We live in an increasingly digital age. We use technology to improve our working practices to increase efficiency and productivity. We use technology in our homes to make once cumbersome tasks easier to complete and at a quicker pace. It is no surprise then, that we use technology for the benefit of our entertainment, whether it’s our digital televisions or blue tooth sound systems. There are very few homes across the land that do not use digital technologies for entertainment.
There are very few homes of teenagers that have not been the site for numerous discussions about the amount of time the kids spend on their gaming devices, but over the years as games have evolved, this online form of entertainment now crosses the generations. Whereas previously playing games was deemed as being bad for you, the genre has moved on and can no longer be categorized; after all, we all need entertaining.
So, why do so many people now play games online?
The Sport
With the rise of free baseball simulation games and other fantasy sports, people are now spending on average up to 3 hours a week managing their teams. It offers sports lovers the opportunity to be involved with their favorite sport without the need to spend money going to real life games: it mixes spectating with participating.
People love sport, but often they are unable to participate in games like they used to, either because of a reduction of physical fitness, or due to time constraints within the working week, or because going to watch sporting events costs money. By participating in online games, people can virtually play the sport at a convenient time from the comfort of their own home. Players of virtual sports have been found to watch more games on television, read more related newspaper articles and buy more team merchandise – the impact on real life is real!
The Camaraderie
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People love playing sports together and against each other. There is a real sense of community amongst gamers with tips and hints being shared to help other players overcome the challenges of the game. There are multitudes of forums devoted to gamers helping each other defeat the game, and offering a space of reflection for failed strategies or even celebration. It is a social environment that goes beyond any social boundaries that exist in the real world.
The Life Skills
People love using their life skills to succeed. Is there any other environment where people can display how adept they are without any external pressure to do so? There’s only personal gain from their ability to be organized, make choices, prioritize, feel empathy, and on a good day, show mercy. There are no real life affecting consequence to making mistakes, only knowledge to be gained to play better next time.
The Emotions
People love the emotions created by games. There is nothing better than feeling happy; it’s a state that we all try to work towards, whether it’s the happiness achieved by winning, or the happiness gained through healthy competition. Overall, gaming makes the players happy. Games provide a route for escapism from the responsibilities and hum drum of real life.
