Author: Destiny van Heijningen

• on 20 Apr 2021
• By Destiny van Heijningen
• Games

Video Games and its impact on People

The nerd who crouches in his dark room and does not look up from his computer screen for days because he is trapped in the virtual world – is a cliché that has long since become obsolete. Video games have long been played by young and old, by men and women, on computers, consoles or mobile phones. They dominate the entertainment industry and esports is a mass phenomenon.

More social and happier through the video game

Children who play video games have higher life satisfaction and more social behavior than non-gamers. However, this effect only occurs in children who play less than an hour a day.

If they play more (less than three hours a day), there are no more positive effects, and if they play a lot (more than three hours a day), negative effects predominate instead: lower life satisfaction and less prosocial behavior than with non-gamers.

What are the negative effects?

Video games are also often associated with video game addiction. Even if only a small fraction of computer gamers are actually addicts, it is important to be aware of whether gaming is prioritized over other activities in daily life.

Especially people who are addicted to gambling should pay attention to how much time they spend with it and how gambling affects their physical and mental health and their social contacts in “real life” But even those who are not addicted can be affected by gambling. This is how games can influence self-assessment: Players who race in the virtual world consider themselves riskier drivers and more willing to take risks.

Research has also shown that intense video gamers sleep worse. It is possible that video gaming leads to poorer sleep quality, but it is also possible that people with poorer sleep play video games more intensively. The blue light on the screen definitely blocks the release of melatonin, an important sleep hormone. Shortly before going to bed, video games can definitely have a negative effect – but this also applies to television.

Confused feelings after playing

Regardless of this, “aggressive associations” are not to be equated with aggressive feelings. It is controversial whether players feel worse, more hostile or more aggressive after a killer game.

Some studies come to this conclusion, while others do not. It is conceivable that only a very small fraction of the population is susceptible to violence in video games, while the majority do not develop hostile feelings from brutal games. In general, research on video games is inconsistent and often fraught with serious methodological limitations. General statements are therefore difficult.

But the motivation from which someone plays, the importance that this game has for the players, as well as the content and duration of the game are decisive whether the positive or negative consequences outweigh the consequences. And if you need to get squirrels off your property, using the services of  squirrel removal san antonio can deal with that.

• on 4 Mar 2021
• By Destiny van Heijningen
• Games

WHY DO VIDEO GAMES HAVE MUSIC?

Have you noticed that great video games have great music? What makes a good video game great? Of course, the title must have a good gameplay, because that’s the only way a game can really be fun. Excellent graphics also play an important role, so that the player can also enjoy a good visual experience. And also the story should be well written in the corresponding games, so that one is completely captivated.

There is one element that many of the players often forget about video games, it is the soundtrack. Music makes the mood at the games and can therefore make the difference between a good and a bad video game. Freely following the motto “Find your sound”, each player has different preferences when it comes to music in video games.

One likes elaborate soundtracks recorded by large orchestras, while the other prefers to listen to “real” songs by well-known artists in video games. Fortunately, the variety of music in video games is as great as the choice of genres. There is something for every taste. To help you learn the meaning of music in video games, today we take a look at how music can create mood while playing.

Let’s look at some ways music is used in video games. What kind of music is used in a game is primarily based on the corresponding game. Here are some of soundtrack types in video games.

ORCHESTRAL SOUNDTRACK

An orchestral soundtrack is mostly used in games in which a particularly intense atmospheric atmosphere is to be created. These include role-playing games, adventure games and first-person shooters. But also in other genres, such as strategy titles, an orchestral soundtrack is often used.

LICENSED SOUNDTRACK

A licensed soundtrack is usually used in sports, racing or similar games. The developer of the game acquires the license of songs by well-known artists. This type of music is usually used in the menus of the games, but can also be played in the actual game.

DIGITALLY CREATED SOUNDTRACK

Last but not least, there are games that use a digitally created soundtrack. Often these are smaller productions (so-called Indy Games) that cannot afford licensed music or orchestra. However, it also happens that large AAA games use digitally created music.

HOW MUSIC CAN INFLUENCE MOOD IN VIDEO GAMES

Every fan of video games will know how important the soundtrack is in terms of the atmosphere of a game. Just like a movie, a good soundtrack in a video game manages to get the player fully into the action. Especially in role-playing games like Skyrim, Zelda or The Witcher, an epic soundtrack is often used, which is recorded by a huge orchestra.

In sports games such as FIFA, NBA2K and similar, however, it is very important that many songs by trendy artists are represented in the menus. The same applies to racing games such as Gran Turismo or Need for Speed. In short, music is a crucial factor in the gaming experience that is possible with a video game.

CONCLUSION

There are many examples of great soundtracks in video games. In principle, the list is almost endless, because there are now thousands of video games, a large part of which offers really fantastic music. No matter in which genre, you will find countless examples with unique and beautiful soundtracks that put you in the right mood when playing.

Even if people think of video games primarily as graphics, gameplay, or story, the meaning of music should never be neglected. To test, you only have to mute your TV during the next game session. So you quickly realize how important good music can really be for a video game.

• on 22 Jan 2021
• By Destiny van Heijningen
• Games

How Long Can My Child Play Video Games?

The alarm clock goes off. The best way to avoid gaming addiction is to set time limits. If children and young people are not allowed or able to spend more than two or three hours on the computer a day, they are less likely to develop a gaming addiction. Set other activities (check this out – https://medium.com/@playtime) for your kid’s entertainment

How Long Should Kids Play Video Games

It can be very difficult to set time limits for displays fairly. After all, there are so many different electrical devices with screens that we use every day. There is your child’s computer, but also the television, his smartphone, tablet, and any game consoles. It is still recommended not to sit at a screen for more than two to three hours a day. This does depend on the age of your child: the older, the more time they can spend behind a screen. For more information on time limits by age, see our specific age guidelines for young children, elementary school children, or high school teens.

Watch a screen for a maximum of twenty minutes at a time

From a medical point of view, it is recommended that children (and young people up to the age of twenty) are not closely exposed to the screen for more than twenty minutes at a time. This is for example looking at a screen like that of a tablet or telephone. This stimulates the development of myopia. Myopia makes you have to wear glasses, but it also puts you at an increased risk for various eye conditions.

Time limits are therefore very important for both the physical and mental health of your child. It is therefore best to stick to the maximum limit of three hours, especially when it comes to gaming. Within those three hours, there should also be time for regular breaks, so that your child is not constantly playing in the same position. In between, he or she can, for example, play outside or do homework.

Use digital parental controls

It can be very difficult to control children when it comes to screen time. While some experts say it’s okay to allow your children to play game consoles even for long hours, there’s still a pinch of worry that the kind of games they play can make a huge impact on their behavior and personality. But this is not always true. Parents can avoid negative impacts brought on by video gaming by alternating activities.

Complying with time limits is difficult. Your child probably doesn’t want to stop playing. In addition, it is also difficult for you as a parent to constantly keep track of time. Fortunately, there is a good, simple solution for this: use digital parental controls to limit your child’s internet use. Many parental controls allow you to limit the amount of time your child can spend on an app each day.