essay on video game design

110 Video Game Topic Ideas for Essays & Examples

🔝 top 10 video game topics for 2024, 🏆 best video game topic ideas & essay examples, 🎮 good video game research topics, 🕹️ interesting gaming topics to write about, ❓ video game research questions, ✅ simple & easy video game essay topics.

Looking for video game topics for your project? Look no further! Here, we’ve collected excellent essay topics for true gaming enthusiasts. Whether you’re looking for argumentative essay ideas on video games, research topics, or questions for debate, you will find them here.

• History of Video Game Consoles
• Myths of Video Game Violence
• The Global Phenomenon of Esports
• VR Gaming and Its Future Possibilities
• How Video Games Influence Cognitive Skills
• Therapeutic Mental Health Benefits of Video Games
• Diversity and Gender Representation in Video Games
• How Multiplayer Games Impact Social Interaction
• Healthy Gaming Habits Against Video Game Addiction
• Aesthetic and Narrative Qualities of Artistic Video Games
• Product Life Cycle & Marketing of Video Game Industry One of the most important advantages of the concept of life cycle can be seen in the sphere of marketing, where if used as a tool it allows adjusting the strategies, including marketing, based on […]
• Sony and Nintendo in the Video Game Industry The firm has manufactured several generations of the home console since the 1980s, beginning with the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System released in the early 1990s, and the Nintendo 64 that was […]
• Video Game Effects: Good or Bad? Given the fact that there is indeed a logically sound rationale to such a suggestion, throughout the course of conducting my study, I remained thoroughly observant of the article’s classification-related suggestions, in regards to the […]
• Video Game Addiction and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs As to me, I was interested in video games when I was a child because this industry was at its beginning and almost every pupil was involved in it.
• Video Game Industry Analysis In 1950, Yamauchi assumed the position of the president in the firm and got on a variety of strategies with the purpose of rationalizing and modernizing the way the firm was controlled.
• The Monopoly Tycoon Video Game Review The game is stylistically similar to the board game Monopoly, and it can be played both online and offline. It is important to note that the game has a multiplayer feature, which can be played […]
• The Video Game Industry Evolution The first mention of the creation of such games dates back to the 1940s, but it was in 1952 that Alexander Shafto “Sandy” Douglas officially presented his dissertation at the University of Cambridge. One of […]
• The NASCAR Video Game Project Management Plan The plan attempts to draw the features and gameplay mechanics by replicating the thought process of a potential player. At this stage, the game should be well-advertised and ready for release.
• The Motivation of the Video Game Player For instance, the project gave its players the dynamic and fast pace of the game, a vast and detailed map, various locations, several different weapons, and character skins, and this is not all the possibilities.
• The “Medal of Honor” Video Game Analysis The game is set to depict the Afghanistan invention in 2002 and the battle between the U.S.military and the Taliban. Due to the close resemblance of the game to the Afghanistan war, the game has […]
• Human Life: Video Game, Simulation, or Reality? Drawing parallels between the real and the virtual world, one can admit the unreality of the existence of the planet and people and compare everything that happens with the simulation in which we are.
• Does Video Game Violence Lead to Aggression in Children? Among the gaming community, children participate vigorously in absorbing the plethora of entertaining content, including age-restricted ones where the scenes of violence are abundant.
• A Role-Playing Video Game Ayiti: The Cost of Life This strategy worked but not to the topmost level simply because the burden of the living cost was gradually weighing down the overall income of my family.
• BioWare Video Game Project Management For example, Dragon Age: Inquisition, the third installment of the company’s flagship series, switched to the Frostbite engine used by most of the EA games and succeeded in delivering the product despite the technical difficulties […]
• Video Game History: Overview From the 1990s to Nowadays In addition to arcade car behavior, the game was also famous for its beautiful graphics at the time, with each game in the series being a launch title showing the capabilities of the console.
• FIFA 10 Football Simulation Video Game A lack of consistency is evident in the various versions of this game as FIFA 10 played on a PC lacks the realism that is exhibited when the game is played on XBOX 360 and […]
• Video Game Delivery Project: Strategic Marketing To initiate strategies in marketing of Video Game, the company will decide to develop a web based application by ABC CORP and this application is customized to meet the requirements of the project. The purpose […]
• A Video Game Store’s Business Plan The projected cash flow of the cash in the balance sheet will appear positive for the next five years and will show that the company’s profitability in will be good enough pay for operating expenses […]
• The U.S. Video Game Industry This was also based on the views of the company’s developers who assumed that the technological advantages of the the16-bit system were extremely less than that of the 8-bit system.
• Video Game Company Against Online Piracy The purpose of the said DRM software is to protect the intellectual rights of the company. The fourth major issue is the encompassing goal of the VGC to end all types of piracy.
• Twitch.tv and Video Game Streaming Career From this point, in spite of the fact that the Twitch.tv platform can be viewed as belonging to the live-streaming industry, the careers of streamers develop according to the traditional principles of the entertainment business.
• Nintendo in the Video Game Industry Previously, Atari was a major power to reckon with in the industry but was later toppled by Nintendo. Part of Yamauchi’s vision was to introduce new and cheaper video games in the market than the […]
• Game designers have the responsibility to design less video game Secondly, the outcome of the video game is unpredictable as compared to movie in which the audience can predict the point at which the story would end thus making the video games more interesting to […]
• Striving for the Ultimate Knowledge: Eli’s Mission. Video Game Owing to the peculiarities of the movie plot, the game can be shaped in a most intriguing way, with a lot of turns of the plot which lead to the most effective denouement.
• Analysis of the Counter-Strike Video Game Phenomenon in Computer Gaming
• Comparison of Three Companies in Video Game Industry; Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft
• Analysis of Free Will in The Stanley Parable Video Game
• Analysis of the Effects of Playing a Video Game Used in Computer Science
• Analysis of the Characteristics and Player Statistics of Bungie’s Video Game Destiny
• Are Video Games Truly a Game or a Reality?
• Analysis of the Topic of the Releases in the Video-Game Industry and the Issues of the Violence
• Analysis of the Rise of the Video Game Empire in Modern Society
• Two Aspects of Creating a Video Game
• Analysis of the Third-Person, Console-Based Video Game, The Last of Us
• Are Users The Next Entrepreneurs? A Case Study On The Video Game Industry
• Combating Video Game Addiction : A Global Problem
• Does Playing Video Game Consoles Bring About Plenty of Advantages?
• Analysis of the Field Work Project and the Topic of a Video Game Community
• Does Video Game Violence Affect Children?
• Do Video Games Contribute For Video Game Violence?
• Is The Video Game Industry an Oligopoly?
• Is Video Game Violence the Cause of Juvenile Delinquency?
• Psychological Effects of Video Game Violence on Children
• What Is the Defining Business and Economic Characteristics of the Video Game Console Industry?
• Why Play Station 4 and the Xbox One Are the Kings of the Next Generation Video Game Console?
• What Makes A Video Game Addictive?
• Competition Among 3 Main Video Game Companies: Nintendo, Sega, And Sony
• Brief Note On Video Gaming And The Video Game Industry
• Effects of Television and Video Game Violence on Children and Teenagers
• Analysis of the Different Genres of Video Game Systems for Children
• Overview of the Process and Career in Video Game Design
• Development of the Elder Scrolls Video Game Series
• Breaking Gender Stereotypes in Traditionally Masculine Sports: The Inclusion of Women in FIFA 16 Video Game
• Cancer: Video Game and Playing Violent Video
• Fighting the Online Video Game Wars in China
• Government Regulation Of Video Game Violence Is Unconstitutional And Unnecessary
• Japanese video game industry
• History of the Video Game Industry
• Microsoft Xbox Entering the World of Video Game
• The Merchant of Video Games: Adapting the Merchant of Venice into an Adventure Game
• What Are Some Revolutionary Breakthroughs in the Video Game Industry?
• What Does It Take To Make It in the Video Games Industry?
• Why Has the Video Game Industry Exploded Recently?
• What Is Wrong With the Video Game Industry in This Generation?
• Is the Video Game Industry Going Downhill?
• Who Is the Best Voice Actor in the Video Game Industry?
• What Will Be the Next Breakthrough or “Big Thing” in the Video Game Industry?
• Is the Video Game Industry in Trouble Right Now?
• Who Makes More Money: Hollywood or the Video Game Industry?
• How Has the Coronavirus Impacted the Video Game Industry?
• What Is the Biggest Missed Opportunity Yet in the Video Game Industry?
• Does Video Game Violence Induce Negative Affects on Our Youth?
• What Are the Changes the Video Game Industry Needs?
• How Large Is the Video Game Industry?
• Why Is the Video Game Industry in China Dominated by MMOs?
• Is There a Bubble Forming in the Video Game Industry?
• What Do Video Game Players Understand That Most People Don’t?
• How Easy Is It to Make a Video Game?
• What’s the Best Advice You’ve Received From a Video Game?
• What Was the First Video Game?
• What Is the Most Inappropriate Video Game You Know?
• What Are the Elements of a Good Video Game?
• How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Video Game?
• What Can Video Game Consoles Offer You?
• Why Video Game Addiction Is One of the Urgent Problems Today?
• How Does Science Create Video Game?
• How the 1970s Sparked the Video Game Industry?
• Why Do Video Game Movies Always Fail?
• What’s the Most Popular Video Game Genre?
• The Science Behind Brain-Boosting Games
• How Gaming Reflects and Influences Society
• How Video Games Participate in Social Justice
• Pros and Cons of Gamified Fitness and Wellness Apps
• Gamification, Its Benefits, and Learning Outcomes
• Virtual Goods in Video Games and Their Real-World Value
• What Factors Influence Immersion and Player Engagement?
• Cloud Gaming and the Potential of Streaming Technology
• Market Trends and Revenue Models of the Video Game Industry
• Violence, Microtransactions, and Other Ethical Issues in Video Game Development
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, December 27). 110 Video Game Topic Ideas for Essays & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/video-game-essay-topics/

