them I have not seen any decline whatsoever in her firm grasp on a strong sense of what is right nor on her clear thinking.
When she first started playing the games I was irked, didn’t see how it was anything but a waste of time. But she and I had agreed that she is responsible for educating herself so I let her do her own thing, whatever that happened to be.
I was amazed at how much she learned from those ’silly’ games. Things that apply to real life.
And, funny thing, she played non-stop for months, then started figuring out that she wanted more substantial things in her life. Eventually set limits for herself.
I’d be at a loss to figure out how using the ‘cheats’ would be cheating herself. She has her own business (in the real world
and sees both the good and the bad, and I’m so, so pleased with her attitude and with her choices.
Blessings,
Ann
Sandra Foyt 07.19.08 at 11:25 am
It seems that we are looking at video games from different perspectives.
I never thought these games were silly; instead, I believe that they are valuable tools for developing critical thinking and problem solving skills. Thus, I think that game cheats might limit this goal. Maybe.
I’m not sure if that is always true. Perhaps, like in learning math, there are times where a hint in one problem might help one learn how to tackle those kinds of problems in the future. Thus, a cheat could be a tool that could enable deeper learning.
As for the ethics issue, I agree with you that it’s unlikely that game cheats would encourage kids to cheat elsewhere. In fact, they can be a positive influence where they are a catalyst for discussion about cheating and its consequences.
I’m also noticing that sharing cheats is fostering cooperative video game play, rather than competive play.
Video game learning and socialization is a fascinating topic that I’m looking forward to exploring further!
kayla 07.19.08 at 6:55 pm
Mooooooom,
Aren’t you over reacting a little bit??? It’s not like I’m gonna get an extra life on new super Mario bros. then go and con some guy into paying me 50 bucks for a glass of lemonade.
It’s just a video game! I use my cheats so i can get farther in the game and See what the last level is like. It’s not like I get paid every time i beat a level, (though it would be nice.)
When I am playing single player It gets a bit boring cheating all the time. I am constantly finding myself restarting a game to play it without cheats. I enjoy the satisfaction i get when i beat a game, that I don’t get when I beat it in 5 minutes due to cheats. It really depends on the cheat. I don’t feel satisfied when I choose beat all levels, but I still feel satisfied when I choose always big Mario.
When I am playing multi-player it’s a different story. I loooove beating other kids butts, with or without cheats. Of course, if i was playing pokemon with a 6 year old i wouldn’t choose 1 hit kill, but if i was battling a friend then i would.
If you always beat people they wont want to battle you anymore. I would play cheats with someone else who has cheats then it would be fair, a battle of the cheats. If I was battling someone without cheats I might cheat the first time, to surprise them but I wouldn’t continue using cheats.
I guess what I’m saying is that cheats are fine and anyone no mater how old will find out that it is no fun to always win. You don’t have to worry about us kids, we know when to stop cheating.
Your game savvy daughter with cheat know how,
Kayla
Sandra Foyt 07.19.08 at 10:09 pm
Kayla,
I’m so glad that you are growing up to be such a smart girl with a strong sense of what’s right. And, you’re realizing that figuring things out for yourself is much better than just gettinng the solution. I’m proud of you!
LOLUV, Mom
Ann Duncan 07.19.08 at 10:09 pm
I guess I’d thought the games were ’silly’ because I personally have never had any interest whatsoever in them. So they seemed just a waste of time. I definitely have ’seen the light’
and, though I still am not drawn to play the games, do see how much my daughter has benefited by playing them.
I like what you’ve said -
“Perhaps, like in learning math, there are times where a hint in one problem might help one learn how to tackle those kinds of problems in the future. Thus, a cheat could be a tool that could enable deeper learning.”
BTW, my daughter does not use cheats if a site prohibits them or if there’s any other uncool aspect involved. And, you’re right, sharing them can foster cooperation and socializing. I’ve noticed that she enjoys helping others find helpful info for the games, even coaching them.
I appreciate your openness to looking at this from other viewpoints! I want to remain open as well.
Blessings,
Ann
Being the Change I Wish to See - Sherri 07.22.08 at 12:06 am
My son has played video games since he was 3. He’s 13 now and has an extremely strong sense of fair play.
To his friends and him, and to the anonymous people he plays against in MMORPGs (massive multi-player online role-playing games), the cheat codes are no longer called cheat codes. The advantage of the code knowledge comes to those willing to do the research to find them and use them properly. There are entire blogs and forums devoted to power-ups and other tricks and tips to create characters in these role-playing games and using the characters correctly with the proper powers and weapon choices to advance in the game.
My son also sees a big difference between playing against someone with a Nintendo DS or Wii, vs the online game universe. When he plays friends on the hand-held or home systems they agree on what codes to use and they share the codes and where to find out more about them. It’s the most cooperative play I’ve ever seen between males. It’s competitive and cooperative at the same time.
IMHO, it’s not cheating. It’s a separation of those willing to learn the ins and outs of the game and study the deeper context vs those not willing to do their homework.
Amazingly, with all the codes and power-ups for so many games, it’s a matter of research and homework to get the advantage, just like in real life. If you put more effort into learning the deeper stuff, you reap the rewards. If you don’t, it takes you longer to succeed, or you just might not succeed. I now see it as playing without the codes is slacking, not cheating.
BTW, the kick used in The Karate Kid is actually called the jump front kick. Every white belt (beginner) is taught how to do it before their first test for a colored belt. What makes the kick in the movie special is the kid kicks with the leg he is standing on because the other is injured, and he’s flexible enough to kick someone his own height in the face with a great deal of force.
The kick is easy to learn but very hard to perfect. Doing it that well requires a lot of discipline, practice and stretching. Learning that kick for a black belt test for example means learning to kick high with excellent form, and with great enough force to break a board. In trying to break the board, if your form is off, you will break your foot. The same happens when you fight an opponent for real. If you do the kick incorrectly you may break his noes, but you will also break your foot.
Great post and thought-provoking,
Sherri
Being the Change I Wish to See - Sherri 07.22.08 at 12:13 am
One more thing, the Crane Kick, or jump front kick form in the movie is a very risky stance to take in front of an opponent. The arms are outstretched to the sides leaving the body unprotected against an attack.
In real karate, the arms are in front of the body to block as well as to punch. Held in front of the body, the arms also help with balance. Arms held out to the sides actually throw you off balance a bit.
Sherri
Advising: don’t learn karate from the movies!
Sandra Foyt 07.22.08 at 9:01 am
Sherri,
Thank you! I love how my thinking of this topic has been expanded by your (and other) replies.
It’s fascinating to see how much someone can learn not just from the video games, but by researching the world behind them.
As for the crane kick, or jump front kick, it didn’t work so well in the sequel as it made the kid vulnerable to attack.
And, no, we’re not learning karate from the movies - although I would’ve loved it if this inspired the kids to want to go back to taking martial arts lessons.
Still Life Game 10.28.08 at 8:29 am
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