Goindi 1

Daksh Goindi

Chris Hilgeman

Writing 1

07 March 2018

Benefits of Video Games

People have always had different opinions about video games. People, mostly older ones,

have always seemed to have a negative view on video games, because they believed that they

“reduce your eyesight, and make you less socialized” (Christopher). But the people playing them

are actually enriching their overall being by playing them. People who play video games

experience better hand-eye coordination, better social skills, and improved brain experience

towards situations that may not take place everyday (Eugenio). There is no doubt that video

games have benefits that can help improve physical responses, have a better social life, and help

people know what to do in survival situations.

Video games improve hand-eye coordination, and in turn muscle memory. When playing

them, people can’t afford to be looking at the controlling hardware and the screen at the same

time, so the human body adapts and memorises the buttons (termed as muscle memory) to

overcome looking at the controller every time (“Is Muscle Memory a Real Thing?”). This may

also happen when one is using a keyboard to play games (“Is Muscle Memory a Real Thing?”).

Video games played on computers and consoles boost hand-eye coordination, and muscle

memory. In the past, it was unclear if this was a real thing, so researchers decided to look into the

matter, and they conducted a study using gamers and non-gamers. They tested them by telling

them to keep their cursor on a white square. Initially, none of them had any progress, but after
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some time the gamers subconsciously increased their hand-eye coordination, and overcame the

non-gamers (Alex). However there are examples of people getting more than physical benefits,

such as benefits towards socialization.

A common concern for parents while buying games is how isolated it makes their child

(Conrad). Nevertheless due to the rise of multiple online multiplayer games, gamers have to

work together to solve various problems. There is no doubt that most video games that come out

have a kind of co-op or multiplayer gamemode that helps people connect instead of isolating

them, even though there are some popular titles that don't implement this (Lofgren). The

majority of the games purchased are first person shooters (i.e. the well-known Call of Duty),

action-adventure, and sports simulators (such as FIFA), and most of them have a multiplayer

aspect to them (Lofgren), such as co-op role playing games, and multiplayer racing games etc.

See Figure 1 for popularity of multiplayer games (95.4% out of a 100% being multiplayer

compatible).

Figure 1

Labbe, Mark. “Best-Selling VIDEO GAMES Super Genres by Units Sold, 2014.” PlayStationLifeStyle, 15 Apr.
2015, www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/04/15/digital-games-vs-physical-games-data-shows-interesting-numbers/.
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In short, there doesn’t have to be any concern about the children that game online being isolated

as long as they have been provided online access, as they will end up making more friends

through online gaming(Video Games Help Make Lifelong Friendships).

A lot of parents are concerned about people who may bully, or troll. A Troll is a person

who sows discord on the Internet by starting quarrels or upsetting people, usually for personal

amusement (Internet Troll). To address those situations, game development teams like those of

Overwatch have introduced in-game mechanics of reporting players, which have reduced the

number of trollers tremendously, thus parents can rest assured their child will be safe while

gaming, under the protection of the native security software of the console or game. While

improving physical and social skills are impressive, the benefits of playing video games don't

end here..

Survival in some scenarios requires vital knowledge of the surroundings. Luckily, a few

games provide this knowledge in the form of simulations. There is no doubt that playing some

games will help improve knowledge needed in a conditions, depending on the game played

(Game Changer). Games like Ark Survival, Don’t Starve, and Miscreated are all games based on

real life scenarios that could increase the likelihood of survival underwater, on an island, or at a

campsite. Games that simulate surgery can help save someone’s life (6 Acts of Real-Life

Heroism Made Possible by Video Games). In short, games have more purpose than just being

there to kill time or relieve boredom, and give benefits to those who play them, instead of

disadvantages.

In a nutshell, there may be some negative effects of video games, but the pros definitely

outweigh the cons.Video games have benefits such as increasing hand eye coordination,

increasing likeliness of surviving in desperate situations, and socializing children, along with the
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multiple other pluses, such as improving problem solving skills, improving attention, and

enhancing multitasking skills. It gives people the ability to experience worlds and lives they

could’ve never possibly imagined. It also helps them make friends and learn to communicate

better.
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Works Cited

Alex. “Action Video Games May Improve Hand-Eye Coordination.” Integrated Listening Australia,

Integrated Listening Australia, 16 Jan. 2017, integratedlistening.com.au/blog/2014/10/21/action-

video-games-may-improve-hand-eye-coordination/.

Christopher, Drea. “The Negative Effects of Video Game Addiction.” LIVESTRONG.COM, Leaf

Group, 11 Sept. 2017, www.livestrong.com/article/278074-negative-effects-of-video-game-

addiction/.

Conrad, Dr. Brent. “The truth about child video game addictions.” The truth about child video game

addiction - TechAddiction, www.techaddiction.ca/child-video-game-addiction.html.

Eugenio, Sheila. “Public Access - 8 Cognitive Benefits of Playing Video Games for Kids.” Engadget, 9

Feb. 2017, www.engadget.com/2017/02/09/8-cognitive-benefits-of-playing-video-games-for-

kids/.

“15 Surprising Benefits of Playing Video Games.” Mental Floss, 12 Sept. 2017,

mentalfloss.com/article/65008/15-surprising-benefits-playing-video-games.

“Game Changer: Video Games and Real-World Problem Solving, Part One.” Game Changer: Video

Games and Real-World Problem Solving, Part One | Information Technology | University of

Arizona, it.arizona.edu/blog/game-changer-video-games-and-real-world-problem-solving-part-

one.

“Internet troll.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Mar. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll.

“Is Muscle Memory a Real Thing?” Nerd Fitness, 18 July 2014, www.nerdfitness.com/blog/is-muscle-

memory-a-real-thing/.
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Lofgren, Krista. “2017 Video Game Trends and Statistics - Who's Playing What and Why? | Big Fish

Blog.” Big Fish Games, 5 Apr. 2017, www.bigfishgames.com/blog/2017-video-game-trends-

and-statistics-whos-playing-what-and-why/.

“6 Acts of Real-Life Heroism Made Possible by Video Games.” Cracked.com,

www.cracked.com/article_19703_6-acts-real-life-heroism-made-possible-by-video-games.html.

“Video Games Help Make Lifelong Friendships.” The Entertainment Software Association,

www.theesa.com/article/video-games-help-make-lifelong-friendships/.

“Video game.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Mar. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game.