In 1958, the world saw the beginning of an extremely revolutionary invention that shook the world from its core. “Pong,” the very first video game, allowed players to enjoy tennis virtually for the first time in history (APS). Its release was followed by an immediate peak in interest of many, and its popularity only grew. The pairing of an alternate reality inside a screen with elements of entertainment brought the world into the era of video games, and within a few decades, the word “video game” became a household name. Video games have undoubtedly become a fundamental part of modern history and have influenced the lives of countless people, serving as an integral part of their childhood. The ideas for video games surged and video games only became newer, faster, and sleeker. The platform for video games also grew exponentially alongside other important technological advancements such as phones, computers, and tablets, and soon video games became accessible to millions of people around the world. Today, it is very common for players to spend over 5 hours per week on video games. However, everything has its downsides. With so much time being spent playing, many people believe that video games are simply a method of wasting time with very little benefits. Video games are also blamed for poor academic profiles, addiction, violence, and even obesity. However, due to these beliefs, people disregard the many benefits that video games have, and their positive impact which has improved so many lives. Research has shown that video games actually improve students’ grades and help with their development. Players have also shown cognitive improvement and reduced stress levels. Video games have also provided a platform of entertainment for people that may not be able to enjoy other fun activities due to mental/physical disabilities. Hence, video games are mentally, physically, academically, and socially beneficial because they have positive health imprints, promote equality in entertainment, promote social and cultural interactions, as well as provide a platform for mental and academic development.
Subject to vast criticism in regards to health, video games are believed to be the indirect cause of many health problems such as poor hygiene, migraines, fatigue, obesity, and even seizures (LiveStrong). In fact, video game addiction is now being regarded as a mental health disorder (NY Post). Although they may be an indirect cause of these symptoms, blaming video games for health problems in fatuous. Studies show that avid gamers may in fact be in a better mental state than non-gamers. A study by North Carolina State University involving 140 people aged 63 or over shows that seniors who played video games regularly or even occasionally, “reported higher levels of happiness, or well-being” and those who didn’t play video games, “reported more negative emotions and a tendency toward higher levels of depression” (PsychCentral). Another research involving 207 participants averaging 25 years in age proved that video gamers showed clear signs of increased levels of happiness while thinking about their favorite games (Computers in Human Behavior). Therefore, there is clear evidence that playing video games results in higher levels of happiness for people all over the age spectrum.
Playing video games also results in reduced levels of stress and mental pressure. The sole purpose of a video game is to provide entertainment and leisure, which players can enjoy at any time and anywhere. Therefore, players generally spend hours on video games because they really enjoy the calm and enjoyable platform it provides. This is even more critical in today’s world, where people, young and old, feel overwhelmed by the immense responsibilities and duties thrust upon them. In USA alone, nearly 47 percent of the population reports being stressed on a daily basis (APA). This is mainly due to the immense workload faced by individuals, which has caused detrimental health effects such as migraines, hair loss, and reduced vision. In these cases, video games provide salvation for these poor souls, as they are known to be effective stress relievers. In an article known as Human Factors, a researcher named Michael Rupp discusses his findings about a video game experiment in the work area (HFES). The results show that workers who took a break to get a silent rest or participate in a “guided relaxation activity” showed signs of reduced pressure, but only the participants that took a break to play a simple video game reported feeling better after the break (Science Daily). Researchers have also concluded that video games that are short and easy to access, like “Angry Birds” or “Flappy Bird” help prevent extreme levels of stress and anxiety in students and workers while improving their moods (APA). This goes to show that video game players tend to be happier and mentally healthier, and in turn lead to reduced rate of mental problems and health risks.
Video games have also provided a platform in which gamers can come together and have a great time without being bound by physical restrictions. Before the video game era, the most common forms of entertainment were board games and sports. However, these could not be enjoyed by everyone due to the fact that they demanded physical and mental stability for participation. Video games however, are easily accessible by people with disabilities that can’t enjoy other forms of entertainment. While playing a video game, it does not matter whether you are have are one-legged or have a speech impediment. In this regard, video games do the best job in entertainment compared to other activities that require other forms of physical activity. Additionally, many more video games are being produced in an effort to reach out to a broader range of people. Aside from promoting gender and racial equality in the gaming industry, video game producers have also reached out to people with physical disabilities that cannot enjoy simple video games due to a disability. Anna North, a journalist from The New York Times, discusses a new video game recently released called Perception, that is specifically designed for people with vision impairment. The game allows player to uses sound as a fundamental method to play, where players can follow that story of a blind woman named Cassie (The New York Times Blogs). Therefore, video games promote equality because they are designed to reach out to people that normally do not feel represented in other communities.
Researchers had hypothesized that, however small, video games still provide social, cultural, and economic advantages to video gamers when compared to non-gamers. Many video games revolve around teams, and thus players have to cooperate with their teams using teamwork and communication. An experiment run by University of Glasgow concluded that video game players tend to have better communication skills that are extremely important, which was referred to as “graduate attributes” (Phys.Org). This is also essential because the current education system does not heavily focus on communication skills and teamwork, even though this is an important skill required in the work area (ResearchGate). Video games have also shown cultural and economic development in players. Karol Borowiecki, a professor in the department of Business and Economics from University of Southern Denmark, discusses cultural appreciation by video gamers, and states that video gamers tend to more actively-participate in other forms of culture. They also displayed better economical statistics as video gamers tended to be more financially stable when compared to non-gamers (Research in Economics). This data shows that video gamers are in fact more socially and economically well-balanced when compared to their non-gaming counterparts.
Lastly, video games also promote mental and academic development in subjects. Aside from communication skills, another graduate attribute is problem solving. Video games employ themes of strategy and mystery for entertainment purposes, which in turn also help players become more mentally active and alert. Even tests to determine intelligence in monkeys and apes involve games to measure their problem solving skills. Many video games are created on a level-based system, where they continually challenge players based on how far they have progressed. This keeps players not only interested but also helps their cognitive development since they need to continuously be more creative and mentally active. Some of the other skills that video games provide are problem solving/decision making skills, strategy development, attention allocation skills, and spatial skills (videogames.org). This proves that video games are effective in helping players develop skills that they simply cannot gain from college courses. Video games are also educational because more and more video games are either set in historic times that allow players to learn about the time period, or utilize current knowledge, allowing players to understand about how the modern world is developing. Therefore it can be ascertained that video games help players in their educational and cognitive development.