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Best Video Game Essay Topics for Students

Choosing the right essay topic is crucial, and for students who love video games, it’s an opportunity to combine their passion with academics. In this article, we’ll explore a variety of exciting and various video game essay topic ideas for students of high school and college. This blog includes argumentative, analytical, persuasive and other types of essays related to video gaming.

Video Game Essay Topics for High School Students

• How Video Games Improve Problem-Solving Skills.
• Understanding the World of E-sports.
• The Importance of Balanced Gaming Habits.
• Exploring the History of Gaming Consoles.
• Video Games: Entertainment and Cultural Influence.
• Gender Representation in Video Games.
• Gamification in Education: Learning through Play.
• Game Design and the Art of Video Games.
• Tracing the Growth of the Video Game Industry.
• Social Connections in Online Gaming Communities.
• Video Games and Mental Health Benefits.
• Exploring Careers in Game Development.
• Ethical Choices in Video Games.
• The Impact of Music in Video Games.
• Making Video Games Accessible to Everyone.

Video Game Essay Topics for College Students

• The Educational Value of Video Games in College Curriculum.
• The Growth and Impact of E-sports in the Sports Industry.
• Gaming Habits and Academic Performance: A College Study.
• Game Engine Comparison: Unity vs. Unreal Engine.
• Gender Representation in Video Games: A College Perspective.
• Analyzing Game Narrative Structures in Popular Titles.
• Moral Choices in Video Games: Implications and Outcomes.
• The Psychology of Player Motivation in Gaming.
• Virtual Reality in Higher Education: Opportunities and Challenges.
• Career Prospects in Game Development: Paths and Insights.
• Ethical Dilemmas in Video Game Content Creation.
• The Role of Music and Sound in Video Game Immersion.
• Indie Game Development: Innovations and Success Stories.
• Video Game Preservation: Saving Gaming History.
• AI in Gaming: Enhancing NPC Behavior and Gameplay.

Common Essay Topics Related to Video Games

• The Influence of Video Games on Academic Performance.
• Video Game Violence: Separating Fact from Fiction.
• The History and Evolution of Mobile Gaming.
• The Role of Gaming in Building Teamwork and Collaboration.
• The Psychology of In-Game Rewards and Achievements.
• Virtual Reality (VR) Gaming: A Glimpse into the Future.
• Gaming and STEM Education: Learning Science through Games.
• The Representation of Diversity in Video Games.
• The Impact of In-Game Advertising on Players.
• The Benefits of Gaming for Stress Relief and Relaxation.
• The Importance of Responsible Gaming.
• The Art of Game Mods: Customizing and Enhancing Games.
• E-sports Scholarships and Opportunities for Students.
• The Environmental Impact of Video Game Consoles.
• Gamers for Good: How Gaming Communities Contribute to Charity.

Argumentative Topics for Video Game Essays

• Do Violent Video Games Promote Aggressive Behavior in Players?
• Should There Be Age Restrictions on Purchasing Violent Video Games?
• Are Video Games a Viable Educational Tool in Schools?
• Is Video Game Addiction a Real Concern, and How Should It Be Addressed?
• Do Video Games Enhance Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Skills?
• Should Parents Be More Involved in Monitoring Their Children’s Gaming Habits?
• Is E-sports a Legitimate Sport and Worthy of Recognition?
• Does Playing Video Games Improve Hand-Eye Coordination?
• Are Video Games a Form of Art, and Should They Be Treated as Such?
• Should the Video Game Industry Be Regulated More Strictly for Content?
• Do Video Games Have a Positive or Negative Impact on Social Skills?
• Is There a Link Between Video Games and Obesity in Children?
• Should Professional Gamers Be Considered Athletes and Eligible for Sports Scholarships?
• Does Gaming Culture Foster Toxic Behavior and Harassment?
• Can Video Games Help Alleviate Stress and Anxiety in Players?

Didn’t find any topic of your interest? No worries! We have listed 100+ Argumentative Essay Topics for Students here, you can go through the article and choose the best one as per your needs. This blog has various niche topics and can assist to find the best one for you.

