The role of computer games and their

influence on society

Author: Mohamed Abdelaal Elsayed Elzarei

May 18, 2023

Computer games are a highly popular form of entertainment globally, with the gaming industry experi-
encing rapid growth. According to (ESA, 2021), it has become the most favored form of entertainment
in the United States, surpassing movies or music. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the in-
dustry’s growth as many individuals turned to video games for entertainment and socialization during
lockdowns. However, the industry’s high user penetration has prompted a debate on the effects of
video games on society, with advocates citing positive outcomes such as increasing mental and problem-
solving abilities, while others express concerns about increased violence and aggression. In this essay,
we discuss the dualistic impact of video games, examining both the potential positive and negative
impacts at both individualistic and societal levels.

A plethora of studies have been conducted to explore a variety of impacts of video games on individual
players, such as cognitive and emotional impacts. In (Feng et al., 2007; Green and Bavelier, 2012),
the researchers showed that playing video games can improve cognitive functions such as attention and
problem-solving abilities. (Adachi and Willoughby, 2013) conducted a variety of cognitive tests on two
groups of participants: a group that played a real-time strategy game and a control group that played
a non-strategic game. The strategic video game group showed a significant increase in working memory
capacity compared to the control group. (Oei and Patterson, 2013) show another benefit of video games
in helping socially shy players overcome their social difficulties, generate new friendships and strengthen
old ones.

Other studies show the other negative impact of video games on the players. (Anderson et al., 2010)
conducted a meta-analysis to test the effects of violent video games, showing that exposure to vi-
olent video games can lead to increased aggression, and decreased empathy and prosocial behavior.
(Teng et al., 2021) explored the relationship between internet gaming disorder (IGD) and depression
and anxiety symptoms before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that children
and adolescents both had increased video-game use during the pandemic, with adolescents showing a
significantly increased IGD severity.

The previously discussed research show that video games have a large impact on the personality of
players, which raises the question of how big is that impact on the society as whole. We can explore
that by looking at the impact of games in the fields of education and the social life of gamers.

In (Cole and Griffiths, 2007), the researchers explored the social interactions in massively multiplayer
online role-playing games (MMORPGs). The results showed how MMORPGs can be extremely social
games, with large percentages of gamers making long-lasting friends and partners. This has a net
positive effect on the society as it also allowed players to express their authentic selves in ways they
may not feel comfortable doing in real life because of their appearance, age or sexuality.

Another study (Cherdymova et al., 2019), explored how computer games affect students who play them
on a daily basis in terms of their social interactions. The researchers interviewed student-gamers who

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Mohamed Elzarei (1-00769711) Technische Universität München

frequently played computer games (from daily to twice a week) with the aim of exploring the impact of
computer games on social skills and behavior models of students gamers. Results suggests that video
games can have positive effects on society by teaching gamers to appreciate the game itself, rather than
just striving for rewards. It also showed that gaming can bring people together and encourage teamwork,
showing a positive impact on social interaction. Gamers develop a range of skills, such as communication
and language learning, through playing video games. These positive effects of video games on the
individual level translate well to a wider societal impact, potentially improving communication and
collaboration among individuals. Despite the benefits of gaming for society, the results also raised
concerns about how a child’s early computer game addiction could lead to social isolation. Parents can
address these concerns by establishing clear guidelines around gaming, by limiting the amount of time
allocated for gaming and encouraging their children to participate in social activities outside of gaming.

The integration of computer games in the educational system can provide an engaging and interac-
tive way of learning that can help students retain information better. (Sitzmann, 2011) conducted
a meta-analysis of the instructional effectiveness of computer-based simulation. The researchers used
simulation games used to actively convey course material, and as as a complement to other instructional
methods rather than a stand-alone method of instruction with participants having unlimited access to
the simulation game. The results show that in comparison to a control group, participants who learnt
through simulation games had post-training self-efficacy that was 20% higher, declarative knowledge
that was 11% higher, procedural knowledge that was 14% higher, and retention that was 9% higher.
These results show how computer games can help student having trouble learning through conventional
teaching methods providing an engaging and enjoyable way to learn.

While computer games in education is beneficial, there are also potential negative effects to consider such
as, excessive gaming which can lead to addiction, which can have negative consequences on academic
performance and the improper usage of gaming in the classroom can become a distraction or a way for
students to avoid learning.

In conclusion, the gaming industry has witnessed massive growth in recent years, with the COVID-19
pandemic accelerating this growth. It has penetrated our lives that every household contains some
form of gaming device. This growth and impact raised the debate about the impact of gaming on
individuals and society. Gaming is a double-edged sword that, on one hand, can benefit the players by
improving their cognitive functions and problem-solving skills. It can also positively affect their social
lives and help them study better. On the other hand, excessive gaming can increase aggression and
cause depression, anxiety, and addiction. Therefore, it is best to approach gaming with a balanced
approach, promoting responsible gaming habits and establishing clear guidelines, especially for children
and adolescents. In that way, we can gain the positive benefits of gaming while mitigating its negative
effects.

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Mohamed Elzarei (1-00769711) Technische Universität München

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