When it comes to hobbies, gaming is one of the most popular currently. The video game sector was estimated to have made almost $180bn in revenue during 2020 and has huge franchises such as Call of Duty that appeal to players worldwide. When you also factor in the latest tech in gaming constantly being launched (such as the Xbox Series X and PS5 in November 2020), it is easy to see why video gaming is an entertainment behemoth.
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While gaming is lots of fun and a valid hobby to pursue, it is still surrounded by some damaging myths. It is key to look past these so that you get to the truth about gaming and are not put off from enjoying it. What are these myths?
Gaming is isolating
This might be the biggest myth of all when it comes to modern gaming. Its roots probably go right back to the days of early video games. Back then, we did not have internet-connected devices or Wi-Fi to game on. Gaming, on the whole, was not as mainstream either, and not as many people in your area might have been into it.
This led to the notion that gaming was something that people did in their bedrooms alone and with no social contact. Even the first online casino games suffered from this idea, as the tech was not there for more social play. As tech in other areas of entertainment (such as that which powers the Disney+ streaming platform) has grown though, so also has gaming tech.
In the modern age, this means that playing games is not isolating at all and can actually be a very social experience. If you cannot leave the house or have no friends close by, gaming can be the only social contact you have! Playing video games over the internet, for example, can help you meet new people, avoid being socially isolated, and keep loneliness at bay. Live casino games or casino platforms, which encourage more social engagement between players, are also superb for avoiding social isolation.
Gaming is a waste of time
Another of the most common gaming myths is that playing games is a total waste of time. This hobby can still be wrongly viewed by many as a trashy way to fill your spare time with no positive benefits. When you look into what gaming involves and how it can help you develop though, you realize that this is false.
Playing games actually helps you pick up new skills that you might not learn otherwise. It can also help you sharpen up skills you already have. Many people spend multiple hours playing games each week, and this gives you lots of time to get better at some pretty cool things.
Playing poker online, for example, can help you learn how to handle pressure situations, while blackjack can train your ability to think quickly. Video gaming also comes with the ability to improve some key skills such as hand-to-eye coordination, reflexes, and problem-solving. These types of attributes can not only make you a better person but also give your career prospects a boost.
Gaming has a negative impact on behavior
This is perhaps the last biggest myth that needs busting around gaming. Since the first video games started to appear in the 1980s, people began to worry about the effect they could have on player’s behavior. This naturally was focused on games that contained violence, sex, or criminality. This has continued into modern times, where games in the Grand Theft Auto series have come in for plenty of flack.
The truth though is that no clear link between playing games like this and subsequent bad behavior has ever been proved. When you think of the many millions (even billions!) who play games worldwide each day with no impact on how they act in the real world, then it is clear that there is no problem. While some people might commit heinous acts after playing games in isolated incidents, this is likely to be more down to the person being disturbed mentally, rather than the games they play.
This myth has also carried over to casino gaming online in modern times as well. Many people will link playing casino games with negative real-world behavior. They might, for example, think people who play casino games online all run up debts due to gambling problems, lie to their partners about playing casino games or be angry in real life as a result of losing money gaming. As with video gamers, the actual truth is that the vast majority play casino games online sensibly with no subsequent impact on how they behave in normal life.
What is the truth behind gaming?
The simple truth is that the most common myths you will hear about gaming are just not correct. Modern gaming is not isolating at all – in fact, it enables people to engage socially in more ways than ever before. In addition, it does not make stable people act aggressively in real life and is certainly not a waste of time. Gaming is, in fact, just as positive and valid a hobby as playing an instrument, painting, or working out. If you enjoy games and want to play them, do not let incorrect myths stop you.
