Sponsored: The Hidden Benefits of Playing Videogame
Anyone who considers themselves a gamer has heard it all before: ‘Get off your butt and get outside! Look how beautiful it is out there!’
Well, maybe she has a point and it isn’t the best idea for a child to be indoors staring at a screen all day, or even for hours on end, when they could be outside playing with kids, or otherwise doing something social. Yet, what mom probably does not know is that, while balance is an important ingredient in the life of any mentally or physically healthy child or adult, there are myriad benefits to gaming that many guardians do not consider.
For, when a game simply exists as a diversionary form of escapist entertainment in the minds of the masses, then yes, of course it should be kept away at all costs. But when videogames actually exist as a social activity where teamwork, problem-solving, and critical-thinking are required, and when kids and grownups are actually enjoying their time together, then should the association of videogames as a vice be reconsidered?
Shifting the Paradigm
Whether in Super Smash Bros. Melee for the Nintendo GameCube or in Bingo, games are not just a passive, sedentary activities where you simply wait for something to happen to you. In fact, that stereotype could not be farther the truth, says a study published by BingoAnalyst. That is because in the game of Bingo, due to the dexterity of mind needed by those playing, a player must have fast hand-eye coordination and reflexes in order to maintain a competitive advantage. This was in contrast to non Bingo-playing test subjects, who overall displayed a lower quotient for hand-eye coordination than their counterparts.
Similarly, whether in popular games (with massive social followings, to be sure) like Madden NFL Football, or the Call of Duty franchise, or even Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBAs) like Defence of the Ancients 2 (DOTA 2), coordination is a highly-prized skill that sets apart the best from those just under the cream of the crop in an increasingly competitive field. And make no mistake, those at the top of their game are also earning big bucks thanks to its popularity, so games can prove to be useful in traditional metrics like career-finding.
Further Benefits
But wait, there are more advantages than just finding careers related to games, or better coordination. The genre of educational games can help children learn in non-traditional ways; going from flashcards or other forms of perpetual, seemingly-endless drilling on subject to something more fun and interactive in a game can be all the difference needed to spark a student’s curiosity. If it gets to the point where they feel like they are engaged in a game and not even involved in an academic activity, that is the ideal outcome.
Games today are also incredible social. The aforementioned genre of MOBAs is based around massive online communities that breathe and die their favourite games. Why? Again, in a super tight competitive space – in a game that requires perfectly synchronised teamwork to overcome the best of foes – being able to predict your friends’ in-game actions and depend on them when you need them in a moment of crisis is like, well, how much you would depend on a fellow soldier in a firefight during a real-life war.
This social aspect is especially critical in the development of individuals who are otherwise introverted, as it allows for an outlet for their communal needs. Within a clan, they find a sense of belonging or worth to their team.
In sum, between the social, psycho-motor, and potential financial advantages to playing videogames, not to mention the sheer joy of winning, there is a lot to enjoy and even more to learn from them.
