Apr
8
Just Get Out And Play
Filed Under casual games, games | Leave a Comment
It doesn’t really matter, what type of games you play, just so long as you get out and play. Playing is an important part of life, and it doesn’t matter whether your a kid or an adult, it’s important to healthy living. There is a silly stigmatism around, that adults that play games are wasting their time. Their really could be nothing further from the truth. All the bad press around computer games, and how evil they are, and how they contribute to a plethora of human behavioral problems is just nonsense. Games are great for teaching, great for socializing, great for exercise, and great for reducing stress. That’s been documented by academics many times. It doesn’t matter if your playing word games, shooter games, board games, puzzle games, or educational online games, they all have some sort of redeeming qualities.
It doesn’t have to be computer games to count as playing. There are all sorts of games to get involved in. I love playing squash. It’s not a commonly played sport, but is great for fitness. I was having a conversation the other day, with one of my squash buddies about how important it is to have some sort of play in your fitness routine. All those people that do nothing buy stair masters, elliptical trainers, and treadmills must be bored to tears. How are you going to keep up a good fitness routine for years, if that’s all you do. I don’t know anyone that’s passionate about treadmilling, but I know probably a hundred squash players who love the game, and will play till the day they die, if they can. That’s another good aspect of it actually. It’s the kind of game that you really have to be in shape to play. If you try playing when your overweight, or out of shape, then your really going to suck at it. Not to mention, your more prone to injury when your throwing an extra 20 pounds of fat around the court week after week.
Play is important for everyone, not just kids. It’s a myth we as a culture need to get over. I think technology, is actually helping with that quite a bit. Computer games are everywhere these days. On cell phones, computers, web sites, PDAs, smart phones, televesion sets, and gaming consoles. It’s great. We’re all starting to play a little more, and that’s good for everyone. Really, it is.
Dec
12
Scientific Proof That Playing Video Games Reduce Stress
Filed Under casual games, reduce stress, stress reducing games | Leave a Comment
A recent study by one of the biggest casual games developers out there, suggests that the majority of people to play casual games to relieve stress. In fact 80% or so of the people to play games do it as a stress reliever, and of those close to 40% suggested that it was the single biggest reason I have a plan games. Something you don’t hear in the press her often, is that a simple half-hour or so of playing games is optimal for relieving stress. A casual game is one that you would think of that’s very simple to pick up, but to provide a hours of distraction and stress relief as you try to master it. Games like free sell or solitaire or Pac Man or Tetris for that matter what fit into this category. Anybody can learn them in a few minutes, as the rules are pretty basic and the gameplay is engaging and fun even at any entry-level.
It’s that little vacation from reality that allows your mind to forget about all the things that build up in cause stress. Doesn’t really matter which for you either play, they’ll work basically the same so pick one, it really gets your attention and appeals to you. it’s good to escape reality for a little while and that the brain relax but exercise in a fun way. I know works for me, and I have a few my favorites. They are really harmless little distractions. I tell everyone I’m just working on my mouse and keyboard skills. Even if you don’t have a game console like a PlayStation PS3 or an Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii, because so fun partner games to play with online. There are plenty of free arcade style websites available. They can almost be to easily and readily available if you let things go control. Remember, it’s not meant to be a full-fledged career. I don’t have enough ways of procrastinating when should really be doing. Good time management is still important.
There are plenty of different games that appeal to different people for stress relief, I tend to favor some of the more hard-core ones. Maybe once in awhile I’ll venture into casual game. But, at the moment my favorites are BioShock, and portal from valve, the makers of the incredibly successful half-life franchise. Whatever appeals you come is what works best. It doesn’t matter if it’s a simple card game, or elaborate space shooter massively multiplayer role-playing game. The point is to get away from all the attention hostilities and to do lists the clutter up everyone’s life. While I wouldn’t say it’s his mind altering and relaxing a something like yoga and tai chi, but in some ways it comes close.
Some of you may be wondering, if the gaming company that paid for such a research study may have an ulterior motive. There probably is some truth to that. However other studies have backed him up. Other studies have suggested that there is a reduction in the amount of cortisol in the body during the playing of videogames. It’s a chemical, or hormone in the body is often associated with levels of stress. So there you go, real scientific evidence that playing videogames can relieve stress.