Are video games really that bad
By Edward Zhao
Video games are defined as interactive electronic entertainment involving the manipulation of images displayed on screens. While this is the official definition, when we explore the topic further, we find both positive and negative aspects of video games. On one hand, they can enhance reaction speed and foster teamwork skills. On the other hand, excessive gaming has been associated with sleep deprivation and depression.
In the early 1900s, when technology was in its infancy, computers had the potential to positively impact lives, albeit unintentionally. To showcase its capabilities, a simple yet complex game called Tennis for Two, designed for two players, was created. Subsequently, Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney introduced the arcade machine, inspiring renowned titles like Super Mario, Tetris, and Pac-Man. These games marked the beginning of a new era in 3D gaming, motivating developers to create even more thrilling experiences for a wider audience. This led to the emergence of online gaming, portable gaming, and virtual reality, ushering in a new age of interactive entertainment.
Focus In Videogames
The creation of video games has provided people with a form of entertainment that offers engaging activities and opportunities for practice and improvement. An example of this is the study titled “Playing Video Games Offers Learning Across the Lifespan, Say Studies,” conducted by the American Psychological Association, which focused on the effects of video game playing on children. During this study, children were asked to verbalize their thoughts while playing games, allowing scientists to assess their abilities, focus, and identify any notable differences that emerged.
“Younger children seem more interested in setting short-term goals for their learning in the game compared to older children who are more interested in simply playing and the actions of playing,” said Blumberg. “Thus, younger children may show a greater need for focusing on small aspects of a given problem than older children, even in a leisure-based situation such as playing video games.”
With that in mind, it appears that children below a certain age tend to be more focused on immediate tasks they need to accomplish, while older children seek out a wider range of activities. This difference suggests that older children may have already developed a sense of short-term goals. Learning this skill at a young age can be crucial to a person’s growth and their ability to make quick and sound decisions in various situations.
The Social Life Is On A Global Scale
With the rise of online video games and a significant population of players, individuals of all ages have the opportunity to develop and enhance their social skills for future situations. A compelling example of this can be found in a research article by Doug Bolton titled “Video games may improve children’s intellectual and social skills, study finds.” The study was conducted at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York and involved a large-scale questionnaire administered to children aged 6 to 11, completed by teachers and parents. The study yielded surprisingly positive results, revealing a 1.75-fold increase in “high intellectual functioning” and a 1.88-fold higher likelihood of having “high overall school competence.”
“Video game playing is often a collaborative leisure time activity for school-aged children, and these results indicate that children who frequently play video games may be socially cohesive with peers and integrated into the school community.”
Even with only a quote from a professor mentioned in the article, we can affirm that children can derive social benefits from video games. Many games provide avenues for communication, enabling players to practice and enhance their social skills. Within the realm of social interactions, there are numerous topics to discuss, with social media being the most prevalent. However, one specific topic I would like to address is mental health.
Creativity In VideoGames
With video games, you have a moving picture that you control. Pictures are a form of art, and art stems from the creativity of your own brain. So, if you want to improve your ability to create better pictures or develop video games, how can you gain the necessary experience and skills? Most people would say that practice makes perfect, so practicing those skills by creating more pictures seems like a logical approach. However, that might sound great but also potentially boring. So, what about video games? Let’s explore this further.
An article titled “Association of Video Gaming With Cognitive Performance Among Children,” posted on Jama Network and authored by Chaarani B and others, delves into the question of the association between video gaming and cognition in children. In this study, a large sample of 9-10-year-olds was surveyed about the number of hours they spent playing video games in a week. Additionally, they were tasked with taking a neuroimaging test to analyze and collect data.
“Consent (parents) and assent (children) were obtained from all participants. The ABCD study was approved by the appropriate institutional review boards: most ABCD research sites rely on a central Institutional Review Board at the University of California, San Diego for the ethical review and approval of the research protocol, with a few sites obtaining local IRB approval.”
A total of 2217 results from willing participants showed positive results in people who played video games for more than three hours a day, with better performance on cognitive tests involving response inhibition and working memory. Additionally, the study found an altered BOLD signal on these tasks, indicating the potential for video games to enhance response inhibition, working memory, and other cognitive functions.
“consistently higher in VGs, the analyses also revealed that mental health and behavioral scores from the CBCL were not significantly different between NVGs and VGs. In addition, the t scores from the CBCL showed that none of the measures in either group was high enough to reach clinical significance.”
What Other Things Can Videogames Do?
Now, let’s discuss the positives and negatives of video games. While there are negative aspects associated with video games, it’s important to note that they also have positive aspects. Healthy Gamer, a company that assists individuals who play video games, has published an article exploring the impact of video games on mental health and how it can subsequently affect various aspects of life. One specific article, titled “Altered gray matter density and disrupted functional connectivity of the amygdala in adults with Internet gaming disorder” by Chih-Hung Ko and others, focuses on the effects experienced by individuals with internet gaming disorder.
“The results of this study suggested that the amygdala plays a very influential role in the mechanism of IGD. Its detailed role should be further evaluated in future study and should be considered in the treatment of IGD.”
The methodology employed in this research involved selecting 30 male applicants with internet gaming disorder and 30 control applicants. The researchers studied the gray matter density and functional connectivity in these individuals. The findings obtained through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were quite intriguing. In summary, the fMRI scans were used to identify any anomalies or differences between the control group and the group of 30 applicants with internet gaming disorder.
“Our results indicated that the altered GMD over the amygdala might represent vulnerability to IGD, such as impulsivity. Further analysis of the amygdala demonstrated impaired FC to the frontal lobe, which represents impulsivity.”
What Other Things Can Videogames Do?
Now, despite all the positive aspects of video games, there are always drawbacks to consider, regardless of how appealing they may seem. One significant drawback is gaming addiction. While I briefly mentioned this earlier, I did not delve into it in greater detail. Gaming addiction can have adverse effects on individuals and should be carefully monitored and addressed to ensure a healthy gaming experience.
“Our society suffers from an epidemic of loneliness, and gaming can be a vehicle to connect with others, including otherwise difficult-to-connect-with people in your life”
This article discusses various problems associated with playing video games, one of which is the physical aspect that can lead to injuries. Some common injuries include hand-related issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome, which involves inflammation of the wrist nerves resulting in pain and numbness. Another condition is Gamer Thumb, also known as “de Quervain’s tenosynovitis,” which can cause swelling and limited movement. Additionally, excessive video game playing can lead to other conditions like trigger finger, tennis elbow, vision problems, and even obesity. It’s important to be mindful of these potential health issues and take appropriate measures to prevent them while enjoying video games.
Good Or Bad: You Decide
When it comes to video games, they can have a love-hate relationship in your life, depending on whether you can maintain a balance with your normal life. If you find that the negatives outweigh the positives, I recommend seeking professional help to achieve a healthier balance in your lifestyle. This will not only benefit you but also the people around you. However, it’s important to note that video games can also have positive effects, such as enhancing problem-solving skills and improving communication abilities. So, it’s not accurate to say that video games are entirely negative. It’s essential to be mindful of your gaming habits and strike a balance to make the most of the benefits while mitigating any potential drawbacks.