Informative Video Game Essay Topics

• The History of Video Games: From Pong to Present.
• A Deep Dive into the World of E-sports.
• How Video Games are Made: Game Development Explained.
• Exploring Different Genres of Video Games: Action, RPG, Simulation, etc.
• The Evolution of Video Game Graphics and Technology.
• Iconic Video Game Characters and Their Impact on Pop Culture.
• The Science Behind Gaming: How Game Engines Work.
• Video Game Consoles: Past, Present, and Future.
• The Importance of Storytelling in Video Games.
• The Role of Sound Design and Music in Gaming.
• The Influence of Video Games on Architecture and Design.
• Video Game Streaming and Content Creation: A New Career Frontier.
• The Psychology of Gaming: Why We Love Video Games.
• The Cultural Significance of Video Game Events and Conventions.
• The Rise of Gamification in Education and Training.

Compare & Contrast Video Game Essay Topics

These compare and contrast essay topics are chosen by our experts and are specifically related to video gaming. These are general and easy to write on.

• Console Gaming vs. PC Gaming: Which Is Better?
• Single-Player vs. Multiplayer Games: Which Do You Prefer?
• Mobile Games vs. Console Games: Pros and Cons.
• Classic Games vs. Modern Games: What’s Changed?
• First-Person vs. Third-Person Shooter Games: Which is More Immersive?
• Xbox vs. PlayStation: Comparing Gaming Communities.
• Video Games vs. Board Games: Which Provides More Fun?
• Old Game Graphics vs. New Game Graphics: A Visual Evolution.
• RPGs vs. Action Games: Gameplay Differences.
• Retro Games vs. Modern Games: Nostalgia vs. Innovation.
• Open-World Games vs. Linear Games: Freedom vs. Guided Storytelling.
• Strategy Games vs. Puzzle Games: Challenges in Gaming.
• Video Games vs. Movies: Storytelling Approaches.
• Online Shooters vs. Battle Royale Games: Teamwork vs. Solo Play.
• Exclusive vs. Cross-Platform Games: Your Gaming Options.

Analytical Topics for Video Game Essays

• Strategies for Success in Online Multiplayer Games.
• Analyzing Game Elements in Role-Playing Games (RPGs).
• In-Game Purchases and Their Impact on Player Progress.
• The Design of Levels in Platformer Games: A Critical Look.
• Difficulty Levels in Video Games: Effects on Player Experience.
• The In-Game Economy: How It Works and Influences Players.
• The Significance of Tutorial Levels in Game Learning.
• Character Development in Video Games: Evolution and Influence.
• Linear vs. Non-Linear Storytelling in Video Games.
• Morality Systems in Games: Player Choices and Consequences.
• AI and Machine Learning in Video Games: Advancements and Applications.
• User-Friendly Game Interfaces: Design Principles and Importance.
• Game Analytics: Measuring Success in the Gaming Industry.
• Visual Design and Its Impact on Player Immersion.
• Cultural Adaptation in Video Game Localization.

Read more: Best Analytical Essay Topics

Persuasive Essay Topics on Video Gaming

• Why Schools Should Use Video Games for Learning.
• The Importance of Age Ratings in Video Game Sales.
• Video Games: Tools for Enhancing Problem-Solving Skills.
• How Video Games Can Improve Mental Well-being.
• Debunking the Myth: Video Games and Real-Life Violence.
• Promoting Diversity in Video Game Characters.
• Parents’ Role in Monitoring Kids’ Gaming Habits.
• Gamification in Education: Making Learning Fun.
• Addressing Video Game Addiction as a Health Issue.
• Teamwork and Cooperation in Multiplayer Games.
• Ethical Game Development: Fair Monetization Practices.
• The Need for More Research on Video Game Violence.
• Combatting Toxicity in Online Gaming Communities.
• Exploring E-sports Career Opportunities.
• Making Video Games Accessible for Everyone.

Read more: Best Persuasive Essay Topics

Best Video Game Essay Topics in 2023

• The Impact of Video Games on Society Today.
• Gaming and Sustainability: How Can Gamers Go Green?
• NFTs in Gaming: What You Need to Know.
• Virtual Reality Gaming: The Next Big Thing.
• Making Games Accessible for Everyone.
• AI’s Role in Video Game Development.
• Gaming Habits Post-Pandemic: What’s Changed?
• In-Game Advertising: Friend or Foe?
• 5G Technology and Its Effect on Gaming.
• Video Games and Mental Health: A Closer Look.
• Augmented Reality Games in Learning and Fun.
• Collectibles and In-Game Economies: Explained.
• Gaming Across Cultures: Challenges and Solutions.
• The Power of Online Gaming Communities.
• E-sports: The Future of Competitive Gaming.

These gaming essay topics would surely help you select the best topic of your choice, all various topics are suggested by our qualified experts keeping in mind the capabilities of an average student. If you want to hire our assignment writer for your gaming topics, feel free to reach us and get your essay done by experts.

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107 Video Game Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Video games have become a popular form of entertainment for people of all ages. From action-packed shooters to immersive role-playing games, there is a video game out there for everyone. With such a wide variety of games to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide on a topic for an essay about video games. To help you get started, here are 107 video game essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing:

• The impact of violent video games on children's behavior
• The evolution of video game graphics over the years
• The rise of esports and its influence on the gaming industry
• The benefits of playing video games for cognitive development
• The representation of gender and race in video games
• The history of virtual reality gaming
• The psychology of loot boxes in video games
• The role of music in enhancing the gaming experience
• The ethics of video game journalism
• The impact of video game addiction on mental health
• The cultural significance of video game franchises like Mario and Pokemon
• The future of cloud gaming and streaming services
• The role of storytelling in video games
• The influence of video games on popular culture
• The relationship between video games and education
• The impact of video game censorship on creative expression
• The portrayal of mental health issues in video games
• The role of social media in video game marketing
• The history of video game consoles
• The impact of online multiplayer games on social interaction
• The evolution of game mechanics in the survival horror genre
• The representation of LGBTQ+ characters in video games
• The influence of Japanese culture on video game aesthetics
• The role of nostalgia in the popularity of retro gaming
• The impact of microtransactions on player experience
• The relationship between video games and violence in society
• The role of artificial intelligence in game development
• The impact of video game streaming platforms like Twitch
• The representation of disability in video games
• The influence of game design on player engagement
• The evolution of mobile gaming
• The role of virtual economies in online multiplayer games
• The impact of video game sound design on immersion
• The portrayal of mental illness in video games
• The influence of Eastern philosophy on game narratives
• The role of user-generated content in game communities
• The impact of fan culture on video game development
• The representation of indigenous cultures in video games
• The influence of literature on game storytelling
• The role of game difficulty in player satisfaction
• The impact of video game piracy on the industry
• The portrayal of war in military shooter games
• The relationship between video games and sports
• The influence of board games on video game design
• The role of player choice in game narratives
• The impact of virtual reality on therapy and rehabilitation
• The representation of historical events in video games
• The influence of film on game aesthetics
• The role of gender stereotypes in video game marketing
• The impact of game mods on player creativity
• The portrayal of mental health professionals in video games
• The influence of tabletop role-playing games on video game mechanics
• The role of game mechanics in promoting teamwork and cooperation
• The impact of game development crunch on industry workers
• The representation of animals in video games
• The influence of science fiction on game narratives
• The role of player agency in game storytelling
• The impact of game difficulty on player motivation
• The portrayal of addiction in video games
• The influence of mythology on game aesthetics
• The role of puzzles in game design
• The impact of game reviews on player purchasing decisions
• The representation of mental illness in horror games
• The influence of architecture on game environments
• The role of game soundtracks in enhancing the player experience
• The impact of game tutorials on player learning
• The portrayal of robots and AI in video games
• The influence of fashion on character design in games
• The role of humor in game narratives
• The impact of game localization on cultural representation
• The representation of environmental issues in video games
• The influence of psychology on game design
• The role of game narratives in exploring complex themes
• The impact of game communities on player engagement
• The portrayal of mental health struggles in indie games
• The influence of mythology on game storytelling
• The role of player feedback in game development
• The impact of game accessibility on player inclusivity
• The representation of gender identity in video games
• The influence of surrealism on game aesthetics
• The role of morality systems in game narratives
• The impact of game tutorials on player retention
• The portrayal of mental health professionals in horror games
• The influence of psychology on game narratives
• The role of player choice in shaping game outcomes
• The impact of game aesthetics on player immersion
• The representation of LGBTQ+ relationships in video games
• The role of environmental storytelling in game design
• The impact of game streaming on player engagement
• The portrayal of mental illness in puzzle games
• The role of player feedback in shaping game development
• The impact of game aesthetics on player perception
• The representation of LGBTQ+ characters in horror games
• The influence of film noir on game narratives
• The role of environmental storytelling in shaping game worlds
• The impact of game tutorials on player skill progression
• The portrayal of mental illness in narrative-driven games
• The influence of science fiction on game aesthetics
• The role of player choice in determining game endings
• The impact of game aesthetics on player emotional response
• The representation of LGBTQ+ relationships in indie games
• The influence of literature on game design
• The role of environmental storytelling in immersive game worlds
• The impact of game streaming on player community building
• The portrayal of mental health struggles in interactive fiction games

