Going back in time, there was a time when video games were considered harmful, enemies of education whose proponents were nothing more or less than social recluses. Playing video games regularly was “cheesy” and not “cool”. How is this possible?” the little thumbs of generation Z will ask. This a legitimate question when you consider the giant colossus that the video game industry represents today.
It must be said that mentalities have changed for a while. Nowadays, the most famous sportsmen and women play video games to their heart’s content and do not fail to expose themselves to the eyes of the world by playing action and strategy games such as Warzone, which is very famous in the world of sports, or titles such as the latest remake of Uncharted. Contrary to obsolete mentalities, the current community approves of this craze for video games. Everyone plays them to relax or have a good time. Some even make it their vocation. What do they understand? Why are games indispensable? What do they add?
The ease of online casinos: Privacy and convenience
Given their success in recent years, online casinos are a perfect example of the added value that video games can bring. With the pandemic that has been going on since the end of 2019, daily habits have shifted somewhat to the digital world. The world of video games didn’t ask for much; online casino traffic, particularly, has climbed tremendously since then. From introverted enthusiasts who didn’t dare to visit land-based casinos to seasoned gamblers forced by the confines of physical establishments, all of them can now be found on online betting sites; but what are the real advantages of these betting platforms?
Compared to land-based casinos, the world of gambling brings peace, privacy, and a range of choices to players through online betting platforms. As one climbs the ladder of Maslow’s pyramid, psychological and social needs become more and more important. Online betting platforms strive to satisfy many of these needs, and apart from intimacy, players can also feel loved with the little care that online casinos take to keep them loyal.
With some online casinos, for example, you can play free online slot games in demo mode without any downloads or complications. You even have some chances to win impressive prizes on the best sites to play these free slot games. What better way to make an online slot fan happy and in a good mood? It could be said that online casino platforms provide a lot of good and fun to any gambler; nevertheless, you should not cross the limits of gambling addiction.
The influence of video games on everyday life
From a simple point of view, video games are a series of workouts that involve several skills and engage several parts of the brain when played. They are mostly entertaining and require players to achieve specific goals by overcoming obstacles. Many of us play them because we enjoy them or to pass the time, but what is the real impact that video games have on our lives today?
Memory, creativity
Studies by Thomas Samuel Kuhn, philosopher of science, have proven that video games, due to their characteristics, act as doping substances and lead to increased grey matter. The said study put a group of 23 adults in game conditions for 30 minutes a day for two months. The results were convincing, because after analysis, it was found that there was a significant increase in grey cells in the areas of the brain responsible for memory, hand motor skills, spatial navigation, and organization! Impressive, isn’t it? From this simple objective fact, we can deduce that regular play activity helps to maintain and develop the current functions of our brain, no less.
Moreover, the influence of games in everyday life does not stop at the factors listed above. S. Kuhn is not the only one who has conducted experiments to determine the influence of video games on humans. OMEN, Ipsos, the University of Iowa, University College London, and Queen Mary University of London have all conducted research and experiments in this area. The results show that playing video games regularly develops the flexibility of the brain and thus cognitive skills.
It has been proved from these studies that people subjected to regular gaming activity are a priori more creative than ordinary people. From another point of view, a person who plays a normal game like The Sims is less creative than someone who plays strategy games like Starcraft, a title that was recently named one of the best PC strategy games. Games are also an effective stimulus to develop the creativity of a regular player on a daily basis.
Video games and sociability
Who would have thought that one day these two expressions would be used in the same sentence? This is actually the case with Jackie Gerstein, Doctor in counseling. According to her, based on several studies carried out, regular learning of a video game would allow us to carry out a double work, first on our consciousness and then on our self-control. The different states through which a game takes us allow us to familiarize ourselves with emotions such as joy in victory, sadness or anger in defeat, and to master them.
Secondly, the parallel work done is on our awareness of the existence of others. The games promote the development of interpersonal skills through the interactions generated by teamwork in order to achieve goals or the understanding of a group to overcome difficulty. Qualities such as understanding and empathy are strengthened. From this point of view, it is easy to agree with Professor Gerstein on the fact that video games allow players to develop social skills, which are very important for everyday life in society. However, they can also contribute to our well-being in another way, a little more personal this time.
Video games, against old age and disease
The ability of games to act on our cognitive, emotional, and memory faculties is consequently reflected in several other aspects, such as aging or even illness. According to researchers at the University of Iowa, video games can add years to the mental health of people over 50. They contribute significantly to slowing down the weakening of mental faculties in the elderly.
The effects of video games on ill people are even more pronounced: according to a study presented at a meeting of the American Pain Society, video games have been shown to reduce the stress and pain of people with chronic illnesses or undergoing complex treatments. Indeed, playing games allows them to immerse themselves in a pleasant virtual reality. This feeling of comfort is promoted by releasing endorphins in the brain, a substance responsible for happiness and sleep. Video games are instrumental in alleviating patients’ pain, reducing stress, and maintaining the general mental faculties of human beings.
Some other benefits of video games
As a bonus, we’ll share with you some of the other practical benefits of video games that you may not have been aware of. From treating certain illnesses, to developing intrinsic qualities, and building relationships, video games have more than enough to surprise you.
Video games and dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning disability that most often manifests itself in difficulty reading or learning new words. It occurs at an early age when a child is learning to read, write, etc. Fortunately, it has been proven that playing video games can help dyslexic children read. In fact, a study conducted by scientists from the University of Padua separated a group of dyslexic children into two groups. The first group played Rayman Raving Rabbids, an entertaining action game, and then the second group played another less challenging game. The result was clear: Group 1 played Rayman and was much more likely to read and concentrate than the second group. The study shows that playing stimulating video games can raise the level of attention and concentration of dyslexic children to enable them to read better.
Video games make you versatile
More good news. This time, Dr. Lauren Sergio of York University in Toronto sheds light on the subject. Having studied the neural control of movement since 1988, Dr. Lauren states that a gamer’s brain is similar to that of a professional pianist. When receiving and processing information, these two brains function differently than the average person’s. Pianists and players would have a greater facility to carry out activities requiring the use of their hands. This is scientifically explained by the fact that gamers and pianists use their frontal cortex, which is responsible for attention planning and multi-tasking, to process this information. This is in contrast to the average person who uses the parietal cortex, responsible for visual spatialization, to process the information received. Playing regularly can therefore promote your ability to multi-task!
A connected world
We won’t end without a small nod to the worldwide gamer community, which wasn’t as large at first. If you ask any gamer, they won’t be able to describe the feeling they get from their fellow gamers when they play a game; it’s a priceless feeling. Video games create social bonds between a community that today spans the globe, a community generally good to be in, where friendliness, smiles, determination, challenge, empathy, love, and support are exemplified in many ways.