Why Playing Video Games Is GOOD For You

When it comes to discussing the relationship between the mind and the medium of video games, things can quickly become a quagmire of opinions, fears and of course spin. For as long as it has been possible to do so, video games have been used as a scapegoat when it comes to pointing the finger at material that affects and shapes the minds of the public in a negative fashion.

One need not look hard or indeed very far to find countless accounts of how over exposure to video games will make you lethargic, aggressive, socially distant and even exaggerate existing mental health issues, and while I will not claim to debunk each and every one of these with a sweeping statement, I do feel that this line of thinking is A, much more complex than this and is likely just a factor in a series of other environmental and social pressures, and B, that this completely overlooks the equally weighted examples of how video games can help you form healthy habits and both personally and socially.

So today let's not chastise but cherish the art form and look at the how video games can make you a better person.

If you were to take a step back and look at the current state of the world, you might notice that over the years our society has moved more and more towards a state of "instant gratification". When it comes to how we shop, eat and experience, we have so many options at our fingertips that it's possibly come at the detriment of our patience. Why wait? It's literally one click away.

And this is not a good thing. It teaches us that patience, the act of taking time over projects, is time WASTED. And yet while the media is very quick to paint video game players as rage infused people who will slam their controllers down to the ground if a game didn't go exactly right the very first time, things couldn't be further from the truth.

For many, deaths/game overs/losses are something to be overcome rather than be the source of rage quits.

And it's true, sometimes in life - hell A LOT of times in life - things won’t go your way. And you know what? To fail is ok.

Failure is an honest teacher, as what it does, is allow us to learn. It allows us to refine what we truly want out of life and offers something much more valuable in its process. Perspective.

With perspective you can approach a problem from a different manner, ask for assistance, or simply catch a moment to ask yourself if this is really the right course for you. So yes even though games like Dark Souls will crush you again and again, you'll likely end up learning a tonne about yourself and your own limitations should you persevere.