Can Computer Games Affect a Gamer positively?
Maksym YushytsynDiscussions about the use of computer games always divide into several camps. One part is the least tolerant towards visiting virtual worlds. These people find computer games a waste of time and money and define this activity as causing significant moral or physical harm to a person. Some other people neither like nor dislike games. This is a pleasant escape from the real world, an alternative to traveling or sports. Nevertheless, you should enjoy games wisely. There is a third camp, too. They assume that video games are rather likely to influence a person positively than negatively. According to them, games develop useful skills and make a gamer see real things around from a different perspective. It concerns not only specialized computer games, but also rather known shooters, strategies, or MMORPG games.
What does Science Say?
The influence of computer games on physical and mental state of a person has been studied by scientists for a long time. Some researches show negative repercussions of gaming: depression and aggression. It does not seem surprising when we see that modern games have a sports constituent. In an online competition, all gamers strive for victory and feel anger and disappointment after a loss. Additionally, they may include violence content. Nevertheless, it is only one viewpoint.
For example, reading or watching movies activates only a definite part of intellectual abilities of a person. They analyze new information and remember its special part. While playing, a person has to use more resources. Of course, everything depends on a kind of the game, but usually a gamer has to analyze and remember new information as well as to be quick in decisions.
For instance, in FPS games (first-person shooter) a gamer has to constantly look around to spot opponents at the right moment, remember their position, look for shelters, calculate the trajectory of shots, check health points and armor on the screen, share useful information with allies etc. All these actions are done almost at the same time, so it is not surprising that gamers often lose their temper being so pressured.
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Constant training in shooters makes a gamer more resilient in real life. They perceive information faster, solve some problems simultaneously. For example, while driving, they are not so likely to lose control in a critical situation and while doing some headwork, they see more solutions of various tasks. Not all video games facilitate training of reaction and quick thinking. Lots of modern role games and casual games do not provide this kind of brain activity. Gamers do not need to concentrate their attention to proceed in the plot or to complete a task. These games can’t help in developing non-gaming skills but still they let a gamer relax and get distracted from life problems.
Useful Skills for Children
Playing games helps children gain necessary skills to solve problems in real life. In 2013, the research showed that teenagers that play strategies, role games, and rather violent games increase their effectiveness in educational establishments. If you devote a limited period of time to gaming, they will not influence the students’ grades negatively. Gamers can show better results in science, especially maths and physics. Knowledge of a foreign language also improves if it is used in the game (in the plot or while communicating online).
Difficult video games, especially competitive online games, help not only to develop memory and logical thinking but also to improve stress resistance. Matches with other gamers on the Internet cannot always result in victories. Gamers also have to get used to losing, accept them as a component of any advancement. This concept may be transferred to real life. People face with failures every day and the only way to avoid them is to do nothing at all. Computer games show that succeeding is only possible when you put in systematic efforts.
Breaking Stereotypes
And, finally, we should take a look at another stereotypical statement about negative influence of computer games. This refers to gamers’ striving to social isolation and the influence of video games on acceleration of this process. We can easily understand that this is not true if we take a look at the modern gaming community. The majority of gamers prefers online games. Almost all competitive games entail interaction with teammates, cooperative games make it possible to play through them together. Role MMORPG games make it possible to meet new people as well. Even such games like Grand Theft Auto that are made to play alone have modes for playing online. These multi-user games are becoming virtual social communities where you need to make decisions about who you should trust or who you should not trust like in real life. Many people treat online games like a real discovery in 2020 when there are periods of the coronavirus lockdown. This is one of the safest ways to communicate with friends.
To sum up, we may claim that modern games are not dangerous for social life of an ordinary gamer.