Why Do People Play Video Games

Why do people play video games? There are many answers to this question, but these answers are easier to figure out now than when video games first appeared on the scene. Read through some of the sections below to see why do people play video games.

For Escapism

Like films, video games can provide some escapism. Have you been having a bad day? Or do you need to let out some frustration from your job? Maybe you just want to tune out the outside world and live in another world for a few hours. Video games can help you with that. First Person Shooter games can assist you in letting off some steam and games like World of Warcraft give you an entire world in which to explore and make friends (and enemies). It is even possible to transport some of your real life objectives into your video game world if you are play a role-playing game.

One criticism related to video game escapism is the fact that some people have a hard time finding that line between fantasy and reality. Video game violence has been accused of causing many human disasters. If that is the case, then there might be something going on deeper in your personality. Video games can't act as therapy and people need to intervene instead of a controller and polygonal characters.

To Boost the Brain and Reflexes

Can you get intelligent playing video games? Sure you can. With the market getting inundated with "brain games" and trivia games, you can get more brain power from playing games like Brain Age, Scene It, and puzzle games. These types of games make you think on your feet and test your general knowledge.

Reflexes can get better if you play games like Tetris or the number of games on the Wii, which allows you to make realistic motions with its unique controllers. For instance, if you play Wii Tennis, then you need to keep your eye on the ball and swing the racket at the right moment to get the right hit with the right speed. You need to be somewhat controlled.

For Exercise

Exercise games have really become popular the past few years. These games can include dance games like Dance Dance Revolution, In the Groove, and also a number of games on the Wii. Wii Fit is the big exercise hit on the Wii. You use a balance board to do yoga, strength training, balance exercises, and cardiovascular exercises. While any of the exercise games that are available for the consoles aren't an exclusive exercise regimen, they do get the video gamer off the couch for a little activity.

For Fun

What? For fun? It's true. One of the reasons why people play video games is for the simple reason of fun. Points don't matter; being competitive isn't important; and reaching goals doesn't matter. The gamer just wants to play a favorite game or a fun level that they've played before that makes them keep coming back.

For Nostalgia

When video games first arrived on the technology scene, playing videos games for nostalgic reasons would not have been possible. Now, video gamers, especially those who grew up in the first decade or so, want to relive some of those games that they got started on. Games like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, or Doom. Some gamers like to play vintage consoles like the Atari or the original Game Boy.

For Competitive Reasons (or Money)

Some people play video games for money, sometimes make a living at it. I think that's a good an answer as any to the question of "why do people play video games?" There are numerous contests across the globe to see who is the best at some of the hardest games. Along the same vein, people might play just for the spirit of competition. The yearly Madden football contest is a perfect example of playing for competitive reasons.

So Why Do People Play Video Games?

Do you have a reason you play video games that isn't listed here? Then post your reason in the comments below. This isn't the end-all and be-all list of reasons why people play video games. If you have a unique experience or reason, LoveToKnow would like to hear it!

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