It is the year 2022, and we live in a time where electronics are constant in societal structure. Alone without the technology we have today, life would be nearly inconceivable at this point. Life would be quite different and boring if it weren’t for video games. While it is true that video games may not appear to be as significant as cellphones, social networking sites, and all of the contemporary amenities we use to live a comfortable existence, we fail to consider how much video games influence, shape, and affect our society, past, and mode of living.
For more than 30 years, video games have impacted our culture. Classic games like Pong, released in 1972, and Space Invaders, released in 1978, sparked a cultural revolution. Notably, in 1981, Nintendo’s masterpiece Donkey Kong, which included the eponymous character and the protagonist, Mario, who would become the company’s mascot for years. Numerous different companies that have functioned as mascots and popular entertainment icons include Pokémon, which became the most popular children’s toy in 1999, and Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog in 1992 with the titular character becoming a mascot. These businesses have provided not only mascots and yet also popular culture symbols, as well as every youngster who emerged up in the 1990s have at least thought of them. It’s gotten to the stage where Pokémon has its own month during the year devoted to it. However, around seven versions of video games have been generated throughout that 30-year period. It began with console and arcade games and progressed to include online gaming and VR technology. This establishes the foundation for a whole new civilization.
Video games have affected today’s history; Navid Khonsari, the creator of Grand Theft Auto, made a game called the 1979 Revolution based on the 1979 Iranian revolution that formed today’s nation. On the other side, the Iranian government has called the game disinformation and Khonsari a spy. The Call of Duty franchise even reflects contemporary events, such as the fight against terrorism in Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Mario swiftly became Nintendo’s mascot in the 1980s, and there is unlikely to be a single person who hasn’t heard of him. Also, in the 1980s, one mascot, Segata Sanshiro, was not well recognized outside of Japan. Sanshiro would become a “Chuck Norris-like” character notorious for pulling off impossible feats to promote the Sega Saturn. Sanshiro later became well-known in the United States and became a video game star in the 1980s.
Video games have influenced schooling as well. As Squire points out, video games include clear, meaningful goals, various goal structures, a scoring system, changeable difficulty levels, a random element of surprise, and an enticing fantasy metaphor, all of which characterize a solid educational system. Simulation games that enable players to create their own universes, such as the Civilization and Tycoon series, illustrate all of these traits. Other ways video games give knowledge, according to Squire, include the ability to manipulate previously unchangeable variables, observe phenomena in new ways, and track behaviors through time. Because there are still reasons to be stated for video games and their link to aggression, there are also legitimate arguments for video games and their helpful, good influence on our current world. Our world has been molded and formed by the characters we learn to love and cherish, and ideally, as video games tend to jump into a new future, so will we.
Positive Effects Of Video Games On Teenagers:
- Enhances cognitive abilities:
According to a study released by the American Psychological Association, video gaming can improve numerous cognitive capabilities such as improved attention allocation, visual processing, memory, reasoning, and perception.
Researchers looked at a meta-analysis of video games. They found that one of the good benefits of violent games was increasing a player’s capacity to think in several dimensions, similar to what some academic courses do. - Coordination of hands and eyes:
According to studies, teenagers can acquire geometric, perceptual, and eye-hand synchronization abilities from video games, especially shooter games. Certain video games need a large number of these abilities to be effective. Players, for example, must maintain track of their locations, speed, aim, and directions, among other things. Because all of the activities are conducted with the keyboard or gaming controller, the brain analyses all of this information and coordinates with the hands. - Accuracy and quick thinking:
Video game action trains players to make quick judgments in a split second. Also, they need an appropriate approach to deal with unanticipated changes in the game. - Practice dexterity:
Hand mobility with the mouse and keyboard improves as a result of online gaming. They learn to use the keyboard’s shortcut functions and respond quickly. - Ability to solve problems:
Researchers believe that video games can help teens develop problem-solving abilities since young adolescents improve their problem-solving skills while playing strategic video games like role-plays. - Some games can help people feel better and avoid worry:
Angry Birds and Bejewelled II are simple games that provide rapid delight or relaxation while also improving spirits. Granic describes it as a “basic emotional benefit” that video games may provide for children. Young kids can also learn how to deal with failures through games. - Promote the incremental intelligence idea:
Teenagers who are rewarded and encouraged for working on a puzzle or game acquire the concept of progressive knowledge, which is the belief that intelligence is not fixed and can be increased with effort and time. In this sense, video games provide an excellent environment for youngsters to develop such mental characteristics. - Additional advantages:
Educational video games can help students learn more interactively, while pro-social games can help youth develop empathy. The good consequences of your teen’s games are determined by the games he or she chooses to play. Games that are violent or sexually explicit are more harmful than beneficial.
Conclusion
Like reading, playing the piano, and navigating a map, video games alter the brain’s physical structure. While playing a video game, the strong mix of attention and gratifying surges of neurotransmitters that occur assist grow the brain, much as exercise does.
With the current advancements in gaming consoles, preventing your children from developing a gaming habit will be tough. However, being proactive in your child’s activities is the next greatest thing you can do as a parent. Participate and explore some of the video game worlds with your friends. Being a role model for your child and demonstrating how to maintain a balance between the virtual and real worlds would go a long way. Video gaming has progressed from being only for children’s amusement to now including games for grandparents. This is owing to new research that shows a link between brain processes, including visual-motor tracking, selective attention, and memory problems, all of which may now be improved through video games.
Working memory begins to deteriorate in your late 40s or early 50s, and the capacity to complete many things at once (multitasking) becomes more difficult. Focus is lost, and mental reaction decreases. A well-known brain training game maker, EVO, has demonstrated that their games may genuinely help aged brains act younger.
Online games are quite popular among students who want to experience new feelings in a virtual environment. They give out a significant amount of time to it since it is an excellent method to relieve stress, arduous tasks, and obnoxious roommates. Despite the numerous advantages provided by online gaming, it is critical to organize your playing time; otherwise, the disadvantages will dramatically exceed the advantages.
References:
https://www.brainandlife.org/articles/how-do-video-games-affect-the-developing-brains-of-children/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318345#Video-games-and-brain-changes
https://www.google.com.pk/amp/s/www.huffpost.com/entry/the-impact-of-video-games_b_4227617/amp
https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/parenting-preteens-teens/digital-safety/video-games
Expert advice on gaming addiction in young people and children
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/video-games-and-their-eff_b_9873646
Effects of Video Games: More Good than Bad for Youth Development?