Gaming Is The Perfect Hobby, And Here’s Why!

There are a lot of people out there who think that gaming is the sort of hobby only undertaken by lazy, friendless weirdos. That is, of course, completely ridiculous. Gaming is one of the most popular leisure activities in the world. Whether you’re a hardcore PC gamer or like to dip in and out of games on your phone in your free time, most of us really like to game. But there’s still a lot of stigma attached to gaming as a whole; this is especially true when it comes to young people. A lot of parents are afraid to let their kids get old of a games console in case it turns them into some sort of brainless zombie! But gaming is the best hobby there are, and here’s why.

It improves hand-eye coordination

Here’s the big, obvious difference between playing video games and, say, watching a movie. Watching a movie is a passive activity, playing games is an active one. You’re involved in the action when you’re playing a game. This means that you’ve got to be able to coordinate your actions with what’s happening on the screen. Many of us do this without even thinking about it, but it actually takes a lot of very fine motor control. Plenty of studies have shown that playing games improves your hand-eye coordination pretty significantly.

It fosters empathy

Another thing that the interactivity of games does is that it puts you directly in the shoes of your character. You’re not just watching someone on a screen go through a series of actions. The problems that they’re dealing are happening directly to you. You jumped over that pit; you dodged that sword; you beat that boss. This means that games can create a connection between you and the character on screen in a way no other medium can. This makes them the perfect medium for fostering empathy. Now, I’m not saying that your Sega Genesis Games are going to turn anyone into a saint, but it’’s much easier to empathize with that a character is going through when you can put yourself right in their position.

It brings people together

There are plenty of gaming experiences specifically designed to be done alone. But there’s a very good chance that a lot of people’s favorite gaming memories will involve them and a group of friends all getting together for some multiplayer. One of the best things about games is that it’s one of the few activities of its kind that allows you to get a whole bunch of people involved. Whether you’re working together to beat a particularly hard level or you’re competing in a grand tournament to see who comes out on top. There’s nothing like gaming with friends. And now, thanks to online gaming, it’s possible for friends to play together even when they’re separated by thousands of miles. Plus, when you’re playing a game online then you’re automatically connecting with other people who some of the same interests as you. Plenty of people have made friends through online multiplayer games.