Cultural Models: Do You Want to Be the Blue Sonic Or The Dark Sonic?

I don't think children who play video games each get the same positive/negative benefit of the game they are playing. Just as in reading, we each come away with a different perspective based on who we are and the environment we come from. In speaking to another of my 6th grades classes about gaming, they tell me they are not that into it. Although the first 6th grade class I blogged about said that people don't admit to gaming because there is a certain stigma associated with being addicted to a video game. I asked my students if they feel as if they take on the identity of the gaming character and immerse themselves in the cultural model and they said absolutely not. They play if they feel like it but in no way do they need to feel as if they are someone else. They tell me they much rather play tennis, lacrosse, of golf at the country club. Therefore does ones level of gaming addictiveness have to do with ones socio-economic level? If kids are fortunate enough to have most of life's luxuries, does that make a difference in how they perceive video games? My discussions with my students say yes, but I'm sure there are exceptions. I still feel strongly about giving video games far more recognition then they warrant. There are definite learning styles that may or may not be addressed, depending on individual schools.