People should manage their screen time in a much more nuanced manner. Numerous activities involve screens, each with its advantages and disadvantages. However, games don’t get enough love, and playing video games is not the same as passively watching television. Many video games benefit our health and should be considered separately rather than as part of the larger screen time debate. Here are the main reasons why many of us choose to game over watching TV.
Gaming is More Immersive
Games are known for having great character development and plot details that are impossible to achieve in television and film. Because many games can last more than 20 hours, you have plenty of time to immerse yourself in the story. You can even tell your own story in some games by making critical decisions or developing a specific type of character. In games, you can be evil or a good old hero trying to save the world; the choice is yours, especially in role-playing games. In movies and TV shows, you watch the main character do things, whereas, in games, YOU become the main character and live the story for yourself.
Gaming is Healthier
According to new research, people who play video games may be healthier than those who watch television. The study was conducted by the University of Michigan and looked at how much time people spent staring at screens. The researchers discovered that people who spent a lot of time watching TV were likelier to eat junk food and drink soda than those who spent the same amount of time on the computer or playing video games. Some media consumption, such as passive TV viewing, lends itself better to mindless snacking, whereas actively playing a game requires using a gamepad or keyboard and mouse, thereby keeping your hands busy – there is no time to snack.
Gaming Gives Your Brain a Workout
Gaming is a mental workout disguised as entertainment. Playing video games regularly, according to research, may increase gray matter in the brain and improve brain connectivity. Gray matter is linked to motor control, memory, perception, and spatial navigation.
Gaming Helps us Focus?
According to some research, attention problems are a vital component of dyslexia. One study showed that people with dyslexia improved their reading comprehension after playing action-packed video games. Researchers believe this is due to the games’ constantly changing environments requiring intense focus.
Gaming is More Social
One of the most damaging stereotypes about video game players is that they are awkward social rejects. However, even if there are a lot of basement gamers out there, that doesn’t mean that all gamers have trouble socializing and making friends in public. Researchers from three different institutions recently conducted their own studies to determine how typical antisocial behavior is among people who frequently play video games. Each discovered that gamers who participate in live social environments are the most communicative and friendly people present. Observing gamers, they even admitted that they formed stronger relationships than those that watched TV due to their shared love of games.
Gaming Helps with Critical Thinking
A challenge is at the heart of every video game. Some video games are mindless. Many others, however, from puzzles and mysteries to managing virtual cities or empires, allow people to take on a problem and work to find a solution. According to some researchers, people who play these video games improve in three areas: planning, organization, and flexibility of thought.
The more difficult online multiplayer games teach players to be strategic and analytical in assessing risk and reward. In addition, these games require players to react quickly to game changes. This type of gaming is beneficial because the skills learned can be applied to real-world jobs that require problem-solving, analytical abilities, and strategic thinking.
Video games are a type of entertainment that allows players to become characters in a story. Even though video games have been around for over 30 years, today’s sophisticated options require players to pay close attention to the game at all times. Furthermore, players are more physically and emotionally engaged than people watching a movie or television. Therefore, it’s clear why many people choose to game over watching TV.?
