In the past weeks, there have been mass shootings in the U.S, and as usual, this has sprung up debates on social media on how video games might have influenced the shooters. Gun violence can not be solely attributed to video games, as many other factors must be considered.
The same negative vibe is sometimes given to people who play casino games online, and that isn’t cool. We have decided to share some rarely known benefits that games offer and why they shouldn’t be pointed at for every negative behavior.
Medical research
Would you believe that your PlayStation could help in the fight against diseases like Alzheimer’s while you sleep? Through a project called folding@home, users can allow their PS to be used to help examine a process called protein folding.
Protein folding is a part of almost every biological process. When proteins fold incorrectly, diseases like Huntington’s and Parkinson’s develop. These processes quickly happen in the body but take a long time to simulate, even with a supercomputer.
By connecting the thousands of unused PSs and dividing the workload, scientists can complete a higher amount of folding simulations in a much faster time. This research, which is so vital to understanding these diseases, is being done at a much higher rate because of a gaming platform by Sony and the goodwill of video game players.
Emergency response
One of the more surprising items in this list is that video games have become an essential part of handling the responses to emergencies.
Emergency workers during Hurricane Gustav were able to use disaster-simulation software based on video games to rescue over 15,000 stranded pets. Another piece of software, Interactive Triage Trainer, has been designed to train first responders on prioritizing casualties after a catastrophe.
At least one study has shown that first-person shooter games are beneficial for fire evacuation by identifying problems with building layouts and helping people gain familiarity with evacuation procedures.
Police also use simulators to train when a quick “shoot/no-shoot” decision is needed. “It offers excellent training on timing, threat evaluation, and decision-making skills. It puts officers in real-life scenarios. A shooting range doesn’t offer this type of simulation.”
These simulations allow first-responders to get a real feel for a situation without the actual threat they would face in the field.
Artistic expression
A whole new world has opened up for artists of all kinds with the introduction of video games. Creating the games themselves takes several artists to work together to create a cohesive gaming experience.
Some visual artists range from concept artists, 3D sculptors, animators, background painters, character and level designers, and even artists to create the marketing and packaging behind the game.
Audio artists add dimension to the game through sound effects, recorded dialogue, music, and sometimes even a full composed score. In addition to adding their voices to the games, actors often lend their likenesses through motion-capturing.
The art of writing is essential in game development as well. A strong story is a driving force behind a captivating gaming experience. Writers get to imagine the worlds and characters that we get to know from playing through the games. Many of these stories’ strengths have even caused Hollywood to turn to them for motion picture properties like Max Payne and Street Fighter.
Video games have also inspired artists to imagine what games would look like if they were artists. Fine art exhibitions have been held by Iam8bit that feature gaming-inspired artwork, primarily focused on classic gaming characters.
Digital artists every day create fan art or photo manipulations of their favorite characters and games. We love making creations like a Mount Rushmore of video game characters, putting Sarah Palin in Grand Theft Auto, giving Barack Obama a Gears of War lancer, or mashing up Left 4 Dead with Shaun of the Dead.
There it is. Games can also be used as a force for the greater good and should not be consistently associated with bad happenings in one’s life or society.