BLOG 8: THE SOCIAL WORLD OF ONLINE GAMING

Video gamers have been a large and growing part of our culture for a long time. Whether you are eagerly awaiting the next Call of Duty release or trying to beat the next level of Candy Crush on your lunch break, you are part of the gaming world.

(Deconstructor of Fun n.d)

Online multiplayer games enable the formation of lasting relationships (Science Daily 2007)

In an online poll, gamers were asked what they believed to be the main benefit of gaming, over 40% said that gaming improves emotional well-being (Anderton 2018). Social interaction between members of multiplayer communities shares similarities to interaction in face-to-face groups. Shared values and goals are the basis on which a shared understanding and a sense of community are built on (Science Daily 2007).

View the below YouTube video which points out the ways in which the pandemic elevated the gaming industry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7YnqrveqXw

The Pandemic of Animal Crossing:

The COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone’s lives in many ways, including how we choose to spend our time and deal with unprecedented circumstances (Barr & Copeland-Stewart 2022). The game Animal Crossing became a phenomenon, standing in for social interaction during lockdown – and being the virtual site of parties and weddings.

In Animal Crossing, players can visit the towns of both real-life friends or strangers who share their village code online. Users have even been able to fly on a virtual seaplane to a sibling’s village (whom they were unable to visit in real life, as a result of restrictions). Engaging in this online world became a ritual for some within the lockdowns of 2020. Some people even held their birthday parties via Animal Crossing, whilst others went on dates and some couples who cancelled their weddings because of COVID-19 even got married in the game.

The site hosts trivia nights and chat meetups for Animal Crossing players. The pandemic “really opened a lot of people’s eyes – even non-gamers – to what games can do to bring people together (Lufkin 2020). The explosive growth of gaming during the pandemic has shown that many have found a new outlet for much-need connection in isolation - #awinforthegamingindustry.

Gaming is not a perfect world, there are flaws such as gaming addiction that need to be addressed (Anderton 2018). But for the most part, it seems that gaming has a positive impact and should be treated as such.

Do you think playing video games has had a positive effect on players’ perceived well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic?

References

Anderton, K 2018, ‘The impact of gaming: a benefit to society’, Forbes, viewed 30 May 2022, <https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinanderton/2018/06/25/the-impact-of-gaming-a-benefit-to-society-infographic/?sh=6f906f6b269d>.

Barr, M & Copeland-Stewart, A 2021, ‘Playing video games during the COVID-19 pandemic and effects on players’ well-being’, Games and Culture, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 122–139, viewed 23 May 2022, <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15554120211017036>.

CNBC Television 2020, The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on video game industry growth, 30 December, viewed 29 May 2020, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7YnqrveqXw>.

Deconstructor of Fun, ‘Social gaming, the new normal’ [image], in Deconstructor of Fun n.d, Business, viewed 29 May 2022, <https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/blog/2020/7/16/social-gaming-the-new-normal->.

Lufkin, B 2020, ‘How online gaming has become a social lifeline’, BBC, viewed 29 May 2022, <https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201215-how-online-gaming-has-become-a-social-lifeline>.

Science Daily 2007, ‘How does online gaming affect social interactions?', ScienceDaily, viewed 31 May 2022, <https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070915110957.htm>.