Whether you are writing a research paper, a critical analysis, or a personal reflection on video games, these topics provide a diverse range of ideas to explore. From examining the psychological effects of gaming to analyzing the cultural significance of game narratives, there is no shortage of fascinating topics to delve into. So, pick a topic that interests you and start exploring the world of video games through the lens of your essay. Happy writing!

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Video Game Design: How It Impacts Us, And How We Study Its Impacts

Video game technology and design has seen explosive development and innovation over the last decade. We look at how game design impacts our brains, how it has changed our relationships and perceptions, and how we study these impacts.

• Mary Flanagan - Designer and educator who founded Tiltfactor, a studio dedicated to studying games, and designing games  that incorporate psychological principles, with the purpose of promoting learning, and attitude and behavior change. She is a professor of film and media studies at Dartmouth College.
• Dr. Paul Weigle - Child and adolescent psychiatrist and co-chair of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry's Media Committee. He studies video game and internet habits of young people and the impact on their mental health. 

Transcript:

This is a computer generated transcript, and may contain errors. 

Laura Knoy: From New Hampshire Public Radio I'm Laura Knoy and this is The Exchange.

Laura Knoy: Many parents have a long litany of concerns about the impact of video games on their kids. Fears the gaming might be linked to violence depression anxiety obesity poor grades and so on. But while sitting on a couch for seven hours a day can't be good for anyone. Emerging research does indicate that some popular games have some benefits. For example they're way more interactive and social than that stereotypical image of the lone gamer sitting by themselves. And many allow players to explore different identities and interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures from their own. Today in exchange a fresh look at video game research given the evolving nature of the games themselves. Let's hear from you. Your questions and comments are welcome. Our email is exchange at an NHPR.org. Once again exchange at an NHPR.org you can use Facebook or Twitter at any sparks change or you can give us a call 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7.

Laura Knoy: Our guests are Dr. Paul Weigle. He's a child and adolescent psychiatrist and associate medical director at natural Hospital in Connecticut. He's also chair of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry media committee and Dr. Weigle. It's a real pleasure having you. Thank you very much for your time.

Dr. Paul Weigle: Thank you for having me.

Laura Knoy: Also with us in studio Professor Mary Flanagan. She's a professor of film and media studies at Dartmouth College and founder of Tiltfactor game design for social change. And Professor Flanagan. Nice to see you welcome back.

Mary Flanagan: Good to be here Laura. Thank you.

Laura Knoy: And Professor Flanagan let's start with you. What type of games do you study and what type of games do you think are most important to look at right now because things are changing things are changing.

Mary Flanagan: In fact we use games as part of a larger research trajectory so we're often inventing new kinds of games for social causes for social change. So for example we might be trying to combat implicit biases that we all harbor in our minds and see if we can actually invent a new way of addressing them things like sexual assault prevention things like stereotypes about women in science. These are the kinds of topics we invent new games to address. So we're really looking at the ways in which we can use play in a positive effect.

Laura Knoy: Well would kids sorry to be so cynical right off the top but would kids play a game that sort of teaching them to be better human beings. I mean it feels sort of preachy.

Mary Flanagan: Oh it certainly would be if we followed a stereotypical path that way yes our games actually rarely appear to be what they are. OK. We really embed messages with a particular methodology that we call embedded design. So it's important that the game actually be fun first and then. But all games have messages all media have messages. So we are just very intentional about how they come across.

Mary Flanagan: So we'll definitely talk a little bit late about the types of games that you're creating Professor Flanagan but what types of games do you think as a researcher are important to be looking at right now.

Mary Flanagan: Well I think any popular game is worthy of study. It's unfortunate that we don't have a vast majority of researchers looking at games given their popularity and their cultural importance. I think that what's interesting to me is in fact the that the social aspects of games but also the ways in which we have emotional responses to games things like empathy comes up that the fascination with empathy comes up a lot especially as we move to virtual reality and immersive environments. And also the the the ways in which games can facilitate different kinds of conversations. I'm also very interested in the way in which we problem solving games and how that can really benefit us later in life. If the problems have interesting solutions very interesting how about you.

Laura Knoy: Dr. Weigle what sort of games do you think are really important for researchers like you and Professor Flanagan to be looking at.

Dr. Paul Weigle: Well I agree with Professor Flanagan that the games that kids are playing are really the most important. And as a clinician who treats mental illness in children and adolescents I'm most concerned with encouraging and helping parents to encourage a healthy balance in the lives of young people and how video game habits in particular can affect mental illness both for better and for worse.

Laura Knoy: That's interesting. So I have not often heard researchers Dr. Weigle say video games can impact mental health for better or for worse. I haven't heard for better So tell me a little bit about that.

Dr. Paul Weigle: Well you know with the rise of screen media in general and video games in particular and the lives of young people there have been some really positive changes that perhaps we wouldn't have dreamt of. Around the turn of the millennium. So since the year 2000 kids are spending about three times as much time playing video games as they were then. And along with that there's been some wonder. Changes. Some of the things that parents worry about the most with young people in particular teenagers for example where there's concern and rightly so that violent video games might make kids more aggressive.

