A lot of people play video games these days. You can look at people of many and different ages, religions, backgrounds, race, and economic scale. New apps and video games are being created each and every day. This generation meaning millennials and Gen Z are all about new advances and technology. A popular video game that is classified as violent is Call of Duty. The games involve weapon like guns, bombs and the characters are dressed as if they are ready for war. It’s a first-person shooter game developed by Infinity Ward and was released in 2003 for Microsoft Windows. It reminds you of a World War II game with a modern flair. The game gives you missions and help you learn how to react to situational changes while playing. The game has advanced over the years and is now a more squad-based play versus playing as one person. It also has expanded from Microsoft to Xbox and PlayStation. The game teaches you how to shoot and as you get to a higher level you can play victory royal and that is when you play online and kill other people characters and the last team standing wins. Many may think that this is a negative outlook and that these things shouldn’t be in video games however violent video games has its benefits.
Video games help with building team work. You can accomplish more as unit or a team. Team members come with a different set of skills and knowledge then you learn from one another. Speed also comes with working together in most cases. I believe as you get older in the workplace most companies and jobs look for a team player. Who knew that through playing a video game you were learning life skills. It also helps with teamwork by instilling in their brains that to win, there is a need to have a team. Which shows that when playing violent video games, you usually work in teams even if it’s just the computer playing with you, you and the computer work together. Have you ever had an imaginary friend? When playing the game with the computer its like you have a friend and usually creates a better outcome. When you form a team, you have a new support system who is encouraging, supportive, working toward same common goal and bonds are created. I have played online with my PlayStation before suddenly, a new person joins and before you know it we are talking, working together, and winning.
Violent video games increase your tolerance to pain by up to 65% per the Daily Mail published September 7, 2012. There was a study done at Keele University in England where 40 volunteers were able to stomach pain 65% longer after playing violent first-person shooter games. Does this make your mind stronger towards what pain really is and the length? The study was done where after playing a violent and nonviolent game places the ice in hands over a period of time. Those who had played the violent video games had increase heart rate and tolerance which can be attributed to the body’s natural fight response to stress and reducing brain sensitivity to pain. Playing video games may be a great way to cope with pain for a short-term solution. Pain researchers have even thought of using virtual reality as a way of helping people better deal with pain.
Video games help with problem solving per the American Psychological Association and Brown University. A 2013 meta-analysis found that playing shooter video games improved a player’s capacity to think about objects in three dimensions, just as well as academic courses to enhance these same skills, according to the study. Imagine having a strengthen range of cognitive skills such as spatial navigation, reasoning, memory and perception. Simply games such as Angry Birds can even improve mood, relations and ward off anxiety. Finding a solution to difficult and complex issues will occur often in life. You will encounter unpleasant people and situations and being able to think, process, and consider the best course of action can be because you used this skill on a video game you have learned. You won’t shoot a person, but you may hide, think of the story line, or simply think of how you can become the winner in situation.
Video games biggest factor is that it relieves stress. A lot of adults relieve stress by exercising, lighting candles, rooms sprays or favorite fragrance, chewing gum, writing, taking a bath, getting a massage, laughing, spending time with family and friends, sleeping, take supplements, listen to music but for a young person a game may do that same trick. Human factors/ergonomics researchers found that video games can help restore mood in response to workplace stress. Therefore, it has been proven its good to let out all your stress and anger on video games because by doing so you will feel relieved and won’t hurt or harm anybody in real life. Stress can cause health problems, low energy, headaches, upset stomach, chest pain, insomnia, irritability, and many more things. They say the longer you are stressed the harder it is for your body to fight certain diseases and infections. Stress has can throw your hormones off and high levels of cortisol can wear down the Brains ability to function properly. Ever heard the term stress kills? Stress can even kill brain cells and reduce the size of the brain responsible for memory and learning.
Playing video games excessively can lead to obesity and being overweight due to the fact you aren’t getting enough exercise. It’s hard to get enough active play and exercise if you’re always inside playing video games. Without enough exercise, kids can become overweight. Also, video games can make you lose friendships and relationship by being on your video game excessively you can lose contact with friends, family, and your significant others. They can start thinking they come second to the game and that they aren’t as important.
In conclusion violent video games are good and better than most people may think. They can benefit you by relieving stress, letting out anger, problem solving, and lastly help build teamwork. All of those give you good reason why they are better than the downside of becoming overweight by being on the game excessively and also losing friends or relationships. With all the benefits it brings I think it’s worth it to play a violent video game or two.
