Video Games Are More Than Just A Waste Of Time
“Get off the damn screen, it’s rotting your brain out” is what some might say about video games. They say video games are a waste of time, a scourge to plague the youth’s mind, rotting them from inside out. Making them violent, immature and unsocial. But viewed by those who grew up with video games, they are a wonder to enjoy. Video games are in fact one of the most beautiful things on this planet, for they are much more than just games. They are like a glue that bond people together. Forming strong bonds of communities, friends and rivalry. Not only do video games bond, but they also heal. They heal those who are sad and depressed. But most of all they are a way for creators to express themselves in their video games. Therefore video games are more than just a mindless waste of time, they are a glue that bonds people together, a medicine which heals the heart, and most of all they are a way for creators to express themselves.
Currently, the video game community is a vast pool of people tightly woven together by other smaller subcommunities of an individual video game made by friendships and rivalries. Take in, for example, the Smash community, a huge community compared to others, a group of gentle friendships and fiery rivalries, and most of all a community who supports each other when it matters. For example, you can take the case of Chris Taylor, a terminally ill Smash player whose last wish was to play Smash Ultimate, which comes out this December. Fearing he could not make it to December he posted his last wish and fear on Twitter. The Smash community heard and reached out spreading the word across Twitter eventually reaching Nintendo of America who granted him his final wish of letting him play the Electronic Entertainment Expo demo of Ultimate. Accordingly, the Smash community has proven that a video game can make people put aside their differences and hate and band together make one’s wish true. In conclusion, the Smash community has proven that the video games community is indeed bonded together with what some might say “superglue”.
Similarly, with bonding people together, they can heal people. Now you might say I’m crazy to say that but there is proof. Take in Nadine Kaslow’s words, an Emory University clinical psychologist “It can serve to distract you and give you a sense of control and some positive reinforcement”. Meaning video games can take the patient’s mind off their problems, give them control over themselves, and reinforce their mental state. This can be used for people who are undergoing drastic changes in their life like chemotherapy. Taking their mind off their treatment and side effects, relieving their pains and giving control over some aspect of their lives. Not only do video games heal people of their physical pains but also they can heal their mental state.
To emphasize, Jane McGonigal, a game designer gave out this exact point and she has her proof. She had suffered a traumatic brain injury, so she created her own game to improve not only her physical state but her mental state as well. Her game gives you problems to solve, making you think positively and improve your mental state.
