This is a contributor’s blogpost …

 

The media tends to associate all sorts of negativity with gaming. There are reports on gaming addiction, reports on how games can make individuals violent, or reports that conjure up an image of gamers as social recluses. However, gaming really can have a whole host of benefits for individuals and society as a whole! As we all know, the media really can put a bad twist on things with seriously good potential. So, let’s take a moment to consider just a few of the benefits that you can draw from the gaming experience.

 

A Hobby

 

It’s always good to have a hobby. The majority of us tend to spend our free time procrastinating and engaging with mostly pointless activities, like aimlessly scrolling through social media feeds or watching television shows that we aren’t actually paying any attention to or show little interest in. Having a hobby encourages us to engage with something that we genuinely enjoy and that can also prove to be productive in some way or another. Hobbies are great stress relievers, encourage you to let your hair down and enjoy something for the sake of enjoyment alone, offer us new challenges and experiences, and can help to boost our self-confidence and self-esteem. On top of that, it gives us a talking point! Gaming, of course, could prove to be the perfect hobby for you if you try your hand at it and actively enjoy it!

 

Social Benefits

 

Gaming has great social benefits that are perhaps more flexible than other options for socialising that are out there. While the social benefits of gaming can prove positive for anyone, they are particularly good for those of us who are a little more shy or socially reclusive. Why? Well, when you are gaming you can socialise from the comfort of your own home. You don’t have to get ready, you don’t have to go anywhere to meet up, and you don’t have to spend extended periods of time in other people’s company. You can log in, socialise for as long as you feel comfortable with, and then log out when you have had enough. You can also bond through mutual interest – people logging into the same game as you already have something in common with you – you are playing the same game and consequently have an immediate talking point. This can all ease you into socialising with less pressure. If you do decide to meet with people on a face to face basis, there also tend to be gaming exhibitions and conference style meet ups where you can meet in a mutually agreeable setting. Just make sure to be vigilant in checking that the people who you meet online are genuinely who you think they are.

 

Improved Personal Skill Set

 

Gaming can significantly improve your personal skill set – it requires all sorts of skills that are transferable in various ways. Some include:

• Hand-eye coordination
• Foresight
• Puzzle solving and problem solving
• Thinking outside of the box
• Empathy
• Team work

Financial Gain

 

People tend to associate gaming with spending. You purchase consoles. You purchase games. You might engage with in-app purchases. But you can earn money through gaming too. The most common way to make some quick cash with gaming is to play casino games at sites like www.slotathon.com. However, you do need to bear in mind that this money isn’t guaranteed and that you can lose money in the process. Only play these games for the fun of playing the game, don’t expect any financial return. A more certain way to make money through gaming is to engage with Esports (competitions where you can win cash prizes if you are good enough or where you can receive sponsorship), Youtube gaming (where you can make money through advertising), or working directly for a gaming company and crafting yourself a career in the field.

 

The Economy

 

Most of us are aware that gaming really is growing in popularity. You may also be aware that sales associated with gaming are on the up and gaming careers provide many people with a stable career and income. But gaming’s increasing presence in the entertainment industry is having a bigger impact on the economy than you may have initially thought! Studies have found that the gaming industry added $4.95 billion to the US Gross Domestic product last year alone – that’s a huge amount before we even take gaming’s contribution to other economies around the world into account too! This is all happening when other areas of the entertainment industry seem to be making losses and cutting back employment.

 

These are just a few different benefits that can be tied to actively engaging with gaming. But there are plenty more out there. So, if you haven’t tried your hand at gaming so far, maybe now is time to give it a go!