You are familiar with the popular scenario wherein parents reprimand and command their kids during the wee hours to stop playing the video game they have been playing all day for it’s time to sleep. Or, parents asking their youngsters to pause the game for a while because it is time to eat.
In these parents’ positions, controlling their children’s “love for gaming ” is problematic. Gaming nowadays is changing how people live their lives. In fact, according to ExpressVPN’s study, the age group that spends more time gaming than other groups is millennials or those currently in their late 20s to early 40s. It is not the Gen Z individuals, as you may have guessed.
The study, which collated responses from 1,000 professed gamers in the United States and the United Kingdom, showed that millennials are more likely to play video games for extended periods. This age group also tends to have a stronger emotional connection to this addictive activity, with many respondents saying gaming is a form of stress relief and social harmony.
Thus, we can say that gaming is an addictive activity. And science has an explanation as to why.
Gaming can activate a person’s dopamine in their brain. Dopamine is touted as the “feel-good hormone” associated with pleasure. Simply put, because gaming feels good, gamers play more to keep feeling good. Plus, gaming also stimulates the behavior reward system of the brain. When players progress and earn rewards in the game, they are encouraged to keep going.
Those are the scientific reasons why gaming is addictive. This time, let’s find out other reasons why.
Many Games Have No Pre-Defined Ends
Sometimes, the reason why gaming is very addictive lies in the nature of the game itself. Many games, such as, for instance, massively multiplayer online role-playing games or MMORPGs, offer no concept of “game over.” There is no point in the game a player can say, “I’m done. I’ve completed every quest, and there’s nothing new to discover.” Many games will often provide more things for the gamer to discover.
They Feed A Need Of Creating Social Connections
Today’s gamers have changed a lot from the time of retro games like “Super Mario Bros.” and “Pac-Man,” among many others. Several games today allow players to interact with others, which feeds the need for interpersonal connections. Worse, they come at the expense of relationships in the real world.
The Game’s Reward System
Starting out in the game, players begin with fundamental attributes concerning experiences, powers, abilities, and the like. But, as they continue to play and reach new levels, they earn rewards, encouraging them to keep playing.
Games Encourage Collaboration With Other Gamers Worldwide
This is especially true with games categorized as multiplayer. The fact that two gamers from distant parts of the world can interact in real-time adds to the addictive nature of these video games.
Players Can Make ‘Money’ Playing Games
Several video games today already incorporate a form of in-game currency. The same emotions and goals associated with pursuing wealth in the real world are likewise present in these games. The more wealth gamers accumulate – the more power, control, influence, and so much more they can gain.
Rewards In Games Are Set On Variable Schedules
Let’s bring it back to the rewards systems of these games. Many of these games give players rewards, for instance, after completing every five tasks. Sometimes, it only takes one complete task to receive a reward. Also, at times, the player never really knows when the bigger reward will arrive, but they know that if they play long enough, their efforts will be repaid.
Some Games Require Teamwork To Advance
Initially, certain games will have players advancing to the next level as they accomplish missions by themselves. However, many of these games have it that teamwork or playing with others is necessary to complete a level as the gamer plays more. Because of this, they make sure to contribute to what the team needs and play well. This also adds to these games’ addictive nature because players make sure to get online at the same time their teammates are online.
The Addictive Nature Of These Games Continues To Be Present Even If The Player Is Not Online
Several gamers yearn to get back online as soon as possible after they went offline. They fear being “left behind” after returning to the game late.
Game Developers Regularly Release Updates
Just like how Apple smartphones update their systems, game developers occasionally launch updates and expansion packs for their players to enjoy. So, there’s always something new to experience, whether these are new characters, new abilities, and more.
Some Games Reward Players In The Real World
You know that games offer players rewards in-game, but certain video games reward players in the real world by combining their winnings into cash. This encourages players to keep playing, so they can earn more.
Many Video Games Do Not Reward Short Play Periods
Many games reward players who play the game for more extended periods rather than short and unscheduled play periods. Because of this system for rewarding, gamers have no choice but to spend more time playing their favorite games.
They Offer A Way For Players To Get Another Life In The Virtual World
Moreover, certain games, such as “The Sims,” offer a chance for the player to live an entirely new life virtually, aside from their life in the real world. They can also create their own character and provide it with attributes they wish they had in the real world. Then, they can play with their “virtual life,” with games allowing them to form relationships, develop a career, and more. Isn’t it fantastic if you can build a mansion in-game that you yearn for in the real world?
They Generate The Strongest Of Emotions
Video games can generate strong emotions among players. And the diversity and intensity of these emotions gamers experience online can be similar to what they feel in the real world.
According to statistics published on the website Exploding Topics, there are roughly three billion
people worldwide who are active gamers. Gaming is an entirely new world already nowadays. Plus, many game developers are also now introducing features that further enhance players’ gaming experience, such as virtual reality.
And beyond these, gaming proponents even argue that gaming can provide a massive array of health benefits, such as stimulating the brain, helping relieve stress, helping combat loneliness, and so much more. However, we mustn’t miss the fact that gaming can be addictive. This has been proven scientifically. If you are a parent with children who are heavy gamers, instilling the proper discipline is very vital. Among gamers, remember that responsible gaming must be a practice.