Electronic games are often seen as a distraction from schoolwork, but now, there's a school course to study them- since this semester, Peking University has 1 an optional course called General Theory of Electronic Games, which has gained 2among students. It was 3 designed to accept 120 students, but around 200 attended the first two lessons.
However, the new course has caused a heated public debate. Some people think that as the celebrated Peking University has opened a course on electronic games, students may believe it's 4 to play games rather than 5 the research.
In response to these 6, the course teacher explained that the course isn't designed to 7 conventional view. "I like playing games, but fully 8of the problems that the games have brought about," he said. "I have a sense of 9. I want more students to know what electronic games are —their benefits and harms."
Instead of teaching students how to play electronic games, the course will 10 issues related to electronic games, such as research and development, technology and 11psychology.
This new course at Peking University arrives at a time when China's game industry is 12. China's video game market is the world's largest and is expected to continue to 13.
And the flourishing industry has 14 influenced many Chinese people, especially the young. More than 38 percent of Chinese people younger than 26 said their ideal job would be to work as a(n) 15 electronic gamer.
Despite this, a professor from Shenzhen University said it is 16 for universities and individuals to keep a 17 head in face of the market. "I hope the public can view electronic games as 18 activity and leave enough room for 19 development," he said. "Parents and teachers should also help students choose majors that can give full play to their 20.
