Video Games are Changing have been around since the 1950s, and they’ve come a long way since then, with innovations in graphics, gameplay, user interface, and more, leading to increasingly immersive gaming experiences.
Games and regulation have changed drastically, but what’s the point of all this? Video games are mainly entertainment – what value could they possibly have beyond that? And how can it even be possible to change the world with them? This post explores why video games can change the world and how they already have.
When you consider the ways that games are saving lives, connecting people from all over the world, and making it easier to learn new skills, it’s clear to see that Video Games are Changing the world and have had a significant impact on the way we think.
The History of Gaming
Playing games isn’t anything new. Humans have been doing it for a long time, and games can be found throughout our history. The oldest example of a game is Senet, an Egyptian board game that is more than 4,000 years old.
From there, video games evolved and became more interactive as time passed. What was once just flashing lights on blackboards eventually turned into something much more involved – and really fun! Not only that, but much more recent advances such as AI and VR have had strong influences on other sectors, too. Let’s take a look.
Virtual Reality Will Change Everything
If you have followed VR closely in recent years, you’ve probably seen some jaw-dropping examples of what virtual reality (VR) technology can do. From immersive educational experiences to awe-inspiring works of art, designers and developers are exploring ways that VR can affect our lives.
But as impressive as these current uses for VR may be, it is easy to become hyperbolic about its promise. The fact is that we have only just begun to understand what a tool like virtual reality can do for us.
Nowhere is that more apparent than at Sundance Film Festival 2017, where filmmakers experimented with emerging technologies such as 360-degree video and virtual reality – tools they believe will change storytelling forever.
So, it’s reasonable to assume that media in general, and not just video games, will be influenced by advances in VR technology.
The World of Esports
Esports is a rapidly growing form of competition that’s attracting spectators from all walks of life. In 2020, more than 439 million people watched video game tournaments online and on TV, and that’s not including those who attended in-person events.
The industry itself is now thought to be worth around $1bn, and it has room to grow. Since esports is an amalgamation of different games, its popularity hinges upon which titles get traction among players and fans. As companies continue to invest in popular franchises like Call of Duty and Overwatch, they’re also looking at ways to enhance fan engagement and improve player experience.
So what do these advances mean for esports? Which video games will be most likely to generate tournament excitement? How will advancing technologies affect how we watch competitions? And how can brands capitalize on all of these developments to connect with audiences around gaming culture? Only time will tell.
Gaming and Education
You’ve probably heard about how video games are keeping us sedentary and causing our youth to fail at school. However, video games are also changing education for the better!
The educational benefits of gaming in schools and other educational settings have, in fact, been well-documented: playing games can improve things like critical thinking, memory, and even manual dexterity. It’s been found that when pre-kindergarteners learn through video games, they’re more enthusiastic about schoolwork afterward. And with companies like Microsoft offering K-12 licenses for Windows 10 at no cost, education can look a lot more fun and interesting to students than it used to.
A huge part of education revolves around students learning how to use technology effectively. Not only does playing video games improve skills like critical thinking, but it also helps students become more familiar with digital devices, so they can apply those same concepts in real-world settings.
AI in Gaming and Beyond
Artificial intelligence in video games is real, and it’s here to stay. These aren’t only for fun but can be used in practical ways. Many sectors are beginning to use AI technology, like video games, to make their processes more efficient.
However, the healthcare industry is also taking note – virtual patients have been created to help medical students learn in a safe environment, preventing them from inadvertently harming real patients when they are training. This also allows future doctors to practice diagnosing various conditions to help expand their knowledge and skills – it’s not always possible to find patients who are willing to let trainees work on them.
AI also allows us to have a better understanding of data and how machines think so we can adjust our technologies accordingly – making us smarter about big data as well as how we think about others’ thinking too.
In Summary
Do you remember when video games were a fun way to pass the time, but not much else? Well, things have changed a lot since then. Today’s games help promote positive social change and even improve cognition. And that’s just scratching the surface of how games are changing our world for good.
