Introduction
Video games are a staple of modern technology’s offerings to both the young and old. While they are often dismissed as mere pastimes, a closer examination reveals their profound influence on various aspects of human life. I agree that video games predominantly positively affect individuals by enhancing skills and providing emotional support, even if they harbor the potential for negative consequences when overindulged.
Eye-Hand Coordination
Video games are beneficial in sharpening eye-hand coordination since they engage both the eyes and ears and require input with hands. I do not think such a benefit is life-altering and ultimately uplifts one’s overall state; however, it is still a useful effect of these activities. For example, the shooter genre, such as the Call of Duty series, requires quick reflexes and swift reactions to win. In other words, playing such video games has a direct physical benefit.
Strategic Planning and Thinking
I believe that video games significantly cultivate strategic planning skills. For instance, real-time strategy (RTS) games involve planning and strategizing with limited resource units and properly building bases. In this genre, the player that will most likely win is not the one with the best reaction times and reflexes like in shooters, but rather someone with good strategic foresight and can plan their moves well. Most of today’s RTS or multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) are more complex than traditional chess. The players must demonstrate superb teamwork and strategy to win while knowing the game’s complex mechanics and details.
Cognitive Development
I believe complex action role-playing games (ARPGs) are significant in enhancing cognitive development. Intricate storylines and complex character development characterize these games, requiring players to engage deeply with the content. Such an engagement stimulates mental faculties, as players need to solve puzzles and navigate elaborate plots. The given form of mental exercise benefits cognitive health by encouraging players to think outside the box and develop strong problem-solving skills.
Video games also necessitate quick decision-making, which could improve a player’s ability to process information swiftly and make informed decisions promptly. In addition, video games often involve managing inventories, planning character development paths, and making strategic choices that affect the game’s outcome. These elements require cognitive agility and foresight, which could translate into improved planning and organizational skills in real-life scenarios. The cognitive demands of these games, I believe, offer a stimulating mental workout that goes beyond mere entertainment by potentially yielding long-term cognitive benefits.
Community
Online multiplayer games play a significant role in community building and socialization because these games create platforms where individuals from diverse backgrounds converge, interact, and collaborate. I think that the latter aspect of gaming enables a sense of community and helps build friendships that can transcend the virtual world. This is especially important in today’s context, where traditional socializing can be challenging for many.
In such virtual spaces, players work together towards common goals, negotiate strategies, and share experiences. I see this collaborative environment as a training ground for teamwork and interpersonal skills. Loneliness is a significant problem today, especially for young people who grew up in the age of social media. People either lose their social skills or cannot make friends, and video games allow them to engage in mutually enjoyable activities. Although there are some toxic elements to gaming communities, they are still helpful for people in desperation and isolation.
Escapism
Now, I think that the most significant positive effect of video games is that they are potent and highly effective escape tools – they are a sort of virtual refuge from the problems and difficulties of life. This take is somewhat controversial because escaping one’s issue can be seen as a sign of weakness or running away from responsibilities. However, many struggles in life are not easily solvable, or they are unsolvable: abusive parents, poverty, problematic relationships, exploitative work, disability, health issues, etc.
All of them put a heavy mental and physical strain on the body, which is why having some window of time that allows a person to escape them can be life-saving. Instead of committing suicide, doing drugs, or overdrinking, which leads to severe harm and addiction, video games’ drawbacks are mild. A sedentary lifestyle is an issue that is not exclusive to playing such games; the internet, modern jobs, and other human advancements lead to a sedentary state as well. As a result, video games are the least harmful coping mechanism people can turn to in times of hardship.
However, this benefit has another side – the cost of missed opportunities, ruined relationships, failure in one’s career or education, procrastination, and laziness. In other words, using video games as an escape tool without dealing with the problems outside of them will undoubtedly cause further issues. Even if one overuses it, video games are still better. Both alcoholics and video game addicts will have lost many opportunities to improve themselves and build themselves up. Still, the former will also have liver cirrhosis, poor heart, and neuronal damage on top.
Discussion
All in all, I believe that video games positively affect people – they are a cushion to fall on during failures and challenging phases of life. They are not as destructive as other escape approaches, and they can offer significant benefits in sharpening the mind, providing leisure, and enabling socialization. Video games can also be productive; examples are online streamers, cyber sports champions, and other business people operating in this field.
Many video game developers were inspired by playing them in their earlier years, allowing them to become more prosperous and successful. Most leading cyber sports players are knowledgeable people with quick reflexes. To properly appreciate video games, one should look at them not in isolation but in their context and comparison with other alternatives. The best option for any problem is to address it constructively through self-improvement, but not everyone can do so. If it were true, today’s world would be completely different; hence, video games are the second-best option.
Ultimately, people must see video games for what they are designed for – entertainment. One should not expect something highly productive to come out of this type of activity, but it stands out as one of the most engaging and entertaining. In addition, there seems to be a form of social stigma against video games, where all gamers are dehumanized as older men living in their mother’s basement. There is no same level of animosity against fans of K-Pop, popular music, celebrities, and Netflix binge-watching. All forms of entertainment can be criticized because they aim to make people happy and engage them with content, not to better people directly. There will always be those who overuse it, but for most, it will deliver what it promises to do.
Conclusion
In sum, I agree that video games are beneficial for people for the most part since they are tools for skill enhancement, emotional relief, and social interaction. However, the key lies in balanced engagement, where the benefits can be harnessed without succumbing to the pitfalls of excessive use. I maintain that when approached responsibly, video games can positively impact individuals by serving as a suitable medium for emotional, social, and cognitive development. It is important to note that all of the advantages listed and mentioned in this essay, except for escapism, are relatively minor because they are better alternatives.
However, considering their accessibility and entertaining nature, video games are best evaluated in comparison and context. No person is guaranteed a life without a low phase, where nothing goes according to plan. In such dark moments, people cope differently – some seek help from family, some resort to drugs, some commit suicide, and others go for video games; thus, the latter is one of the better options.