Gaming is a colloquial term that generally refers to the act of playing video games, or sometimes tabletop games. Those who enjoy gaming are often referred to as “gamers,” though many people who enjoy video games actively choose not to identify as such. Surveys indicate that around 65 percent of adults in the U.S. play video games in some form, which can mean on a dedicated console, on a personal computer, or on a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. Gaming as we know it today has evolved greatly over time. Going back to the 1970s, it was largely done in arcades, but consoles like the Atari 2600 and Nintendo Entertainment System popularized home gaming throughout the 1980s, and it has remained popular to this day. PC gaming goes back to home computers in the 1980s such as the Commodore 64, but the advent of Windows in the 1990s and digital marketplaces like Steam in the early 2000s brought PC gaming to where it is now. Handheld gaming devices like the Game Boy made gaming portable in the early 1990s, but those have given way to smartphones, with the iOS and Android app stores full of incredibly popular and lucrative games. Some of the biggest companies in the gaming industry today include Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Valve, Activision, and many more.
- Sandbox.
- Real-time strategy (RTS)
- Shooters (FPS and TPS)
- Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA)
- Role-playing (RPG, ARPG, and More)
- Simulation and sports.
- Puzzlers and party games.
- Action-adventure.
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Main types
- Party games.
- Tabletop games.
- Video games.
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11 Positive Effects of Video Games
Playing video games can have positive effects and benefits, when played in moderation.
The most notable positive effects of gaming include:
- Improved cognitive abilities
- Improved problem-solving skills and logic
- Increased hand-to-eye coordination
- Greater multi-tasking ability
- Faster and more accurate decision-making
- Enhanced prosocial behaviors
- Better eyesight (attention to detail)
- More physical activity with games that promote physical activity (VR, mobile games)
- And other benefits.
- The study included 18 gamers and 18 non-gamers; both groups had to perform a simple task on their screens that involved following green dots with the mouse. At first, there seemed to be no major differences between the two groups.
However, as the test carried on and it got repetitive, the tests showed that gamers performed with more speed and more accuracy than non-gamers.
Games allow you to develop an ability to learn sensorimotor patterns and movements faster and more efficiently, which may help you with tasks in the physical world.
Greater Multi-Tasking Ability
Games have shown to improve your multitasking ability.
This is one of the most notable benefits of gaming because it provides you with the ability to perform your daily tasks better and more efficiently, and also complete many tasks at the same time.
Many games force players to perform several tasks at the same time – especially action games. For example, you have to look at the enemy on the screen, keep track of your health, ammo, and other stats, as well as move your character. You might also be speaking on a microphone with your teammates and friends.
With all of the fast paced action and hyper-stimulation that modern games provide, gamer’s may improve their multi-tasking ability.
Faster and More Accurate Decision-Making
Researchers from the University of Rochester found that video games can help you make decisions faster and more accurately, which can translate into better decision-making ability in real life.
The study also found that if you play action games, in particular, you’re more likely to make faster and more accurate decisions over non-gamers, and even over players that play slow-paced games.
When presented with a problem, action game players were up to 25 percent faster than players of slow-paced games, and their decisions were also more accurate.
This skill can be valuable in areas of work where fast decision-making is crucial such as on the battlefield, or in a hospital, and gamers are primed to make these decisions faster and more accurately.
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