How Video Games Positively Impact Our Lives? - Essay Sample

Introduction

Video games have been played for several decades, and the players seem to be passing the same passion and habit to the next generation. It is not without reason that people play games, according to Jane McGonigal who has been making online games for the last ten years playing games can make the world a better place to live because of the several positive impacts that it can bring to people's lives(McGonigal p. 11 ). McGonigal argues that in the world today people spend three billion hours in a week playing games, but she insists that these hours are not sufficient as more time needs to be allocated. The author further indicates that twenty-one billion hours in a week are required (McGonigal p. 13 ). One of the positive impacts of playing is solving the world's most common problems for instance obesity, climate change, poverty among others this according to online games expert McGonigal. Video games activate the mind and as a player maintains optimism through the game that is the same way it is applied in real life situations (McGonigal p. 15 ). People play video games depending on the level they are, and no one is given a degree that they cannot handle it is upon the individual to execute the task they are given. In the same manner, real-life situations are similar to the video games it is a challenge to every individual and as people maintain the positive spirit of winning a game, so triumph in life issues is the same (Isabela et al p.67). The paper will, therefore, explore how videos games positively impact the lives of people.

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One of the positive impacts that video games can bring in life is imperative optimism because gamers believe that they will sometime have an epic win and they keep on trying severally until they achieve their goal. They think that there is hope for success even when they are beaten severally (Paul & Willoughby P.158). Similarly, gamers develop a team spirit, and when they are hit they don't hate the winners, but they still trust and embrace them. In a similar case, it teaches people to have an optimistic spirit and instead of breaking down when there is a problem they try to look for solutions, and they do not hate the offenders but look for a way to restore relationships.

Additionally, playing games play a critical role in building bonds among people this is because before, during and after the games there is a high sense of cooperation among the players and when they interact they establish friendships which are healthy and useful in enhancing peace amid people. When people have good relationships, they can work together and help in solving world's most critical issues(McGonigal p. 18 ). Also, McGonigal argues that games help in increasing productivity because when people cooperate, they can do more work than when things are done individually. Besides, it instills the spirit of hard work in people who participate in games. Gamers always work hard to achieve good results, and when they develop the culture, they apply it even in their real-life situations. They work hard until they succeed and they do not easily give up.

Similarly, playing video games enhances quick thinking which leads to faster decision making. When gamers play, they are sharp in calculating the next move to take to progress. For instance, when they are competing with an opponent, they need to come up with ways to counter and become better than the opponent, in this case, it activates their brains and even in real life they become sharp in coming up with solutions(Isabela et al p.67). Video games are therefore crucial in coming up with solutions to life problems which in turn can solve the world's issues. To add on to that, video games enable people to be accurate because they play within a given period and they need to be seen so that they do not mess up and lose the game. In this regard, when people play video games, they become fast and accurate in performing tasks assigned to them(Muhammad & Soomro p.218). Video games are also beneficial in enhancing coordination of the eyes, hands and the motor skills this helps in improving the vision the brain function and strengthening the hands. It is, therefore, a form of exercise to the body parts. Video games also help in reducing tension, anxiety, frustration and thus calming the mind. It is because when people engage in video gaming activities they divert the attention from the stress and strain in the brain and the nerves relax hence relieving stress (Simon et al p.213).

Video games also enhance creativity, and those who play can quickly devise a new way of doing something. For instance, when kids play games, they become active and can easily find solutions to common challenges instead of seeking help from parents. Similarly, video games are useful in utilizing time that would have otherwise been used in rude behaviors primarily by the youth and the adolescents (Tobias &Mugge p.579). When the group engages in video games, they make good use of their free time, and the rates of misconduct are reduced. Additionally, video games help people to advance their technology skills because they play most of them online using the differently advanced equipment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to note that video games have positive impacts on people's lives and sufficient time needs to be dedicated to it, so that standard world problem is solved. According to scholarly research video games have tremendous benefits in human life, and through these benefits, most of the world problems can be addressed for instance obesity, poverty among others. Among the benefits that video games have brought include optimism even in real life situations, critical thinking skills, faster decision making, an excellent way to make use of extra time especially among the youth and adolescents. It is also important to note that video games have caused people to get access to the world of technology and a new video games come in, that come with technology. Individuals play video games based on the grade of skills, and no one is given a level that they cannot handle. An individual decides to execute the task they are given. Similarly, real-life situations are similar to the video games it is a challenge to every individual and as people maintain the positive spirit of winning a game they also triumph in life issues is the same. Video games, therefore, play a critical role in people's lives and if enough time is dedicated to representing then the impacts associated with it help in solving most word's problems. Future research needs to be done on how much time needs to be allocated to playing games and the effect the increase will bring.

Works Cited

Adachi, Paul JC, and Teena Willoughby. "Do video games promote positive youth development?." Journal of Adolescent Research 28.2 (2013): 155-165.

Egenfeldt-Nielsen, Simon, Jonas Heide Smith, and Susana Pajares Tosca. Understanding video games: The essential introduction. Routledge, 2013.

Granic, Isabela, Adam Lobel, and Rutger CME Engels. "The benefits of playing video games." American Psychologist 69.1 (2014): 66.

Greitemeyer, Tobias, and Dirk O. Mugge. "Video games do affect social outcomes: A meta-analytic review of the effects of violent and prosocial video game play." Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 40.5 (2014): 578-589.

Jane, McGonigal Games can make a better world retrieved from https://janemcgonigal.com/2014/01/06/transcript-games-can-make-a-better-world/ 2014

Sarwar, Muhammad, and Tariq Rahim Soomro. "Impact of Smartphone's on Society." European journal of scientific research 98.2 (2013): 216-226.