Can playing video games daily be beneficial? According to Jane McGonigal, author of the recently published book “Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World,” playing video games for an hour a day makes a person more successful. Video games can teach kids important lessons, influence them positively and challenge them in multiple ways.
McGonigal attacks the perception of video games as escapist and mindless forms of entertainment. She suggests that video games provoke an emotional response that helps develop better personal relationships. She also argues that video games do this far better than ordinary life. This may hold some merit because of the investment video games require from gamers in order to participate. With improved storylines and decision-making options, games are able to evoke more emotions, including pride, curiosity, optimism and “a desire to join forces with others to achieve something extraordinary.”
Most of us know how addicting some video games can be and most of us know someone who wants to play games such as Halo, World of Warcraft or Call of Duty nonstop. In addition, we have seen the emotion video games provoke in gamers in hilarious YouTube videos that show players freaking out or yelling nonstop while playing the game. Gamers can sympathize with being angry at a game or other gamers they are playing with online.
While the current perception of video games is somewhat mixed, the games have potential to be used as a medium to educate, inspire, entertain and connect with others worldwide. Video games have become the new frontier in which families and friends can connect and spend time together. Instead of dinner at the table, the new norm may be a quick game on the Wii, Playstation 3 or Xbox 360.