Over the years, video games have developed a bad reputation, as many parents believe that children who play games are more likely to become antisocial. A new study dispels this myth, as researchers at Edith Cowan University have found that video games provide players with many social and education benefits.
"Gamers are reaping the social benefits when their friends come over and they play computer games together,” says Associate Professor Mark McMahon. “They are often strategising, managing complex tasks and forming and managing teams”. Video games are becoming increasingly social, as they encourage players to work together.
Through online capabilities, video games connect gamers through multiplayer interfaces so that they can interact and cooperate in social settings. These types of games are especially useful for young people who are just beginning to develop their social skills. There are also plenty of offline games that encourage social interaction, as many console titles offer cooperative play.
The study found that the benefits of playing video games extend far beyond encouraging players to be more social. The researchers found that 85% of gamers state that video games reduce stress while 83% state that the games the play are educational. As such, video games off an all-around stimulating experience for players.
Even older gamers experience the game benefits, as 78% of respondents who extolled the benefits of gaming were over the 18. It is great to see that video games are being shone in a positive light, especially as controversy developers in the gaming market.
South Australia’s recently campaign, which claims that ‘gaming leads to gambling’, is giving video games a bad name – and it is important that more attention is given to the positive aspects of playing video games.
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