Dr. Paul Weigle: And yet the violent crime rate among young people has plummeted. It's half of what it was in in the 90s. In addition so they may be shooting each other online but not on not on the streets and which is a really wonderful change. In addition teen pregnancy rates have plummeted. So if kids may not be dating as much but but teen pregnancy rates are half of what they were across different ethnicities compared to the year 2000. Drug alcohol cigarette use among teenagers has declined significantly particularly Cigarette and alcohol use which is past month uses is has been found to be half of what it was again around the year 2000. And and with less young people driving the number of young people who have worked are killed. Teens who were killed in traffic accidents has plummeted as well and is half of what it was. So. So there's some really important and good things to have kids you know important effects that have happened with this huge generational change with young people spending more time on screens. And one of them is that they're physically safer.

Laura Knoy: Wow that is amazing I love what you think Professor Flanagan to those markers that parents often worry about substance abuse crime teen pregnancy car crashes all the stuff that keeps parents of teenagers like myself up at night. Dr. Weigle telling us these are down and screen use is way way up.

Mary Flanagan: Yes it is. It is an interesting phenomenon. I mean the research has really been divided for years and years about you know the positive and negative effects and unfortunately negative effects have gotten a lot of press. But I do think that in some ways people looking for problems often find correlations. We can also find as Dr. Weigle suggests correlations for good and some very interesting studies on that as well as the differences internationally in the research. Some American researchers have found the link between video games and violence in some larger meta studies but also video games researchers in Europe have actually found no link between any kind of aggressive behavior and and video games and in fact look to television and as as a as a main culprit. So so we have some pretty pretty divided literature. It's it's it's very difficult to study video games out of context. We're in a media saturated environment. We where there screens around us in airports and waiting rooms and everything. So we really have to look at perhaps if we're thinking about violence in particular we have to look at all the cultural messages that we we send out.

Laura Knoy: I want to remind our listeners that we would love to hear from you the number here in the exchanges 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7 today in The Exchange a look at emerging video game research. We'd love to get your questions or comments in on this topic. You can give us a call at 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7. Well send us an email exchange at an HP yard dot org What do you want to know about the impact of video games especially on young people. One more time that number 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7. So Professor Flanagan 10 years ago 15 years ago the conversation over video games seemed to be. Are they good or bad for kids for the young developing body and brain. It sounds like from listening to you and Dr. Weigle that conversation is changing the conversation is changing too.

Mary Flanagan: Consider for example the idea of inclusion that video games might actually be appealing to a wider population. They're being made slowly but surely by a wider and diverse creative base. And we're seeing a lot of new kinds of players of women over 50 for example. And the number one growing video game audience are women over 50. So it's not only for young people that a little bit of the average gamer in the United States is about 35 years old. Oh really. Yeah so. So we don't necessarily always have this link between young people and and video games. But the the the the the fascination is that somehow spending all the screen time in an immersive world somehow takes people away from the real world. And I think if we just look back to our own childhoods perhaps before the influx of video games and we see oh you know I spent a lot of time reading novels authorized their kids spend a lot of time doing the things they love.

Mary Flanagan: And and I don't think most of.

Mary Flanagan: Or worse for wear for reading too many novels. So I also like to just de-escalate the conversation the suspicion of the secret technology or something like that. It's not necessarily a bad thing.

Laura Knoy: Well and I'm so glad you raised that and I'd love to get your thoughts to Dr. Weigle how much of the concern that we hear about video games you know is for real concerns about mental health and so forth and we'll talk about physical health in a moment as well and how much is it due to just what Professor Flanagan is hinting at. Adults inherently suspicious of anything new that they didn't do when they were kids what do you think.

Dr. Paul Weigle: Yeah. So that there is an element of concern about you know are our adults always sort of worried about what what kids are doing and it reminds me of when I was young and there was a great deal of concern about kids playing Dungeons and Dragons and that having an awful effect and of course that's just another version of a story that's been going on for a long time every generation it seems. However I do think that the it's important to phrase the idea and not just are are video games bad or good because inherently they really are neither. It's what type of game how and how they're played what type of habits young people get into. That's the most important.

Dr. Paul Weigle: Professor Flanagan had indicated that that you know young people spend a lot of times you know indulging their interests and that can be both positive and negative. I do think that the or at least my take on the the literature and studies indicate that that techno that entertainment media have really have changed the nature of childhood and adolescence and and and that that young people are spending so much time you know an average of seven hours a day for screen entertainment according to recent studies for teenagers that it began it it has begun to displace other healthy habits that young people really need to engage in in order to lead a happy and healthy lives and what I'm talking about is is active activities of academic value like reading for fun I'm talking about in-person socializing you know although it's very true the playing fortnight you know introduces you to other people and you do have a real connection with them. It is a very limited one and it really does not serve the same function for mental health and growth that in-person socialization does. Another thing is of course adequate exercise and physical movement and finally adequate sleep which is so important for mental health in a number of different ways. Studies show that young people are sleeping less than before.

Dr. Paul Weigle: And a lot of it has to do with their technology habits.

Laura Knoy: And that is definitely not good for your mental and physical health as we know so it seems like you're saying. Dr. Weigle it's not so much playing video games as Professor Flanagan said kids spent a lot of time doing things they love whether it's Dungeons and Dragons or reading novels or whatever you seem to be more quibbling with.

Laura Knoy: It's just too much time doing one thing.

Dr. Paul Weigle: For most it is and of course there's a great there's a lot of variation right. Some young people really don't spend too much time playing games or engaging in other technology at all. And then there's 25 percent of teens according to research that are classified as heavy users that spend about 13 hours a day which over the course of a year is about four times the amount of time they spend in school. And this is a quarter of American teens according to the Common Sense media survey. So so for. So it certainly varies by individual. But for some it can become a really really unhealthy habit that just crowds out you know other parts of their life that that support growth and health.

Laura Knoy: Professor Flanagan What do you think.

Mary Flanagan: Well I I'm definitely in agreement about the the the there is there is a level of what is too much. But I'm also really concerned about the ways in which video games reveal there are answers and video games. You know you get feedback you have points you know when you're winning. It feels good. There are there are problems to solve. The the the setup is understandable. That's not like the real world the real world a little bit more fuzzy. And I do wonder sometimes if if we're kind of creating games that teach a little bit too much of of a clarity or a lack of ambiguity missions in life are very different challenges in life are very different. So the kinds of problem solving we get packaged in a game are really interesting and good but too much may again limit us as far as being flexible thinkers.

Laura Knoy: That's super interesting I'd love to hear a little bit more from you on that again especially for. Who maybe don't have a familiarity with busy video games it seems like you're saying that success in a video game is treasures one enemies knocked out territories conquered quantifiable life is isn't as as data driven or as measurable.

Mary Flanagan: That's right. And we still need to find an intrinsic reward instead of an extrinsic reward in the way we conduct ourselves.

Dr. Paul Weigle: Right. That way we find meaning in life.

Laura Knoy: Dr. Weigle what do you think.

Yeah I think that I think that's exactly right. video games are very good at meeting us at just the right challenge level. So if you're playing a game you have to fully engage in order to be successful. But if you do give your full attention you are likely to be successful. And as you get better at the game the game is very good at increasing the complexity and challenge so that you are always in that sweet spot of you know of the zone of flow where you have to. You're engaged completely.

Dr. Paul Weigle: And unlike the real world this is different than a real world task in the real world path. Sometimes you know involve frustrations you know that are are much higher and and areas which are sort of boring or at times that you really have to practice patience. And it's a real world task. You know Art are much more frustrating and require really a lot more more patients in order to learn real world skills when compared to games which really are good at just challenging players and just the right way. But they don't necessarily you know encourage the development of sort of grit.

