In "Why We Play", we see a lot of benefits and reasons why we play video games. In the Jane McGonigal Ted Talk, she also talked about some health benefits for playing video games. They do have a few overlaps that I will discuss.
First, in "Why We Play" starting on page 56, the author talks about how playing video games can reduce stress in our lives. It talks about how playing video games make us feel safe because we can explore a whole different world with new experiences, and we don't have to worry about that negatively effecting our actual lives. In Jane McGonigal's Ted Talk, she talks about how people with depression and other disorders often feel like there is nothing they can do to help themselves, but when they play video games, it can make them happy. Jane talks about how it will help them not suffer during their pain.
Second, in "Why We Play", on page 58, the author talks about how video games can help keep social contact between people. Video games have always had some type of social aspect, whether you are playing against another person, playing on the same side with someone, or even just having something mutual to talk about with people if they play the same games. In Jane McGonigal's Ted Talk, she talks about how important our social contact is for living longer. She talks about how games definitely help us stay connected with friends and family. She also talks about how games can help us not have the regret of not spending enough time with people you love, when you're reflecting your life in your final years.
I completely agree with your post. As a gamer myself, I find that being able to submerse myself in another reality that it does help relieve a lot of my stress. It is a way of becoming something more than what you perceive yourself to be making it far easier to express your stress to those you meet in the game almost because they are doing the same. To some extent.
ReplyDelete