Blog #8
I play video games a lot in my free time, and have several different opinions on the subject. Most recently, I for one have reconnected with friends who live hours away from me. Just as it seemed like our friendship may have run it's course, I got a PlayStation 4 with a microphone, and due to it's online capabilities we were not only able to talk to each other through our microphones, but we were also able to play games together, completing revitalizing our relationship, and we still play together and catch up on each other's lives in that way almost weekly. Not only have I maintained old relationships, but I've also met new friends playing games online. Another positive of gaming for me has been able to immerse myself into things that interest. I for instance, am a huge Star Wars fan, and there are new Star Wars games coming out almost monthly, giving me a chance to put myself into the Star Wars universe, and feel like I'm really apart of it. This also translates into realistic sports games for me, such as the Madden football franchise, and the NBA2K basketball franchise. As far as negatives go, video games have wasted a lot of my time in the past, present, and likely future, I will begin playing and before I know it, it's been 4 hours. I also sometimes ignore my relationships in the present, as I'm giving so much time to my "online" friends, which tends to remove me from reality at times. Also, when I spend several hours playing video games, I tend to be in a bad, short-tempered mood for the remainder of the day. As far as physical problems go, video games can lead to a sedentary lifestyle if you're not careful, and can attribute to weight gain, headaches, spine and eye problems, as well as a myriad of other things.
Over the years, video games have evolved from a fun hobby, to a full on career for those who devote enough of their time to it. Console gaming has long ruled the industry, but industry gaming was supreme for awhile, as the arcade used to be the place to go for children, teens, and even some adults alike from the 70's-90's. Recently there has been a spike in computer gaming, as popular games are even more accessible through a computer system. Console's rule the industry because of their simplicity, cost, and vastness of games. When people realized they didn't have to leave the comfort of their home to have access to great games, it started a new era in gaming that still goes on to this day. It's not only an enjoyable individual experience, but also a social phenomenon, as whichever friend who has the newest games and nicest setup, is often the home where people like to hang out. When consoles made the foray into hands-free motion controllers, it opened up the possibility for people to game who never could before. The Wii was one of the first, and by far the most successful of it's kind, as it involved almost no buttons in most games, and simply required a simple flick of the wrist, you could have an 80 year old playing a game with a 6 year old. Two groups that had trouble with other gaming systems due to the difficulty of the controls, and the intense memorization needed to completely play traditional gaming systems. People have also attributed violent behavior (chiefly school shootings) to the unheralded success of violent video game franchises such as Call of Duty, but a lot of those claims have since been debunked, as most outbursts are related more to mental health disorders than an interest in violent video games, and the games are often a byproduct of the deeper seeded issues, not the catalyst.
Over the years, video games have evolved from a fun hobby, to a full on career for those who devote enough of their time to it. Console gaming has long ruled the industry, but industry gaming was supreme for awhile, as the arcade used to be the place to go for children, teens, and even some adults alike from the 70's-90's. Recently there has been a spike in computer gaming, as popular games are even more accessible through a computer system. Console's rule the industry because of their simplicity, cost, and vastness of games. When people realized they didn't have to leave the comfort of their home to have access to great games, it started a new era in gaming that still goes on to this day. It's not only an enjoyable individual experience, but also a social phenomenon, as whichever friend who has the newest games and nicest setup, is often the home where people like to hang out. When consoles made the foray into hands-free motion controllers, it opened up the possibility for people to game who never could before. The Wii was one of the first, and by far the most successful of it's kind, as it involved almost no buttons in most games, and simply required a simple flick of the wrist, you could have an 80 year old playing a game with a 6 year old. Two groups that had trouble with other gaming systems due to the difficulty of the controls, and the intense memorization needed to completely play traditional gaming systems. People have also attributed violent behavior (chiefly school shootings) to the unheralded success of violent video game franchises such as Call of Duty, but a lot of those claims have since been debunked, as most outbursts are related more to mental health disorders than an interest in violent video games, and the games are often a byproduct of the deeper seeded issues, not the catalyst.
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