Laura Knoy: It's really interesting. And coming up in just a moment I would ask both of you about that the idea that real life can be boring and a little more ambiguous and how that translates for young people across from their video game play to their academic work. We'll talk about that after a very short break.

Laura Knoy: This is The Exchange. I'm Laura Knoy. Today a fresh look at video game research and the evolving nature of the games themselves. Let's hear from you. Call in 1 800 9 2 6 4 7 7 send email to exchange at any age port org. Use Facebook or Twitter at any exchange. One more time the email exchange at an HP morgue and the phone number is 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7. With me in studio Professor Mary Flanagan. She's a professor of film and media studies at Dartmouth College and founder of Tiltfactor game design for social change. Joining us by phone Dr. Paul Weigle child and adolescent psychiatrist and associate medical director at Nacho Hospital in Connecticut. And Dr. Weigle to you first. What. So at this point lots of research as you and Professor Flanagan's said in the first part of the show different conclusions sometimes from America versus Europe.

Laura Knoy: Is there anything that we definitively know. Dr. Weigle about the impact of video games on young people and what we don't know is can we really measure anything at this point or is it all still sort of a matter of research and opinion.

Dr. Paul Weigle: Yeah I think it depends on how much it really depends on how much how much research someone did that needs to be published or how much evidence is enough to say we really know something. I mean in order to do the kind of experiments that would really tell us what we want to know we would have to do experiments where reassign young people to play certain video games for a certain amount of time for years. And these are experiments that are just impossible to do. However we do have a wealth of information we're talking hundreds of of scientific studies looking at correlations and and sometimes looking at effects over time of changes with gaming habits so that there is a lot that we do know. And speaking in broad terms you know Dr. Flanagan mentioned press ran Flanagan mentioned that there's a there is different research about the effects of video games on violent behavior.

Dr. Paul Weigle: But to my to my knowledge or as far as I can tell from the literature there there are hundreds of studies do show this sort of persistent effect of video game play violent video game play and aggressive thoughts and behaviors. Now this isn't necessarily violence right. And as I mentioned before playing violent video games which most kids do has not made a nation of violent kids it hasn't done that. But there is a significant persistent effect found in the significant majority of studies linking violent video game play to aggressive thoughts and behaviors. So so but the effect size is small. So what I'm saying here is that it seems to me that the that playing violent video games for an extended period of time does not make a you know mild mannered kid into a physically aggressive kid necessarily but it does sort of inch them along that line towards aggressive towards aggression or spending time in this in this sort of hostile world of kill or be killed. It does seem to have an effect on making a child sort of a little bit more aggressive a little bit less likely to engage in kind behavior that kind of thing. So so my take on the literature is there is a small but persistent effect of violent video games.

Laura Knoy: What do you think Professor Flanagan. That's I think the number one concern of most parents and adults in general that violent video games might contribute in some way to violent behavior or aggressive behavior as the doctor says.

Mary Flanagan: Well you know there have been a large meta analysis of existing studies throughout the last let's just say 10 years and those results.

Mary Flanagan: As Dr. Weigle suggests do suggests that there is for a particular population a slightly increased aggressive strand if you will. So kids that might also be already prone to being aggressive might. This population is the most vulnerable to impact like practicing violence.

Mary Flanagan: On the other hand again this could be an American problem because when we go over to the UK the UK Millennium Cohort study that was just conducted in the last two years they looked at 11000 children in the in the UK. A lot of kids that's a lot of kids and they really found no link between playing electronic games with any kind of conduct problems. Right. So so this this could be culturally specific. It could also again since these studies are correlative meaning that there's a there's a there's a kind of similarity between data sets but we don't always know exactly that cause and effect or it could be that that that the the the studies you know there are constant contradiction. About a violent video game studies I will say also that a few of the early studies academic studies on violent video games were redacted where were were removed from the research community because they were for a variety of reasons found insufficient.

Mary Flanagan: So some of the early hysteria in the academic from the academic studies on violent video games actually were some of those studies were removed from from from academic life so and found to be not valid studies. So it is. So we're working we're working with an origin. It's a little bit like the vaccine crisis. You know we have some some some as one study or one rumor or something and everyone kind of jumps on that bandwagon sites that paper and suddenly we have a scientific movement. What happens when some of that initial research isn't so valid after all.

Laura Knoy: All right let's go to our listeners lots more to talk about. Our number here in The Exchange is 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7. You can send us an email exchange at any HP fraud today in exchange we're taking a fresh look at video game research. Given the changing nature of some of the games themselves a lot of interaction a lot of problem solving. The games are not what they were 20 years ago or even 10 years ago. We're taking a look at how the games have changed and how some of the research around gaming is changing. Our number 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7.

Laura Knoy: And first up is James in Nashua. Hi James go ahead you're on the air.

Caller: Yes hi. Thanks for taking my call. Sure. I just want to share a first hand. You know I worked with drones in the Air Force and specifically I worked with sensor operators and drone pilots and converse conversations with sensor operators and those are the guys that fire the missile and help guide the bomb to the target.

Caller: You know firsthand they said that they dealt with you know killing and eliminating targets by you know playing video games. That helped desensitize them from doing their job. So I thought that was an interesting data point desensitize them.

Laura Knoy: So give us a little more there. James how do you feel about that what does that mean to you.

Caller: I basically say that I think video games you know pranks you know playing killing someone and then looking at a video screen at a real job you know it helps them eliminate the human factor from it and make it easier for someone to kill somebody else.

Laura Knoy: Thank you very much for calling in James especially given your experience Dr. Weigle. What do you think about this.

Dr. Paul Weigle: Sure so. So a number of studies have found what exactly what James was saying that that playing violent video games does have an effect of desensitizing towards violence to some degree. And so and certainly as an anecdotal you know my my brother was in the military and when when his squad wasn't you know knocking down doors in Iraq they were playing Call of Duty and video games sort of simulating you know modern warfare.

Dr. Paul Weigle: And there's a reason they did that. The games are very sophisticated in their ability to simulate real world violence and and so you know anecdotally you know Anders Breivik who was a mass murderer from Norway who killed 77 people said he trained for his for his killing by playing Call of Duty as well as time at the range. So I do think that that the the games that are so realistic that they they certainly can simulate violence in a way that can translate to real world behavior.

Laura Knoy: What do you think Professor Flanagan. I know these aren't the type of games that you are designing in your lab. Tiltfactor but I just wonder what you think about this. Do you sense a sensitization lack of empathy concern with some of these games.

Mary Flanagan: Well I would say for everyone training to kill others in an online game you have people training to cook meals and you know Cooking Mama or is like old you know there's so many games we have a lot of games right. So. So of course you know everyone's most concerned with with with with the most violent. But but we do you know there if you go back to anthropologists looking at the history of play we actually see that play can meet a variety of needs a need for power a need for understanding the adult world a need for. So. So there are many lenses upon which we can place our understanding of video games from an anthropological standpoint. Maybe we need all of these kinds of things in some kind of measure and perhaps for some that can be abused. I think the the idea of linking games to the military is particularly interesting because first of all we have a history of the military using games for a recruitment tool. America's Army 15 years ago was developed by the military to get kids to join the army. It was online multiplayer game where it was free to download and I played it. I've done lots of work in that in that environment and it was a recruitment tool to get people excited about joining the military so that that link has been very clear. Training simulations flight simulators we have a lot of games used in and military context. We also interesting. However we also use games for PTSD to overcome some of the problems people in the military have encountered in there in their combat for example.

