Gaming Has Cultural Value

Blogging live to you and yours! It’s your boy TWOTALL4UFOOL! Today’s post is a guest post from a writer by the name of Adam Durnham. In this post he talks about the benefit gaming has had on cultural society. It’s really interesting read and if you love video games you should definitely check it out. Enjoy and I’ll be back at the end with some final thoughts.

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Gaming is not new. Checkers, reportedly the oldest game, dates to about 5,000 years ago.
Millennia later, introducing electronics to gaming marked a significant shift in the gaming arena. Early efforts included William Higinbotham’s video game Tennis for Two in 1958. Electronic gaming exploded in the 1970s with the release of the home game Pong by Atari. Since then, the gaming world has experienced major milestones in undeniably innovative ways.
Today, the gaming culture has been deeply entrenched in our everyday lives. Whether you’re trying to reach the next level of Candy Crush on your break or you’re eagerly awaiting for the next installment of Call of Duty, there’s a good chance that you’re part of the gaming wave.
Over the years, gaming has had to contend with many claims and stereotypes. One damaging claim is that video games contribute to violence. However, various research denies that there is a link between video games and violence.
In fact, gaming provides numerous benefits to players and society as a whole. Video games can

Promote Social Interaction
Gaming encourages people to socialize. Gamers who play in live and social environments are friendly and communicative. They form strong relationships because of their common love of games. Online multiplayer experiences have created new ways of socializing where players work together to solve problems.
Studies have revealed that games are catalysts for people to interact. A study by the Pew Research Center found that 75 percent of teen gamers played online games with others and that 83 percent of gamers in this same age group competed in person with other players.

Enhance Eyesight
“Stop sitting too close to the screen!” parents would warn. They worried that sitting too close to screens would hurt the eyesight of their children. But, the opposite may be true. Researchers have discovered that playing video games in moderation improves, not harms, your vision.
Cognitive neuroscientist Daphne Bavelier explained that playing action games significantly improves the contrast sensitivity function. This measurement can determine whether people notice changes in grey shades against colored backdrops. It means that video games can improve how people’s brains process visual information.

Slow The Aging Process
People grow older. While aging comes with perks, it may create a number of problems. But, people can do things to address or even prevent such problems. To remain in tip-top condition, people need to exercise regularly. Routine exercises can help prevent disease and help them look and feel younger. In the same way, people need to keep their brains in shape.
Brain games which involve memory, puzzle, and problem-solving components have produced positive effects in older players. In one study at the University of Iowa, participants aged fifty and older showed improved cognitive functioning after playing a video game for only ten hours. Their cognitive improvements lasted for years after they played the games.

Improve Decision-making Skills
We all know people who react or retrieve information in split seconds. People can strengthen this ability through gaming. Since games introduce players to a constant influx of new information, they force players to quickly adapt.
One study showed that people who played fast-paced action games reacted more quickly and accurately in tests compared to people who played a strategy game. “Action video game players’ brains are more efficient collectors of visual and auditory information, and therefore arrive at the necessary threshold of information they need to make a decision much faster than non gamers,” according to researchers.

Produce Better Surgeons
Surgeons require years of school and work experience. Some other tools may also help them.
A study of small incision (laparoscopic) specialists revealed that surgeons who played video games for over three hours every week made thirty-seven percent fewer errors during procedures and worked more quickly compared to their non-gaming colleagues.

Boost Relationships
Although there are many ways for couples to relax and have fun together, psychologists at the University of Denver wanted to determine if gaming was one of them. Their research studied 200 couples who had been married for two years. The researchers wanted to learn the most important aspects of their relationships.
The researchers found that there was a strong correlation between good relationships and the importance of participating in exciting and fun activities together. Playing video games together was one of the fun activities couples could do to maintain a good relationship.

Conclusion
As with anything else, gaming is not perfect. It has flaws. While there are many gamers who practice healthy gaming habits, there are still gamers who develop unhealthy gaming behaviors. As a result, they experience negative emotional, social, financial, and educational consequences. The good news is, there are rehab facilities that help people recover from gaming addiction.
But, gaming has many advantages and should be treated as such. Gaming can improve your brain, eyesight, professional skills, relationships with friends, marriage, and other aspects of your life. It is also just plain fun.

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Ok folks! I hope you enjoyed that post. If you want to reach out to Adam you can email him at adam.durnham@gmail.com. Maybe he’ll be nice enough to answer any questions you may have in comments if any come about. Until next time! Blogging live to you and yours! It’s your boy TWOTALL4UFOOL! Remember that TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE! Thanks for reading folks. 2019 is looking good!

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