Gaming in College: Positive & Negative Effects  

Gaming in College: The gaming culture across the globe has skyrocketed in recent times. In a study conducted by The Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA), it was revealed that about 91% of Australian households own a gaming console, out of which two-thirds of them are playing daily.

Modern-day games and consoles are no longer limited to kids. Adults–especially college students–form the majority of the gamer population.

Considering the craze of gaming among the college-goer population, it’s natural to consider its potential positive and negative impacts on college students. Are you benefitting from it, or is it a waste of time? Let’s find out.

Positive Effects of Gaming on College Students

Let’s begin by taking a look at the advantages of gaming for college students:

1. Extra Pocket Money

College students are always on the lookout to make a little extra cash to finance their everyday expenses. After all, transitioning from high school to college automatically brings along a few extra expenses.

Specific popular gaming sites like Empire Casino offer an array of engaging games with an opportunity to win real money from them. They further add countless new games every day for their users to enjoy, offering progressive jackpot games, table games, video poker, and other games.

So, if you’re looking to turn your recreation into a side hustle, gaming is the best bet.

2. Building an Online Community

Having an online community or fan base is far more relevant today than a couple of years ago. If you’re an avid gamer and play regularly, sharing your gaming experience online on platforms like YouTube can be highly beneficial.

If you manage to grow a loyal fanbase, your community can be your biggest marketing platform. You can use your reach to promote any product, service, or new venture that you might plan to begin in the future.

Here are some other sites that you can use for paid streaming:

• Twitch
• Mixer
• Caffeine Gaming
• YouTube
• Facebook Gaming

3. Cognitive Growth

Money isn’t the only benefit that tags along with gaming in college. Although this area still requires research, it has been seen that playing video games help improve your cognitive abilities. Gaming requires you to be alert, make a strategy, and execute quickly and adeptly in the face of a challenge.

All these activities help you improve:

• Focus
• Motor skills
• Memory retention
• Decision-making skills

As long as you’re taking care of your vision and hearing with proper and safe equipment, gaming will surely turn out to be beneficial for you.

Did you know that gaming can also help you improve your multitasking abilities? When you are playing, you need to keep an eye on the screen, plan your next move, and manage the multiple buttons on the gaming console. This improves your ability to divide your attention equally well on multiple things at the same time.

4. Socializing

It’s a common notion that gaming drives you away from your “real” friends. It’s true to a certain point, i.e., if you let your knack of gaming turn into an obsession. However, if you play it in moderation, gaming can actually help you meet new people and socialize. It’s also an amazing opportunity for introverts to socialize who find it challenging to kickstart a conversation in real life.

Several multiplayer games allow you to connect with people from all across the globe and play together. Many universities also have small gaming clubs that you can participate in and meet like-minded people.

Negative Effects of Gaming for College Students

Nothing comes with zero drawbacks; the same goes for gaming. Here are the two most significant disadvantages of gaming for college students:

1. Obsession

Games these days are designed to keep the players hooked. The new-age graphics, addictive storylines, and better sound effects make it all more engaging and create a risk of addiction, especially for young college students.

If college students get addicted to gaming, it can take a toll on their academics and hamper their careers. In this case, it’s the student’s responsibility to ensure that their recreational activities do not overshadow the more important things.

2. Over-Expenditure

Over-expenditure and obsession go hand in hand. Almost every good game out there requires you to shell out some money to either play the game online or buy it outright. Once a student begins gaming, they might be tempted to try out every game, including the paid ones, which would obviously drain their bank.

Students, being young and gullible, can also be tempted by the high-end gaming equipment that famous online gamers flaunt and end up spending more than they can afford.

Final Thoughts

Gaming is one of those few recreational activities that come with an array of benefits. Addiction and misuse aren’t just restricted to gaming; it all depends on the student and how they allocate their time.

For students who know how to prioritize things well, gaming in college will definitely be a smart move!

 

 

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