Laura Knoy: That's super interesting.

Laura Knoy: Do you have a story or an example about that.

Well I've just I've I've several artists in fact have have acquired video footage of people competing from some some PTSD experiences in Iraq with using video games as part of the healing process. We see this with phobias as well people can use video games and immersive digital environments to do kind of auto correct or kind of work through some PTSD challenges with medical with medical supervision.

Mary Flanagan: So we it's very interesting to use the same same kind of tool and what that just shows me is that it's not the same kind of tool that we're lumping together a lot of different things when we talk about video games and one we have video games for healing. Another we have video games for kind of propaganda in a way and then we have also video games for training all of that in an entertainment context because of course video games are part of a very large media media and entertainment complex.

Laura Knoy: I would love to talk to both of you more about the commercial interests involved in these as you said the military uses some of these games as a recruiting tool. Both my boys love to play Madden which is a football playing game so that's fine. But it allows them to have the NFL which is a large commercial enterprise in front of their eyeballs. You know all year long. Not just during football season which is pretty long already. So it's interesting. And Mary I know you've talked about there's some casino elements in some of these games. Yes.

Mary Flanagan: You know sort of teaching people that gambling is fun and.

Mary Flanagan: Yes that in fact if you go to the app store and you look at the number one selling apps you look through history you'll find gambling games as a very large component of what is actually popular out there. And it is a little disturbing when when one is working with a bunch of professional game designers often professional game designers want to make good games they want to invent new mechanics but there are consultants consultants from casinos consultants from gambling institutions who also are brought in to help video games be more addictive. Case in point Candy Crush. You can see why Candy Crush feels like a slot machine. It's not it's not an accident.

Laura Knoy: We will talk a lot more after a short break.

Laura Knoy: This is The Exchange I'm Laura Knoy. Today the latest research on video games and especially their impact on young people. Let's hear from you. Call in 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7. Our email exchange at an NHPR.org. Once again that number 1 889 2 6 4 7 7. Our guests are Dr. Paul Weigle child and adolescent psychiatrist and associate medical director at natural Hospital in Connecticut. With me in studio Professor Mary Flanagan professor of film and media studies at Dartmouth College and founder of Tiltfactor game design for social change. And both of you. Let's go right back to our listeners. Gavin's calling in from Barrington Hi Gavin. You're on the line. Go ahead.

Caller: Yes hello. Thank you for taking my call. I am a psychotherapist out of Salem New Hampshire and I work primarily with young adult and adolescents and I deal with gaming on a daily basis and I agree with Dr. Weigle that balance is so key when understanding how to make gaming appropriate. There's obviously a lot of concerns if it gets sort of out of balance. And my brother working in the gaming industry I can tell you that what what we're seeing now is just the tip of the iceberg what's coming in the next five to 10 years is going to be amazing. So that balance is really important. On the flip side though I can tell you I'm working with gaming. I've helped clients one for example have very high social anxiety and the transition from high school to college was extremely challenging. And so what I did is looked at how learning with the games he played how important learning maps were them that knowledge we acquired it with college and we started looking at the map. We started learning where did it go. And we even took a test run where he then walked the map and in doing that it helped reduce that anxiety and ultimately really helped him be successful in that challenge. So there's a lot of skills people and gamers are learning that can that can be translated to life very effectively and I think that's an important piece to keep in mind especially when we're looking at gaming and what it means to adolescents and young adults.

Laura Knoy: Really interesting. Gavin thank you so much for the call. Let's hear from both of you on this Dr. Weigle you first. The benefits of games and he's you know Gavin's got a full picture. He doesn't say it's all good but the benefits of games for young people who may have anxieties who may be what's sometimes called neuro diverse they don't learn the same way they don't look at the world the same way. I wonder what your thoughts are.

Laura Knoy: Dr. Weigle.

Dr. Paul Weigle: Sure so it was so video games absolutely can be a fantastic teacher as Professor Flanagan has has his report and they can teach us both you know positive or negative things. You know we know that video games teach of course they train skills for eye hand coordination. They train skills for visual tracking the ability to mentally rotate objects multitasking and other cognitive abilities even vision. The gamers have better vision and non gamers can improve their practice the actual real world application of that is a little bit less clear in the literature like you might imagine that you know with all these with better visual attention and better multitasking and an eye and coordination that gamers would be better drivers. However the literature seems to show that although they might be more skilled drivers gamers tend to make take higher risks while they're driving. And so maybe are actually less safe drivers. One study did showed that that surgeons who who play video games perform much better on on surgery simulators than surgeons with similar experience who don't play games so so. So certainly there there absolutely can be real world applicability. But speaking to Gavin's Point I do see gaming for young men as a major a major impediment for many young men as far as leaving the home and transitioning successfully to college. And and a lot of times it's it's very important to consider sort of leaving the gaming console at home because for the first time you know young men are really don't have any parental limits on on how much they're allowed to play and it can really suck in some young people to the point where they they drop out of school.

Laura Knoy: I have heard some of those legends or ambitions say legends stories Dr. waggle about young men who go to college and mom isn't saying Get off get off get off. And so they never get off and it turns out not well for them. Which raises a question I'd like to ask you Professor Flanagan how do men and women interact with games differently. I have read that the male brain is more predisposed to become addicted to games than the female brain. I don't know if that's true. I'd love your thoughts.

Mary Flanagan: I would say that that's probably not a definitive definitive finding in the research. We do know that. So it's it's more just anecdotal. Yeah I think that it's a feeling. Yeah that's a that's a suspicion perhaps I guess but. But I there are a few interesting studies that suggest.

Mary Flanagan: So for example a team of researchers in Canada did a study because they're very interested in in the kind of performance and games women versus men is. Is there something innate in video games that that men are better at hand eye coordination or all of these kinds of things than when they found that everyone had the same level of hours put in the same level of experience the same level of. Just that there was no difference in any kind of in-game performance and it is interesting. The only the only difference that has been consistent through through the years is is that as women tend to have lower spatial reasoning scores in general but that is often attributed to the number of hours playing three dimensional games and of course objects of childhood play. So so when when everyone's playing with the same tools and the same toys that those those differences diminish. So I don't give much credence to that. I do think that we have social stereotypes that games are for men that games or create is a masculine culture. But I think over time we see that that that actually when we actually collect the data it's it's nearing 50/50 and most on most game platforms except for some of the more simulations. But for example World of Warcraft had half women players and and I would suspect the same for Overwatch in and probably Fortnite as well.

Laura Knoy: That's interesting and that does push back at the stereotype so I'm glad you mentioned that there was a rash of media articles a couple months ago. Professor Flanagan about fortnight addiction and this was seen know The Boston Globe and The Washington Post they're all these stories about the all boys in these stories anyway who were absolutely addicted to fortnight and just could not get off and you know fights with parents and there was this whole again rash of headlines if you want to go about fortnight addiction.

