Rion C

Why Games?

By: Rion Chong

It has been said that gaming is bad for you. However, gamers actually have better vision, more flexible brains, and less depression!

A 2009 study involved having a group of experienced first-person shooter gamers play Call of Duty and Unreal Tournament 2004 while other gamers played slow games like The Sims 2. When tested, those who played the first-person shooters showed signs of having better vision than the others. Daphne Bavelier, the leader of the study, discovered that playing action games improves an ability called contrast sensitivity function. This ability helps us notice changes in shades of gray against a colored backdrop, which is very beneficial while driving at night. (“Why Video Games Can Be Good For You”).

Over 165 teenagers (average age of 16) who showed signs of depression, participated in a study. Half of the group underwent traditional counseling, while the other half got to play a video game called SPARX. The group that played SPARX showed a higher decrease in depression than the group that received counseling. (“10 Reasons Why Video Games Are Good For Your Health!”)

Video games can also heighten brain versatility. This is because games require continuous thinking and involvement. You learn while you play. You have to figure things out while you play. Games offer a changing environment so your brain must evolve with the changes. These attributes train your brain to learn better! Therefore, gamers are more likely to use these learning skills in real life circumstances like in school or at work (“10 Reasons Why Video Games Are Good For Your Health!”).

Some may say that gaming is bad for you if play too long. However, it all depends how frequently you do it, and what kind of games you play.

Gaming has many health benefits such as better vision, more flexible brains, and less depression.