Fredericksburg.com - do you believe in magic?

search local
Follow us on Twitter Find us on Facebook

Get a printer-friendly version of this page. E-mail this story to a friend.
Make a post about this story on FredTalk.

-
Photos by SKY GILBAR/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

View More Images from this story

Visit the Photo Place

do you believe in magic?
Player says collectible card games are healthier for young people than video games
Date published: 11/9/2006

By Michael Zitz

In spite of the past stigma involving Dungeons & Dragons, collectible card games like Magic: The Gathering provide players a far more positive outlet than video games, according to those who love Magic.

"There's a lot more strategy than in video games, and a lot more human interaction," said Dan Bowman, a 29-year-old Magic player from Fredericksburg.

But, he noted, anything can be negative if a person becomes too immersed in it and obsessed, whether it's surfing the Internet, playing fantasy football or taking part in collectible card games.

Bowman said he got rid of his Sony PlayStation portable video game because "it's very self-involved," and he found the device eating up more and more time and cutting him off from humanity.

Magic, he said, engages people in an equally enjoyable, but more constructive, way.

"If you win, you win on your own merits, not just because you've put in more hours familiarizing yourself with a video game."

In addition to that, players meet and interact with new people instead of sitting zombie-like in front of a TV screen, Bowman said.

--Michael Zitz



Date published: 11/9/2006



Comments guidelines

1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
2. Please avoid offensive, vulgar, abusive, hateful or defamatory language.
3. Read and follow THE RULES.
4. We will block violaters and ban repeat offenders.










The Free Lance-Star fredericksburg.com 93.3 WFLS Print Innovators Classic Rock 96.9 99.3 The Vibe wntx radio