Video games are a very important part of social entertainment. Although we may first think that they are more related to children and teenagers, the number of adults who play video games is also very relevant. For this reason, the industry has not stopped growing over the years thanks to extensive offers such as, for example, sports, role-playing, war, drift games, and adventure games, among many others.
Virtual games are a form of entertainment and even a way of interacting with other people from anywhere in the world. They promote a series of positive aspects in an individual’s personality, but they also contribute to developing other negative ones; as everything has its side that we can consider good and also the one we can consider bad.
What are video games?
They define what a video game implies, considering all the parts that compose it. It is a virtual or electronic game by means of which a person interacts thanks to a controller with a device in which video images are emitted.
This user can also interact with other people within the same game by connecting to the Internet. The electronic device can take different forms: a computer, a console, an arcade machine, and even portable devices, such as cell phones.
Studies on how video games affect people are numerous because they are among the largest and most turnover-driven industries in entertainment and art. They are capable of influencing the behavior of individuals depending on the dimension they acquire.
Advantages of video games
The advantages and disadvantages of video games in adolescents and children are very similar to those that influence adults, but in the young population, they have a greater power to shape characters and personalities. Some of the main benefits of virtual games are the following.
Therapeutic uses
Video games are useful for people with mental and physical problems. Without going any further, they positively impact users with reduced mobility in the arms or with difficulties in personal relationships, as is the case, for example, of autistic people.
It helps improve mental and physical abilities
Playing video games on a daily basis improves visual attention capacity, efficiency in changing and performing tasks, speed in tasks related to visual search or discrimination of objects and tools by colors and shapes.
In addition, it contributes to the involvement in the achievement of multiple objectives and the execution of different tasks in the same temporal space.
Leisure and entertainment
This is one of the most evident advantages of video games. One of their main objectives is to entertain, help counteract daily stress, and combat boredom. For this reason, they are a highly appreciated method of leisure within reach of all audiences.
Didactic utility
Learning with video games is possible. In fact, they present very diverse and generally more playful contexts, so they tend to increase the motivation of the youngest. They also help children with learning problems or who are at risk of social exclusion. In short, children can learn while having fun through these virtual games.
Sense of empathy
Although video games may have originally encouraged individualism, they have constantly evolved so that they can be played in groups. Each player must make decisions that will have consequences for the other users, both negative and positive. In this way, they help to develop empathy. We recommend you read this other article about How to be empathetic.
Teamwork
Virtual team games allow players to develop teamwork skills. Faced with the challenges presented by video games, the union and the collective sense facilitate the achievement of objectives. Working under pressure and the mental speed to think and act in the face of setbacks are also skills that are acquired in video games.
Disadvantages of video games
Despite the numerous advantages of video games, they also contain disadvantages that affect some players to the point of seriously endangering their health.
Aggressiveness and violence
The disadvantages of violent games are obvious. Some video games with aggressive content contribute to the existence of physical aggression and the radicalization of ideologies in the real world. These effects, considered in paperhelp review, can be short or long-term depending on each person’s age and social skills.
Addiction
The obsession with virtual games can create a feeling of addiction. Therefore, it is advisable to limit the number of hours a day for playing video games, especially in minors, so that it does not become an inconvenience in their social relationships.
Sexist images
Sex is a fundamental part of the stories of some video games. The illustration of disproportionate bodies and the presentation of women as a sole sexual object causes, in some cases, the assimilation by players of these factors as if they were real.
Socialization problems
Those children who entertain themselves with violent games may be affected in the medium and long term by negative effects that prevent them from developing a sense of social justice and belonging. The absence of dialogue in many video games also encourages violence as a means of conflict resolution.
Impact on players
Excessive use of video games can have a negative impact on the lives of gamers, influencing family, school performance, and day-to-day life.