Video games have firmly become a part of our lives, becoming one of the most popular forms of entertainment and leisure. According to research, during the COVID-19 pandemic, an astounding 82% of consumers worldwide played video games or watched related content. By 2021, the number of people engaging in gaming reached 3.2 billion, and by 2030, the video game market is projected to exceed 500 billion dollars. However, in addition to their entertainment function, games are increasingly being used as an effective tool for learning and personal development.
Gaming Education: An Interactive Approach to Learning
Unlike traditional teaching methods based on memorization and repetition, video games offer an interactive and engaging approach to acquiring knowledge. One bright example is the educational game Prodigy Math, which helps children improve their math skills. Students create characters, complete quests, battle friends, and solve math puzzles. The goal is to earn pets, equipment, and rewards, but in the process, they unknowingly absorb mathematical concepts and develop logical thinking.
The gaming format makes the learning process captivating and motivating, which is especially important in the digital age when children find it challenging to focus on traditional lessons. Such an approach helps overcome the negative consequences of quarantine, associated with a decline in academic achievement, especially in mathematics.
Gamifying a Healthy Lifestyle
Video games have also found application in the health and fitness sphere. One prominent example is the Peloton platform, which became popular during the pandemic. Millions of users participated in online workouts, cycling, and running. Recently, Peloton went beyond traditional classes by releasing the musical and workout game Lanebreak. In this game, the bike serves as a controller, and participants adjust the speed of their legs to the rhythm of the music and “switch lanes” to overcome obstacles. The combination of music, gameplay, and competition with other fitness enthusiasts motivates subscribers to reach new athletic heights while enjoying themselves.
An even more impressive example is the game EndeavorRx, designed for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) aged 8 to 12. In this game, players act as space cadets traveling on missions to save alien creatures from extinction. Although it may seem like an ordinary video game, it is based on a decade of neurological research and specifically designed to stimulate brain attention function. EndeavorRx adjusts its speed and difficulty for each player, allowing children with ADHD to succeed and have fun. The game’s goal is to improve attention, working memory, and conflict resolution skills, as confirmed by clinical studies.
Esports: Games as a Profession
Alongside the development of educational and therapeutic video games, esports is gaining momentum. For many professional gamers, video games have become not just entertainment but a real job and a way to earn substantial sums of money. Popular disciplines such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, League of Legends, and others attract millions of viewers and have impressive prize pools.
For example, at the main tournament of the year for Dota 2 – The International, the prize pool in 2022 exceeded 18 million dollars. Esports athletes train for many hours a day, honing strategies and skills to become the best in their discipline. Betting companies like Melbet online offer bets on esports tournaments, and broadcasts of major competition finals attract a multimillion audience worldwide.
Creating “Games for Good”
To create more “games for good” similar to the examples mentioned above, it is necessary to understand what makes video games such powerful tools. Playing means being human. Children acquire knowledge through play, and games teach children and adults to plan, show empathy, and manage complex emotions. Games touch on the fundamental aspects of human psychology: our desire to achieve goals, assert status, and interact with others. They harness our vanity and competitiveness but also reveal creative abilities and social nature.
Good game design should start with the question: “Where’s the fun?” Even a “serious” video game should have an exciting plot and engaging mechanics, just like any other game. This is the realm of the game designer, who hones gaming ideas through careful prototyping and user testing. Creative experience can be reinforced and enriched by research findings, as in the case of EndeavorRx.
When developing “games for good,” it is important to strike a balance between entertainment and educational components. The game should be captivating enough to engage and retain the player’s attention while effectively conveying the necessary knowledge or skills.
