On the other hand, people do need to relax somehow, and video games are a good way of doing that. The fact that they’re a timesink isn’t necessarily a problem. Most people need an enjoyable timesink or two to function properly.
On the other hand, people do need to relax somehow, and video games are a good way of doing that.
Citation needed. Beware superstimuli!
I guess there might be considerable variation between people and games, but I personally don’t actually relax through games, even though I thought I did. I paid attention to my happiness, level of concentration and general focus over the last two years and tracked them while playing games, and I found that games feel like they relax me, but they actually drain me. Especially my mood goes way down afterwards and needs at least as long as I played to recover, regardless of game played.
The only exception to that, I suspect, are purely creative / exploration-based games like Minecraft or puzzle games.
I do agree that many games end up being more tiring than relaxing, but there are also many that don’t. In my experience, games involving monotonous grinding make a game more tiring, while strong story elements or just the right level of challenge (not too easy, not too frustrating) are relaxing.
I view a good story-based game essentially as a form of storytelling, no different from reading a good book or watching a good movie. (I take it you don’t require a cite for the claim that those are relaxing?) With the capacity to blend movie-like visuals and unmatched immersion, games have the potential to be the ultimate form of storytelling, better than any movie or book.
On the other hand, people do need to relax somehow, and video games are a good way of doing that. The fact that they’re a timesink isn’t necessarily a problem. Most people need an enjoyable timesink or two to function properly.
Citation needed. Beware superstimuli!
I guess there might be considerable variation between people and games, but I personally don’t actually relax through games, even though I thought I did. I paid attention to my happiness, level of concentration and general focus over the last two years and tracked them while playing games, and I found that games feel like they relax me, but they actually drain me. Especially my mood goes way down afterwards and needs at least as long as I played to recover, regardless of game played.
The only exception to that, I suspect, are purely creative / exploration-based games like Minecraft or puzzle games.
I do agree that many games end up being more tiring than relaxing, but there are also many that don’t. In my experience, games involving monotonous grinding make a game more tiring, while strong story elements or just the right level of challenge (not too easy, not too frustrating) are relaxing.
I view a good story-based game essentially as a form of storytelling, no different from reading a good book or watching a good movie. (I take it you don’t require a cite for the claim that those are relaxing?) With the capacity to blend movie-like visuals and unmatched immersion, games have the potential to be the ultimate form of storytelling, better than any movie or book.