eGaming is taking the world by storm one controller at a time. More than a simple pastime, eGames have large audiences at both in-person events and also streaming from Twitch to YouTube. eGames span a diverse genre of game-play favoring both arcade-style and also MMORPGs. But is this new sport’s gaming popularity a good thing?
Yes, gaming can absolutely be good for you.
A capacity crowd gathers at Fan Expo Canada to watch the final match at Intel Extreme Masters Toronto.
eGaming is a Real Career
No longer just a simple pastime, gaming is a real career field now. Top eSports competitors earn some significant cash. Earnings from the top five major game titles in 2018 amounted to over $78 million dollars, in an industry recently posting an estimated $100 billion in revenue. To put this in perspective, last year’s #10 player Peter Dager earned a lifetime total of $2.9 million by age 26, focusing his skills in Heroes of Newerth and Dota 2.
If you’d like to dip your toes into the gaming financial sector but aren’t ready for professional leagues yet, you can also earn money through strategic online games like Poker or Slots in online casinos (dependent on state law). Even an amateur can place a bet on sites such as MobileBet and start out at costs that you’re comfortable with.
eGaming Improves Social/Emotional Interactions
The days of lonely gamers sitting around the house passed about when the internet began. Gaming is now a largely social activity and often includes team play. And it turns out, this interaction is good for us. Online connection improves social interactions through chat and team play, as well as fostering leadership. As players navigate game’s wins and losses they learn to also manage anger, anxiety, nurturing, and growth. Players achieve goals by learning to work through adversity and persevere, as well as setting long-term plans.
As an added bonus, players improve cognitive skills as well such as attention and focus, spatial reasoning and visual processing, and enhanced mental rotation abilities. Visualizing complex maps and quickly responding to obstacles is more than just fun. It turns out that when Generation X told our parents we were improving hand-eye coordination while playing Mario — we were actually correct!
eGaming Helps Expand Gaming for a Purpose
eGaming also helps shine a light on many different video games with a purpose. What was previously considered a simple bit of fun has now expanded into a variety of industries across the world. Gamification is a widely recognized method of teaching new skills like math and science, as well as an entertaining way to promote fitness or financial savings. Researchers have used gaming to understand viruses and DNA. Medical providers are experimenting with virtual reality to treat phobias and ease the discomfort from painful burn treatments (think 3D spiders and icy slopes).
The success of eGaming helps promote the regular acceptance of digital games in our daily culture, as well as the financial viability of gaming overall.
eGaming Creates Jobs
And finally, eGaming creates jobs. In 2017, gaming supported 2,457 companies creating 220,000 jobs in the United States. Directly employed by game developers are 65,678 workers with the remainder of those 220,000 listed indirect jobs. Gaming provides work for an entire industry, from game sellers and retail locations to marketing support and management. If you think of a recent game experience you’ll probably remember an ad or two, and sponsorship creates yet another venue where games play a part in our economy.
eGaming is a spectator sport too. The legendary eSports final in 2014 for the League of Legends World final in Seoul had 45,000 people in attendance. Those people help support all the stadium staff and vendors, not to mention the benefits of the 27 million live watchers online. With a prize pool of only $2.13 million, some professional sports teams could learn a lesson.
So remember that gaming is more than just a little “fun” — it’s an entire industry, career, and passion. If done smartly and enjoyed, eGaming can be very good for you.
Photo Credit
Photo is Wikimedia creative commons
Guest Author Bio
Kate Sanders
Kate is an author and admin at Ippio.com, writing useful articles and HOW TOs on various topics. Particularly interested in topics such as Interior design, lifestyle, health, beauty, fashion, technology, and more.
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My son had completed class 12 in 2019 securing 86%and went to Kota Rajasthan for IIT/JEE Coaching. This was his own decision and we agreed. He had started PUBG and secured 52 percentile in JEE MAINS on Jan 2020. Now he plays this game from morning 9 am to 3 am (18hrs). Even in washroom, dinning table.
My son is a big fan of eGaming. For the first time, I have forbidden him to play games because it has a negative effect on his study. After that, I recognize it has benefit on his brain development. I encourage him to combine his study with play eGaming.