The Bad

Video games are often depicted as harmful and manipulative. The bad rep comes from the country’s problem of mass shootings, depression, and poor mental health. Countries such as Venezuela banned the sales and distribution of video games all together due to a large amount of violence across the country, and others banned games that promote violence and/or nudity. What if that isn’t the case? That there is truly a lighter and productive side to video games.

The Good

Video games have brought family and friends together for decades. From the late nights of playing Pong, screen watching on 007 GoldenEye while playing split screen, to conquering difficult raids on World of Warcraft with friends online. The world of video games have brought people together for the better.  

The Competitive

As the world of online gaming continues to expand, many gamers become more competitive. Esports makes up the competitive side of online gaming. Gamers compete for cash prizes and sponsorships from some of the top rated gaming companies. Some of the games that make up the competition are: Fortnite, Call of Duty, League of Legends, and Overwatch. But who watches Esports? Lots of people! In 2017 League of Legends World Championship drew more than 80 million viewers, making it one of the most popular eSports competitions ever. Esports has really taken off. Many high schools across the nation have allowed Esports teams to compete against each other. Esports will continue to grow as an industry and past time. 

The Escape

Let’s not forget video games are a great way to pass time. Taking breaks in between school work or life in general is a great escape for a couple of hours. Sure everyone has heard of others rage quitting and throwing controllers at the tv, but there are a plethora of other games that don’t raise your blood pressure and cause you to lose it when you get quick scoped on Call of Duty. Games such as; Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Sims, Minecraft, Sea of Thieves, and Rocket League are some of the best games to play and pass time. 

For Education

Games are also used for educational purposes. Kids get engaged in academics while having fun. Video games help with hand eye coordination, and with games like Minecraft, it expands their imagination while figuring out what materials they need to scour for to build their creation. 

The Wrap-up

Sure video games get a bad rep because people don’t see the other side of it. They’d rather hear and see what the media tells them. Look at the majority of people. A new study finds that four out of five American households own a device used to play video games, and more than 150 million Americans play video games, according to new research by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). Video games are becoming a household item in this day and age, and to say it causes violence should be looked at on a case by case basis.