I think it could be a part of human nature to want to enjoy life. And one of the great things we can enjoy in this day and age is video games. “Video games inspire us to be the best version of ourselves.”
Video games are extremely satisfying. Through the entirety of a game, the challenges given to us are for our current skill level. And they are epic, world saving adventures challengers that are hard, but achievable. Where in real life do we currently have that?
As players constantly achieve great things, it creates an uplifted, satisfied feeling.
Jane McGonigal has an interesting presentation where she talks about why she thinks people should be spending more time video gaming. If you have the time, I encourage you to have a watch.
Jane talks about how players collaborate, work hard and they stick to a problem as long as it takes to solve it. It’s Jane’s vision to take these feelings, determination and team spirit and be able to apply them to real life, and maybe solve the world’s most pressing issues.
She also goes on to speak about the leadership skills players can develop. So does David Laux who is the global executive in charge of games and interactive entertainment at IBM.
Depending on the type of game people are playing, the average gamer will develop certain desirable skills. "That's from the casual games which improve memorisation and the ability to discern details, to console games and shooter games that develop rapid decision making and to role playing games like the World of Warcraft that are very unique in producing leadership skills," says Mr Laux.
And these skills all follow over and benefit us in life.
As a gamer , I can testify that at least for myself this is true. Thanks to games like World of Warcraft, I went from being shy, and unable to talk to new people, to leading missions on this game. And then in the real world, able to stand up and make speeches, introduce myself to new people and have the self confidence to know that I have something to offer.
According to researchers, Jane McGonigal included, many people experience the same leadership and social skill development during gaming. Millions even.
Hey Che.
ReplyDeleteWhile I like the idea that gaming can give you social and leadership skills as well as the skills to work in a team environment and run a quest, I don't think you have quite covered the real world applications of gaming. Is there an chance you can just give a few examples of how gaming can slove a real world problem?
(Also by gaming I assume you are talking about the MMORPG's and not the FPS right? Cause we have enough war as it is.)
Yeah I shall delve into it more.
ReplyDeleteWhat do mean by "we have enough war as it is?"
Sorry, was a reference to FPS. I honestly don't think there is anything in a FPS that can solve a world problem. Simply cause it is at the moment already how we solve our global problems. Don't like someone/something, kill them. That is what i meant.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, guess I should get to explaining that better in my post.
ReplyDeleteBut actually you're wrong haha (in my opinion).
I include FPS games in this.
Jane talks about how in video games we find a large amount of people always wanting to get in on the mission. Multi-player FPS games too.
We don't have that immediate resource of people in real life. We want to solve poverty? There's not a thousand other easily accessable people waiting right there to help you like in video games (FPS included).
Jane wants to find ways to make things like that possible in real life.
I share your view that gaming is a positive form of entertainment. Not every form of entertainment has to have some beneficial purpose which is what so many people seem to think is important.
ReplyDeleteThanks :) I agree. Gaming for fun and entertainment is really the point in the end.
ReplyDeleteI get the idea of bring the camaraderie that you find in video games into the real world. I do. I also agree that if we bring that level of cooperation into the real world we could solve a lot if not all of today's problems.
ReplyDeleteI guess I just am curious, once we get past the "Let's working together" idea how exactly gaming solves global problems? But that simply could be because I don't game enough myself.
Haha it's not really. It's making real life achievable and satisfying like a game. So I got a bit off topic.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, you should read the moose story. Seriously, it's the most awesome thing I ever heard haha.
ReplyDeleteSorry I think the main thing I was trying to say here is that the benefits are a good time and satisfying. So those are the benefits.
ReplyDeleteThen off topic, if we can take the things about video gaming that are so satisfying, and make real life a place we are so determined to achieve things in, the we might be able to solve major issues.
Games teach us skills.
Skills solve the problems.
Yup, super tired. I'm so going to read this tomorrow and wish you could delete comments.
Good article; undoubtedly.
ReplyDeleteHowever still quite bias... as to say that I personally believe you could have perhaps approached this topic with the pros and cons of gaming; and then argued your point as to why gaming is beneficial in our lives.
Only to the extent that we have experienced a particular amount of time or quantity of experiences to gain the right skills that gaming has to offer (that you have mentioned really well in your writing)
Basically what I am saying is that it is a really good piece of writing however it seems light in terms of detail or data. (might just be me though, I am a theology study :P)
Thanks for commenting. Our brief was to have a side. And while it might have strengthened my argument to have both pros and cons, I see very few cons in gaming, but many in people.
ReplyDeleteAlso, did you read all the posts? Because if you read them in order, from oldest to newest, you'd see I do do this somewhat.
As for details, it's a blog, not an essay. But thanks for taking the time to read it.
What caught my eye was your post about World of Warcraft. From personal experience, it is somewhat a double edged sword.
ReplyDeleteI guess you are one of the more fortunate people who can take various skills from the game such as communication, leadership and confidence and is able to adapt it to real life.
I have had friends who've strayed from reality, and are pretty much living the game. Their communication skills with real people have been impaired and are always hesitant and not in the mood to socialize or go out.
I've also actually played it religiously about 2 years ago and it was sucking my (social) life away. Thank god I'm through with that game haha. I guess the effects vary from person to person, but it was just something I wanted to point out. :)
Hey Spencer :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments.
I spent a while trying to form an argument, for the sake of my blog, while also not stepping on your feelings haha. But it was starting to sound silly so I'm just going to be upfront about my experiences, even if they alter slightly from the side I choose on this topic.
Part of me thinks that you can't really blame the game if a person spends too much of their life on it, but rather you have to blame the person misusing the game.
But part of me also experienced the life suck WoW can be for a bit. And in order to get away from it I had to quit completely. I wasn't able to cut down my hours or anything, I had to just end it.
I think there are pros and cons to everything. The addictive nature of some games is something to watch out for. Because anything that hinders you from living a normal healthy life isn't worth it.
Yeah that's true haha. I remember the game advising players to get out of "Azeroth" once in a while as well. So that's good to see that games are aware that some players can get addictive and live their life in the game lol.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, i also agree that games are beneficial to people as well. I guess there are just some that are just a bit too hardcore :p and like I said before, it totally varies from person to person.
Awesome blog by the way. I can relate to it very well :)
Yeah that's true haha. I remember the game advising players to get out of "Azeroth" once in a while as well. So that's good to see that games are aware that some players can get addictive and live their life in the game lol.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, i also agree that games are beneficial to people as well. I guess there are just some that are just a bit too hardcore :p and like I said before, it totally varies from person to person.
Awesome blog by the way. I can relate to it very well :)
Hi Che,
ReplyDeleteI am not a game goer but I understand your points of view. Well done!!
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ReplyDeleteMe too not keen on video games! Use to be into combat and adventure video games as a kid. I think that kids need a balance, games can sharpen your mind cognitively. For children there needs to be a balance to develop their physical abilities, hand eye coordination etc. There was a study done in NZ that found that children at primary level were watching too much t.v and playing too much playstation. Video games plus balance equals harmony lol. Awesome Blog!:)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've read that somewhere too Sakura. I think the effects of technology have impacted kids worldwide. Kids these days prefer the Xbox over playing outside on any given day. Which is rather disappointing.
ReplyDeleteBut it's good to see that some companies have noticed that and are doing something about it, like creating the Wii.
ReplyDeleteDDR (dance dance revolution) is a huge favourite of mine too lol. If I could afford one of those machines, I'd so have one. But you can get the dance mats now too for computer or console c: