The mainstream verdict on video games is in: It’s a device for the un-intellectual, unmotivated who only contributes to the outside world during the few moments of non-ADHD states. And don’t forget the deviants.
But it might be time for perception to change. Video gaming is a massive market that’s growing annually, no matter what pandemic or President or inflation. More and more people are playing games.
What does this mean?
Simply put, there’s tons of people gaming and these people have extremely high paying jobs.
The list of richer than rich celebrities who game include Olivia Munn, Vin Diesel, Patrick Mahomes, Daniel Craig, and so many more. And we understand that just because famous people do it doesn’t make it right; take scientology, for a bold applicable example. That was low, but it had to be mentioned.
The point is, there are tons of examples of highly succesful, thriving people in our culture playing video games but mainstream media tends to focus only on the negative cesspool which exist in almost all walks of life. People who drink coffee can be temperamental, but the news doesn’t focus on those people In fact, most coverage regarding coffee in the news is blissful.
People of all walks are playing video games. Videos games cross all types of cultural boundaries, including gender, race, and religion.
But yet, one of our cultures most popular past times is warping the minds of society. Does this make any sense?
Of course not, let’s explore the benefits of playing video games.
Video Games May Increase Intelligence
This is probably the most shocking headline you’ll read all day, maybe all week.
That’s because our perspectives on video games result in quite an opposite viewpoint. But the science is in, and it’s good for the gamers.
Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam discovered a relationship between 5,000 kids in the United States and increased intelligence from playing video games. The study played out over a two year span.
The study showed that kids who overly consumed video games also experienced a 2.5 IQ points intelligence increase.
Let’s put that science aside for a moment and look at the bigger picture. The video game unit is a device. A book is a device. A TV is a device. All three of these items can feature learning experiences. A video game offers a third dimension learning layer which is coordination and reaction time. Kids with intellectual struggles are often given testing using modules that have them test their reaction times virtually.
We’re not medical doctors over here and don’t claim to be such. So take that above paragraph as merely our perspective.
Videos Games May Boost Focus
So this one’s certainly unexpected. Because most mainstream perspectives regarding gaming include a world ripe with increasing attention deficit disorders. But gaming may produce quite the contrary.
An international study tested kids who both played video games often and those who haven’t played much. The kids played a video game for one hour, then were presented with a heap of information. They were later asked for the details. Both groups of kids showed improvements in discovering only important, relevant details.
When you think about it, the video gaming experience requires a supreme focus if you want to complete missions or tasks. You can’t look away and expect your character to remain. So this study feels relatively digestible.
What About Memory?
Have you forgotten what this article is about?
If so, don’t blame your gaming habit, in fact, that may be helping.
A study by the University of Leiden tested memories of gamers who play first person shooter style games. The results showed that the gamers out-memoried the non-gamers.
Check out the video.
“Video games are bad for you? That’s what they said about rock and roll.”
And there’s more…
There is research that indicates video games enhance learning.
There is research showing video games improve problem-solving skills.
With all of this research, why then does mainstream media and culture constantly attack gaming?
One reason may be that “some things never change.” Because gaming is rooted in controversy, the mainstream hasn’t been motivated to shift perspectives.
Another big reason is politics. Our cultures political landscape is highly charged on both sides of the aisles. Giveo games are often dangled as a reason for some of the bad things that happen in society. Sometimes, however, the dangling of video games as reasons for negative events is distraction from the other side blaming things that these politicians support.
Did any of that make sense? We’re trying to evade politics as a whole, so it was the best way we could say it without “saying it” and stirring our comments section.
One thing is for sure, video gaming will continue to thrive. The industry seems unfazed by almost every negative event. Maybe that’s because it was built on negative perspective.