Gaming has always been an integral part of my life. From crafting my sense of belonging, to general day to day entertainment. For as long as I have been able to grip a controller with my tiny hands, I have loved the thrill of a video game kill.
Throughout my journey in gaming I have encountered the good, the bad, and the ugly. From moments of pure elation, to downright heartbreak. From being accepted in to a highly esteemed ‘clan’, to having the police almost break down the door on my apartment. No kidding!
It was a tranquil Sunday morning. My best friend and I had just moved in to a new apartment, we’d also just got our hands on the brand new FIFA 17. During an overenthusiastic battle, in full expression of our excitement for the game, things got out of hand. There was a bit screaming and a lot of jumping around, and the next thing we knew we had the police banging at our door. That’s when I thought I should probably ease up on the video games.
I didn’t.
Why? My journey, like many others, started as a young child with the influence of my older brother. He and my cousin were avid gamers, spending hours of their precious childhood chained to a computer indoors rather than out and about climbing trees in the sunshine. World of Warcraft was the most popular game at the time, an extremely addictive online role-playing video game in which a large number of people participate simultaneously. This game captured my adventurous soul and bound it to a screen for the rest of my childhood. Gaming only got more serious for me from there, and before I knew it I was spending eight hours a day behind a computer screen.
Today, while I value real-time adventure and experiences over a video game, I still have a deep sentimental feeling when it comes to gaming. It’s a unique emotion, and I think that is because it’s one of the last direct ties to my childhood. There is something special about having avatars in a fake world that still exist from when you created them as a child. Think of it as an interactive relic of the inner child, able to walk around and be the hero in their very own movie. Seductive by any standard.
Gaming has undoubtedly advanced since I was eight years old, and being able to have a gaming experience through virtual reality is something that scares me. At what point do individuals that love gaming separate reality from virtual reality? More importantly, what about the kids that are going to grow up with constant exposure to this very real experience? While I can separate my artificial video game experiences as a child with real authentic memories, will the children of the future have that privilege? And how will this affect the way they view and cope with the real world moving forward?
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I know I’ve made sacrifices in my life to cater for gaming, and while it concerns me in a way, I realise that video games have been beneficial to me in many ways also. I have used gaming as a stress relief mechanism, a friend-making tool, and even as way to boost my ego, believe it or not.
While there is proof of the adverse effects of video games, there’s also concrete evidence through studies of the many benefits. Gaming can improve your memory, problem-solving ability, attention to detail and even your coordination. Not to mention confidence.
The benefits don’t only come at a cognitive level for some, as e-sport gamers are taking home serious cash. The total prize money of 2017 in e-sport competitions totalled a whopping  $93,505,160 USD.
Not bad for a bunch of nerds eh?
My life behind the screen has been full of ups and downs, but altogether I am grateful for the experience. I am however sceptical about the future of the world of gaming, and I think every parent should have an eye on the latest trends to keep their kids from going down the wrong path. For now I’ll keep on playing old-school, and hopefully I don’t hear those cops come knocking anytime soon.
What are your thoughts on gaming, VR Gaming and the future of our child’s play?
