New PC and video games can not only bring fun and excitement to everyone, but they can also provide certain benefits and advantages.
With the help of advanced technology and popularity, the game industry has progressed and expanded rapidly over the years.
When looking at video game categorization, they are roughly divided into eight main categories:
Action
These are fast and can therefore contain a large amount of violence. Action games are usually not suitable for children. Such games fall under the “M” (adult rating) category. Examples include Halo, Star Wars, Jedi Knight, and Enter the Matrix.
Adventure and role play
These are normally not as graphic as action games and can transport the player into surrealism and fantasy. While adventure and role-playing games often contain violence, it is not as intense as action games. Examples of this category are Borderlands 2, Final Fantasy, Legend of Mana, and Billy Hatcher.
First Person Shooters
As the name implies, it is a game where the player sees the action through the eyes of the character he represents and where pistols or rifles are used to kill the enemy. Due to the violence involved in this genre of games, they are not suitable for young children. Examples of these games are “Half-Life,” “Half-Life 2,” “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare,” and so on.
Construction and Management Simulation (CMS)
As the name suggests, in the games belonging to this genre, the players are expected to build, expand and manage imaginary projects and communities with very few resources. Examples of this genre are “SimCity” and “Harvest Moon.”
Strategy
Here the emphasis is more on strategy than violence, and these games are slower, which gives the player time for strategic thinking, resource management, and planning to achieve victory. Most are based on warfare, so violence is not absent. These games are not suitable for children. Examples include Advanced Wars I & II, Civilization V, and Crusader Kings II.
Simulation
These are video or computer games that simulate real-world situations under game settings. The three well-known games are Racing Simulators, Flight Simulators, and Sims. There are many games in this class to entertain children. Some examples of simulation games are Football Manager, Farming Simulator 2013, The Sims, and Evil Genius.
platform game
The platform game consists of jumping between suspended platforms of different heights or obstacles and sometimes both to progress in the game. Examples are 40 Winks, Abuse, Action 52, and Adventure Island.
PUZZLES
Puzzle video games are a class of games that require solving puzzles. The puzzles can include many problem-solving skills, such as using logic, solving word completions, strategy, and pattern recognition. Puzzle Video Games are Mario, Bejeweled 3, Cradle of Rome 2, and Hidden Objects.
Let’s talk about this topic; let’s not forget sports games like NHL 13 and FIFA Soccer 13 and Arcade games like Chicken Shoot 1, Toy Story Mania, and Angry Birds, to name a few.
Today, video games are enjoyed by a wide cross-section of our society, from toddlers to grandparents. They are accepted by all as a good form of entertainment and considered better than watching TV as it requires the viewer’s participation and interaction.
The general feeling is that video games do not benefit the player and certainly not in the case of children.
Contrary to this belief, there are many benefits to allowing children to play certain types of games. Chief among these benefits is the development of:
Cognitive Thinking Skills
· Fine motor skills
· Real-time decision-making capabilities
· Hand-eye coordination
· Cooperative play skills
Keeping video games out of the reach of children can only deprive them of these benefits.
A child’s imagination can be stimulated through role-playing and adventure games. Even if some of these games seem tacky due to the graphical nature and violence, they can play a positive and important role in a child’s development by promoting teamwork, building confidence, and improving motor skills. Playing such video games only gives a child a healthy way of expressing himself.
Certain video games are believed to teach children high-level thinking skills that would benefit them in the future.
Now that we’ve looked at the benefits for kids let’s look at the benefits of video games for the rest of us.
Research on the pros and cons of video games is conducted by various agencies, including universities in some parts of the world. As a result, the pros outweigh the cons in terms of benefits.
When you play video games, you need to react quickly and make split-second decisions to succeed in the given task. It is believed that this type of exercise would bring benefits in real life, where you could react quickly and make quick decisions.
Brain scientists have found that a particular driving video game created by a research and development team at the University of California at San Francisco could improve older adults’ short-term memory and long-term focus.
It turned out that immersion in a game distracts the mind from pain and discomfort. For this reason, some hospitals have begun to suggest that children and others undergoing painful treatments play games to reduce their anxiety and fear.
Some video games have improved “cognitive flexibility,” the ability to quickly switch from one task to another.
Researchers at North Carolina State University found a link between playing video games and the mental well-being of older people. They found that those citizens who played video games, even occasionally, experienced a state of well-being and happiness.
Gaming can also improve family relationships as some of these games can and should be played together.
According to some studies at the University of Rochester, people who play certain video game titles have shown improvements in tests in the following areas:
• Multitasking
• Attention
• Accuracy
• Vision
The only thing a video game player or their family has to take care of is that it does not become addictive in any way. A video game player should ultimately not spend hours playing and losing track of time and place, neglecting tasks, personal duties, and responsibilities.
Another thing that the parents of minors need to ensure is that their children only get access to educational or similar games appropriate for their age group. The good news is that there is a huge selection of games available suitable for all ages.