Video Games Can Be Good, Proves Scientific Study
Have you ever experienced being told that playing video games is bad for you? For hardcore gamers like myself, it has been a continuous battle against the notion of “games are evil.” But here’s the good news: studies have proven that video games are actually good for a person’s mental health.
According to a study published in the American Psychologist titled “The Benefits of Playing Video Games,” video games can strengthen a number of cognitive skills such as spatial navigation, reasoning, memory and perception.
Video games anyone?
“Contrary to conventional beliefs that playing video games is intellectually lazy and sedating, it turns out that playing these games promotes a wide range of cognitive skills. This is particularly true for shooter video games,” says the study.
The study also mentions that people who tend to play shooter games show “accurate attention allocation, higher spatial resolution in visual processing, and enhanced mental rotation abilities.”
it’s game time!
According to a survey by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, an average of 77% or nearly 8 out of 10 children play online games in the Philippines, with Luzon reporting the highest number of gamers. Now, these statistics surely coincide with all those “computer shop-hopping” I’ve done, which is quite a lot.
The first thing that you will encounter when entering a computer shop here in Manila is a dozen (maybe even more) kids and teenagers flinging taunts to and fro. No, they’re not fighting; they’re just playing video games.
Most of the time you will see them playing Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (or simply MOBA) games like League of Legends (abbreviated simply as LoL) or DOTA. For higher-end computer shops, some play first person-shooters, such as Battlefield 3.
Video Games Can Be Good
Aside from computer and video game consoles, smartphones have also played a hand at the growth of video gaming in the Philippines. Games like Epic Paint Adventure, Flappy Bird, Candy Crush, and Iconmania have attracted not only kids, but also older generations.
Smartphone meets candy crush
But, as they say, too much of anything is never a good thing. Unhealthy gaming habits can lead to a bad lifestyle and can cause death, something many of us are aware of.
So, the next time you pick up your phone or any console you may have at home (or in your pocket) and start to play, remember: games do have benefits, but refrain from playing for 40 hours straight!
