Gamers find real-world benefits through gaming

Jan 25, 2022 | Life

Video games are often dismissed as an unsophisticated or lazy form of entertainment however they can provide real-world benefits.

“Gaming has always just been a great way to escape the troubles in my life,” said Bilal Moore, a Humber College radio broadcast student. “Growing up, I turned to gaming as a way to relax and let go of everything on my mind.”

Playing video games well requires a lot of practice and patience. This helps develop a work ethic and persistence by teaching young gamers to work hard to achieve their goals.

“Competitive games have taught me how to work hard and to maintain discipline to achieve my goals,” Moore said.

Gaming can also help people gain better social skills and confidence by allowing gamers to foster a sense of belonging and community through gaming.

Many gamers use Discord, which serves as a communication platform where gamers can play together, discuss their gaming interests, or share their ideas and thoughts on servers that are devoted to their interests.

Valorant and Minecraft gamer Jamar Maye and many of his friends use this platform almost every day to play and discuss a variety of different games.

“Gaming over the years has helped a lot with my social skills and confidence,” Jamar Maye said.

“It’s made it easier for me to be who I am and talk to people without being scared,” Maye said.

Video games are also a great way for people to express their creativity in ways they are not able to in real life.

Many games such as Minecraft, Animal Crossing, and The Sims encourage creativity by allowing the player to create and design with almost no limitations.

Mods can also be used in these games to create even more possibilities with added items and characters.

“It is very evident to me that my students’ creativity has benefitted from them playing video games,” gaming developer Michael Breault told Humber News.

“Seeing the work others have done has inspired my students in their work, creating and contributing to games,” Breault said.

According to one study, video games have been shown to increase grey matter in the brain which relates to muscle control, memory, perception, and spatial navigation.

Gaming can also provide many learning opportunities through games that incorporate topics like world history, cooking, politics, chemistry, and architecture.

Some people struggle to work out. Video games such as Beat Saber and Just Dance encourage fitness which can help people workout through entertainment.

Entertainment and opportunity for people of almost any interest can be provided through gaming regardless of whether they play on mobile, console, or pc.

Careers can also be found through gaming experience by working as a game developer, streaming, or becoming a game tester.