What Gaming Platform Should a New Gamer Play for Personal Growth?
The image of video games over the years has drastically changed.
They used to be seen as a mindless pastime, a ‘chewing gum for the brain’ hobby indulged by those wishing to shy away from the challenging aspects of real life. In recent years, that perception has changed somewhat, leaving video games as a viable method to facilitate personal growth. So, with that said, what are the best video game consoles to invest in this 2021 holiday season?
Taking just a couple of examples, you can begin to see what it is about certain video games that allow an individual to come away feeling better for having played them. The popular Assassin’s Creed series features historical elements that are part game, part educational. Players come away with a deeper knowledge of Ancient Egypt or Viking England, understanding the key figures from that period. To help a gamer along the way, developer Ubisoft even includes a secondary title featuring educational material. It’s a form of learning through fun.
Online games have a similar well-being element that helps an individual grow. Many titles that feature on mobile devices and tablets are smaller brainteasers and social games which either give your brain a quick workout or put you quickly in contact with like-minded friends for a five-minute game before you shoot off to do something else. That is helping to ease the loneliness epidemic in the United States by connecting people on a digital level.
What are the most popular gaming platforms available, what is available on them, and who should play? Here’s a handy guide to help get you experience some form of growth in gaming.
Home Console
A home console was, for many years, the most popular form of video gaming. The recognized brands are PlayStation and Xbox, the two standard home consoles which have replaced Sega and Nintendo from the nineties. Games on these devices tend to be involved and quite deep; for instance, if you’re a fan of Jurassic Park, you can find games here that allow you to build your own dinosaur-themed park in Jurassic World Evolution 2, set to be released soon, according to Push Square. You are usually bound with peripherals of the same make and can only play online with other gamers owning the same hardware. There are some crossover titles, but if you’re interested in gaming as a mechanism for speaking to people or growing your social circle, you will be restricted to those who own the same console as you.
Mobile Device
A mobile device is now the most popular platform globally for video gaming; the pandemic saw an upwards shift of around 50% in a single quarter of 2020. Mobile gaming is broader than the home console, but it is also more limited. As an example, we’ll return to the Jurassic Park franchise. You can find the branding and imagery on the Foxy Games title Jurassic World Raptor Riches, but not the depth of building a park. It is an online slot machine, a smaller title in terms of memory and gameplay longevity, but fits nicely with graphically powerful phones capable of delivering a recognizable, branded experience. The same goes for Jurassic World: The Game on iOS. It is again a themed experience, but with fewer elements to a big budget, console release. Mobile gaming is ideal for the gamer on the go, for someone popping on before bed, or whilst on the train. The social aspect is better than a home console, as you’re not bound by your phone or tablet; Samsung, Android, and iPhone can all run apps and offer cross-play together.
Home Computer
Finally, we come to the home computer. If the growth you seek is not purely social but also technical, then this might be the area of gaming for you. Owning a home computer for gaming isn’t a singular choice but an evolving decision. You can customize your computer as much as you wish, adding memory, peripherals and graphics cards as you see fit. In terms of the gaming experience, it is like a console, only with options to power up outside of the game. Staying with the Jurassic Park theme, a home console provides a great experience, but if you’re not happy with how the game runs, you can’t do anything about it. With a PC, you can improve your Jurassic World game by adding more processing power. You might also get modders to use their home computer to hack into a game and improve it in ways the developers didn’t see. Very soon, Jurassic World 2 could feature new dinosaurs, a different soundtrack or fluorescent fauna. That’s the benefit of a PC over other types of home computers.
Conclusion
Video games offer solid growth opportunities, from adding to your social circle to staying in touch with your current one, from exploring new worlds to developing your hardware. There’s a platform for everyone, and in a growing market, no reason not to make one of the above your choice of entertainment system as the cold weather lands this fall.
If you wish to stay abreast of other growth opportunities, physical and in terms of wellness, then pay regular visits to our website.
