👾 Who says gaming is child’s play?
In many ways, gaming is like any other hobby – an avenue to destress from work or schooling life and make connections within a like-minded community.
Just like how someone can get healthy from playing a sport regularly or feel more rejuvenated after an art class or pottery session – who’s to say one can’t benefit from gaming?
Victor (not his real name), 26, who works as a trainee lawyer in an international firm in Singapore, tells thrive that his experience of playing mobile games such as Brawl Stars has taught him the importance of good strategy and planning. He explains that, in order to succeed, you must learn quickly how to prioritise different objectives according to different game modes.
“When playing with friends, you have to learn how to communicate quickly and effectively in order to achieve your targets in the game as a team successfully. This is a very useful skill in real life,” he adds.
Charles (not his real name), 30, the owner of an events management company in Singapore, can also attest to how certain skills he picked up from gaming have helped his career.
“Playing games on a single screen requires an individual to process an extraordinary amount of information at one time,” Charles explains.
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Gaming has honed his ability to think on his feet and multi-task, which has proven useful in his work as a business owner, he says.
“Running a business is a huge endeavour. This means your eye needs to be in the sky to read different kinds of information at any given time – from what’s happening in the market, your own staff, ensuring your prices are competitive, to understanding where to place your resources and keeping a healthy budget,” Charles notes.
Adopting the mindset of a gamer has therefore helped Charles make better split-second decisions at his workplace, all while performing well under tight deadlines and pressure.
💸 Is there a price to pay?
Still, there is a reason why gaming has a bad rep. In 2021, non-profit agency Touch Youth Intervention received 1,004 calls regarding young people facing issues with excessive device use, including being addicted to gaming. Typically, the agency deals with around 500 cases per year.
Charles shares that he has spent close to S$10,000 on games over a decade, and once incurred S$600 in gaming-related expenses over a single month.
Young adults aged 25 to 34 make up the largest demographic of mobile gamers, notes James Walton, Deloitte Asia-Pacific’s sports business group leader. This is because they usually have the spending power to make in-game purchases and enjoy the social aspects of mobile gaming.
Hubert (not his real name), 29, who works in media in Singapore, can relate to how gaming can consume one’s life if one isn’t careful. He remembers being addicted to games when he was in school and spending too much time on them, which resulted in him neglecting other aspects of his life. Because of that experience, he has not touched a multiplayer game since the age of 15.
Hubert notes how it is important to budget carefully when it comes to games and tries to limit his spending on games to about S$100 per year. “I try not to pay for subscription models like Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus, or other recurring in-game expenses like battle passes or skins,” he adds.
“I’ve probably only pre-ordered two games over the last eight years. All other games I’ve purchased have been sale items.”
📝 Lessons from gaming
Among the gamers that thrive spoke to, the one benefit of gaming they all agreed on was the sense of community they gained from it.
“Gaming doesn’t just allow you to get closer to your friends but also meet new people and form new connections,” shares Victor.
“I met a friend (through gaming) who turned out to be a vice-president at a financial institution, so we ended up grabbing a meal together and chatting when I started work. Because of our common interest, it felt like we were already friends even without having met each other previously.”
As gaming evolves, it seems able to bring more and more people together instead of isolating participants from the outside world as it was once thought to do.
Here are some positive takeaways from gaming, all of which could be applied to our real lives:
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Be strategic: Each time you play, you’ll need a good plan. There’s no point rushing ahead if you don’t have a clear sense of your final objective. Having a well-thought-out strategy will always reap rewards for work and life!
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Communicate effectively with your teammates: With your eyes on the prize, you may be tempted to steamroll ahead of your friends who could be lagging behind. However, in multiplayer games (and life), you’re likely to find that it’s more important to work collaboratively in order to reach the finish line together.
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Manage your budget wisely: Yes, it’s okay to treat yourself occasionally – but do you really need five new skins and the latest Fortnite battle pass too? Remember to pace your spending and not run through new thrills too quickly if your wallet can’t afford it. As with any hobby, it’s always good to keep things in moderation.
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Be open to new connections: Just like taking up a new sport or recreational activity, you never know who you’re going to meet when you start gaming! Always be respectful and open to forging new friendships, and exercise good sportsmanship with your opponents.
Perhaps gaming is a misunderstood form of modern entertainment. Just like many other hobbies, gaming can be beneficial with the right boundaries set in place. And for those (like myself) who don’t game, it could be an opportunity to try something new 🙂.
TL:DR
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Gaming, like many other hobbies, can be a healthy way to destress and connect with friends in the same community 🎮
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It can also teach valuable skills such as strategic planning, effective communication and multitasking
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However, overindulging in gaming can lead to addiction and incur many expenses, which can become very costly over time 💸
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Budgeting wisely and pacing your spending on games can be helpful in the long run so you don’t run into any financial troubles even as you continue enjoying this pastime 🕹️
