Slowly but surely, gaming activities, from playing video games on consoles and PCs to gambling on platforms like SyndicateCasino, have become a dominant social force. This is primarily possible because of how interconnected the modern world is, owing to internet penetration and widespread access to gaming devices like PCs, consoles, and even mobile devices.
Initially, most people considered video gaming a mindless pastime whose avid participants were looked upon as social misfits. Enthusiasts of this entertainment were often looked upon as individuals who usually isolate themselves and obsessively engage in the activity as an escape from social interactions with peers. Gambling, on the other hand, had for long been considered a vice thence restrictive regulation and thus thrived in the illegal markets.
However, these attitudes have changed over the past couple of years, especially thanks to the dawn of IoT. Now, gamers are no longer considered antisocial individuals who spend hours on end in dark basements, and through better regulation, gambling has evolved into a well-appreciated activity by many jurisdictions globally. In fact, data has shown that gaming is a vital tool that has been proven to improve the social well-being of participants while also growing their interpersonal skills. How so? Read on to discover how modern gaming is bringing social benefits that are transforming participants into more well-rounded beings.
The Social Aspect of Gaming
Modern games have shifted from one-person experiences to multiplayer systems that unite global participants. As a result, through online games, players can connect with fellow gamers to work together or go head-to-head for top positions on leaderboards. This social interaction between players creates valuable relationships as it develops participants in the following key ways:
Teamwork and Collaboration
To reach their shared objectives, players in online multiplayer games are required to perform tasks together with their teammates. Battle royales, co-op titles, role-playing games (RPGs), and massively multiplayer online games are excellent types of video games that present such opportunities to players. Thus, through such collaboration, gaming creates essential opportunities for developing critical skills, including problem-solving, playing well with others, and leadership abilities.
Enhancing Communication Skills
Multiplayer games require effective communication between players to function correctly. Players need to deliver their information in a way that speeds up coordination and improves tactical understanding. As a result, through constant gameplay, players develop better verbal and nonverbal communication abilities in the heat of action. Participants will, in turn, gain stronger self-expression and more effective interpersonal understanding.
Building Friendships and Social Networks
It is super easy for people to connect with various players through gaming, and these interactions can grow into real-world friendships. Players could end up fostering lifelong bonds with their teammates and other gamers. These interactions often evolve from the virtual screen to real-life friendships and become actual social networks.
For instance, gamers often have meetups and conferences where they can get together in person to share more life experiences. This way, players can bring their mutual interests into the real world to grow their camaraderie. Additionally, through the forums, players have the opportunity to connect with people of different cultures and ethnicities, thus broadening their social horizons. Some of the most popular symposiums in the gaming world include:
- Gamescon;
- E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo);
- Comic Con;
- EGX;
- BitSummit;
- MAGFest;
- DreamHack.
The Dawn of Esports & How It Changed Gaming
Competitive video gaming, better known as esports, has pushed the social component of this activity to new heights. The tournaments that professional gamers and teams participate in attract millions of viewers from across the world, a feat that no one initially thought was impossible.
The emergence of competitive gaming has established both entertainment opportunities and shared bonds between video game players and their supporters. This incredible revolution of esports has elevated the social element of playing video games among friends of the same neighbourhood to playing with players from all corners of the globe in real-time.
Gaming as a Tool for Education
Besides entertainment, there are new educational video games that have been designed to assist users in learning specific abilities and sharpening their proficiency in different concepts. The games combine teamwork elements alongside collaborative features to produce educational experiences that students find more exciting and hands-on.
Thus, through educational gaming, players acquire academic knowledge while building their social skills. Some of the most popular video games that are currently being used for educational purposes include:
- Kerbal Space Program;
- DragonBox Series;
- Valiant Hearts: The Great War;
- Civilization VI;
- Minecraft Education.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! As you can see, gaming has a host of benefits to players beyond just entertainment. So, the next time you grab your controller or fire up your PC to play, know that you are simultaneously sharpening your interpersonal skills and building connections as you have fun. You should always appreciate the ripple effect you create from simply teaming up with a fellow player or competing for the bragging rights of being at the top of leaderboards.
