Video games and its positive, growing appeal on the global stage and daily life

Video games have started to become somewhat part of our daily lives. Early on, there were many challenges that made it difficult for it to fit in with the general public because it was a new, growing trend at that time. However, with today’s generation, there has now been widespread appreciation for this entertainment medium that a majority of people have respect for it. Thus, there are a couple of reasons as to how the medium is making its mark on the world.

Video game companies are also key players in contributing to the area of research as well, not just developing video games. A Chinese video game firm by the name of MiHoYo (who develop the popular game ‘Genshin Impact’) and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Ruijin Hospital, have both signed an agreement to working together into researching “brain-computer interface technology and its use in clinical medicine.” This is an effort to develop games for collecting data in order for doctors to make judgements to improve the mental health of patients in the future (Meiping, 2021).

With the recent COVID-19 pandemic affecting the well-being of people, video games have acted as a way for people to cope with harsh situations. A recent study showed that video games can help players’ mental health as it helps deal with their anxiety, as well as providing a means of relieving stress, refereeing games such as ‘Stardew Valley’ and most notably, ‘Animal Crossing’ (which also had a cult following few days after release). Video games offer creative opportunities and moments of escapism from the real world and give players the occasion to socialize with others through in-game communities and social groups that center on a particular game (Barr & Copeland-Stewart, 2022).

Moreover, video games are beginning to evolve the entertainment industry in the future. One instance being the rising popularity of Electronic Sports. With how much recognition Esports has, especially how it pairs well with streaming on Twitch, It is safe to say that Esports is on its way to competing with traditional sports in terms of viewership (Syracuse University, n.d). Another example is how players can also engaging a cinematic experience with gameplay involved; immersing themselves through a game’s rich story, lore and characters they can connect with, especially with George R.R Martin’s contribution on the recent release of ‘Elden Ring’ a game by FromSoftware. This goes to show that well-known writers and directors are starting to pour their talents into this art medium (Bloomberg, 2022). Adding to that creative experience is the music in video games. Youtuber 'yakkocmn' made a great video essay on the magic of music in video games, saying that it “help memorialize the experience” and how unique it is when the listener interacts with the music (yakkocmn, 2020, 6:34). It is no different than a regular hobby of a music enjoyer in general.

With that said, there is so much care that goes into video games that some people can overlook it. So it is never too late to appreciate an art medium that is ever evolving with creative yet innovative ideas.

Reference List:

Barr, M., & Copeland-Stewart, A. (2022). Playing video games during the COVID-19 pandemic and effects on players’ well-being. Games and Culture 17(1), 122-139. https://doi.org/10.1177/15554120211017036.

Bloomberg. (2022, February 23). 'Elden Ring' game written by George R R Martin lives up to the hype. The National News. https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/us-news/2022/02/23/elden-ring-game-written-by-george-r-r-martin-lives-up-to-the-hype/#:~:text=But%20after%20playing%20Elden%20Ring,fans%20are%20advised%20to%20reconsider.

Meiping, Y. (2021, March 11). Games firm to help brain science research. Shine. https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/2103115831/.

Syracuse University. (n.d). With Viewership and Revenue Booming, Esports Set to Compete with Traditional Sports. Syracuse University. Accessed March 14, 2022. https://onlinegrad.syracuse.edu/blog/esports-to-with-traditional-sports/.

Yakkocmn. (2020, December 25). Why I Spent $1,000 on Video Game Soundtracks [Video]. YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czFixxLEAwk&t=331s.