People paying money just to play online games on hourly basis show the pull and popularity of the online games.
Here is an attempt to understand why online games are so popular these days?
An online game literally refers to the type of game, which is played on your computer while you are connected to the Internet. These can be single player games that you play with a remote server or multiplayer games where many users like you are playing with each other.
There was a time when computer games were for the so-called nerds or geeks who were basically solitary beings. With the rise in popularity of the Internet and with broadband access becoming increasingly affordable, the quality of free online games being offered has increased dramatically. Playing games online is no longer a solitary activity. Studies show that it is a social experience that more and more extroverts and out-going people are becoming part of.
Free gaming sites have become the places for players to meet and have social interactions. Popular regulars at gaming sites are a common phenomenon that we all are aware of. These gaming sites typically offer games that range from a quick, casual game during your coffee break to engaging multi-player games.
Why do people play online games? a. Firstly, the appeal of anonymity. After all you can create a personality for yourself and can be what ever you want to be. This is a very powerful reason for people to hang out at these social sites.
b. Internet is a wonderful medium that enables you to be part of a society where all are equal. Absolutely no discrimination of any variety.
c. The games are becoming increasingly easy to setup. Most of the times you just don't need a native installation on your PC. A web browser is all you need to play a multiplayer game. This has taken away the operating system related hurdles that one would otherwise have encountered. These games are mostly free and on top of that you don't have to install anything to enable you to play these games. You just heard of game, perhaps from a friend or through an email or a newsletter. You just go to the gaming website and you are ready to play. No setup related hassles at all. This definitely is a very big contributor to the success and popularity of online games.
d. Online games are popular because they give people who are bored playing with their computer a chance to interact with real opponents. As a player you can chat with other players, you can join hands a few players and scheme against the others, just the way you do in real world, but with the advantage of anonymity.
I am sure there are more reasons. This in itself can be a topic of research for social scientists. Internet is changing the way we live. It is changing the way we play for sure.
Playing is an essential part of our evolution. The experience gained by infants when they play games during their formative years is invaluable and teaches them the skills needed for later in life.
To share, know strengths and weaknesses, learn fairness and modesty are all vital components of our make up. Many species of the animal kingdom share the same patterns. You only have to study lion cubs, puppies or monkeys to see how they develop and hone essential skills whilst playing
When infants play games they develop their mental and cognitive abilities. They learn how to make judgements, take risks and importantly learn how to be less egocentric.
The old sayings "play to win" and "winning is everything" which interpreted would suggest we only play games to win and there is little point in playing if we do not win.
This is an opinion I do not subscribe to and many schools today are also attempting to change the perception on how we play games.
Some schools have now decided to abandon the parent's race as it has simply become too competitive. Parents have become aggressive in their attempts to win when originally this race was designed to embarrass the parents and provide some lighthearted fun to the day. As a consequence injuries have occurred but the real damage is how their children perceive the way their parents compete. It stands to reason this aggressive behaviour will filter down and into the childs mind.
Through competition winners and losers are determined and this could possibly damage a childs self esteem if they are never on the winning side. Therefore today a greater emphasis is placed upon team events and the ethos of "Its the taking part that counts"
This political correctness is all well and good but a healthy competitive element should be present when we play games, especially sports. Without a fine balance it could equally be argued our children will not learn the skills needed to strive, do their very best in life and basically look after themselves.
Be humble in your victories and magnanimous in defeat and you will always find someone to play with.
Win or lose the most important reason we should play games is for fun! Whether it's a simple game of cards or a football match we should really leave the competitive stuff to the professionals and just enjoy the game and remember to always shake hands after.
Both Jonathan White & Vicki Churchill are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.