Laura Knoy: So is that know exaggerated or people going overboard with this or is that a real thing every time a game is released.

Mary Flanagan: There's always a small group of people who commit to a game and just will not stop and you know that's where those horror stories come from.

Mary Flanagan: You know the man who did not leave his chair for three days. You know like there are these there are these all these horror stories like that and they tend to have been men in the past but that I think there's a variety of reasons that that could be true. But but there is I want to get back to this idea of what's pleasurable about a game. The idea that that there's this promise of success and it doesn't happen all the time. And in psychology we call this the variable ratio reward structure that there's occasionally something given to us. So we have to we know that there's promise out there we know we'll get something someday. So we just keep working it and we just keep working at it. And that that seems to drive this. This if if we want to use the term addiction I tend I tend not to use it but then again I'm not I'm not a physician. But when that that sense of pleasure that sense of that sense of little dopamine arrives it is it is very calculated in fact and game designers spend hours and hours and hours sometimes with casino designers for example to get that variable ratio reward structure just at the sweet spot so that you always keep playing and always keep playing because often of course a game doesn't exist unless it's played. So you really need to keep your players and keep them in there keep them in your game lest they go and play another game.

Mary Flanagan: So well eyeball time.

Laura Knoy: That's key and they don't make money if your eyeballs aren't on you know how many hours a day. And that's really the last question I would ask both of you and Dr. Weigle you first. What incentive what interest perhaps do you see from game designers to make the games a little less addictive so that people will go outside and move their bodies. I mean you in and Professor Flanagan both said you know look it's not so much that these games are inherently bad it's that song people just spend way too much time on them and not enough time outside helping around the house reading or whatever. Do you see any interest in the game designing companies to make these games a little bit easier to leave or stop.

Dr. Paul Weigle: Unfortunately I don't. So you know this is one hundred and twenty billion dollar industry it's an entertainment juggernaut it's bigger by some measures than the movie industry. And that money as Mr Flanagan noted is going into getting people to play and keeping them playing. And I do think that that the I don't think that game designers are half bad people but when when someone's job depends on them sort of not seeing the negative effects of their work they're often inclined not to see it. I'm thinking of the cigarette industry whose you know executives swore before Congress not 20 years ago that they didn't believe that that cigarettes were were addictive and they're really you know I don't think any industry is good at regulating itself right at regulating the harm it caused in the cigarette industry. I do think is a is a reasonable example of that. They had to be regulated from the federal government. And I worry that in order for the video game. Who really they're there. They're beholden to their stockholders and they're beholden to their bottom line more than they're beholden to the public health that until there. I do think it would be very easy for game designers to build in safeguards to help people to have healthy habits right after you play for eight hours. You stop earning a certain amount of rewards or just remind you hey you've been playing for so long. Maybe you should take a break. Something like that would be so easy for game designers to build in but there's no incentive for them to do so currently. So I believe that until they are regulated from the outside I don't believe that there will be a movement within the video game industry to help gamers maintain healthy habits.

Laura Knoy: Real quick to you last thoughts.

Mary Flanagan: I would just caution... Game designers often do notice this stuff. They're the ones who want to make the best game it's the corporate environment that is forcing their hand at not being able to have those reminders. But I would say that there are there's pushback on a number of levels and there's pushback among the game design community. And in fact there's a whole new generation of people making independent games. A lot of game designers go outside the studio system and make small independent games on their own that challenge some of these very notions. So that's really interesting. So there's this indie games movement they're game festivals there's one called indie-Cade so there is becoming a kind of a new movement for positive and different kinds of interaction. All right.

Laura Knoy: Both of you. We could've talked a lot longer. This was really interesting I really appreciate you taking the time. Professor Flanigan thank you for coming in. Thank you so much. And Dr. Weigle Thank you also. We really appreciate it.

Dr. Paul Weigle: Thanks for having me.

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How student-designed video games made me rethink how I teach history

Professor of History, The University of Texas at Austin

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Imagine you’re a young samurai in Japan in 1701. You have to make a difficult choice between an impoverished life in exile, or the prospect of almost certain death while trying to avenge the death of your dishonored lord. Which do you choose?

“ Ako: A Tale of Loyalty ,” a video game built in 2020, takes players along a difficult journey through early modern Japan filled with decisions like this one. It’s become an essential component of my classes on Japanese history, but it wasn’t developed by a professional game studio. Instead, it was created by a team of four undergraduate history majors with no specialized training.

Designing a video game may seem like a strange assignment for a humanities classroom, but as a professor who teaches a range of courses in East Asian history I have found that such exercises provide an engaging learning experience for students while also generating new educational content that can be widely shared.

The gaming revolution

Nearly two-thirds of American adults play video games, and that figure rises steadily each year. Fueled by stay-at-home orders and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, global gaming sales rose to nearly US$180 billion in 2020.

Among university students, video games are utterly pervasive . When I ask my classes who consumes video game content, either as a player or via streaming services like Twitch , it’s rare that a single student’s hand is not raised.

Schools and colleges have rushed to respond to these trends. Programs like Gamestar Mechanic or Scratch help K-12 students learn basic coding skills, while many universities, including my own, have introduced game design majors to train the next generation of developers.

History professors, however, have been slower to embrace video games as teaching tools. Part of the problem is that the historical content contained within games is often, with some exceptions , repetitive and superficial.

While there are many games focused on Japanese history, for example, the majority reinforce the same tired image of the heroic warrior bound by the rigid code of “bushidō,” a code that scholars have shown had very little to do with the daily life or conduct of most samurai.

Designing humanities games

In 2020, I asked four undergraduate history majors to design a fully functional video game with a clear educational payoff built around a controversial episode in Japanese history.

I was motivated by two ideas. First, I wanted to move beyond a standard reliance on academic essays. While I still assign essays, many students find them fairly passive exercises which don’t stimulate deep engagement with a topic.

Second, I was convinced that university professors need to get into the business of producing games content. To be clear, we’re not going to design anything even close to what comes out of professional studios. But we can produce compelling games that are ready to be used both in colleges and – equally important – K-12 classrooms, where teachers are always looking for vetted scholarly content. A conventional academic essay is intended for just one person, the professor. But a video game produced by a group of committed undergraduates can be played by thousands of students at different institutions.

At first, I worried the task I had set was too big and the technological barriers too high. None of the four team members was enrolled in a video game design program or had specialized training. It quickly became clear that such fears were overblown.

The team decided to work on a visual novel game, a genre that originated in Japan and can best be described as interactive stories. The design process for such games is facilitated by programs such as Ren’Py , which streamline development.

Learning by design

The team’s first task was to design a believable central character. Successful games push players to emotionally invest in their characters and the choices they make. In the case of “Ako,” the design team created a young samurai named Kanpei Hashimoto who was grounded in the period but also easy to relate to as a young person struggling to find his way in a complex world.

From there, the team created branching storylines punctuated by clear decisions. In total, “Ako” has five possible outcomes depending on the choices a player makes. Numerous smaller decisions along the way open up additional ways to navigate the game.

The next step was dialogue. A typical academic essay is around 2,500 words, and students often complain about how difficult it is to fill the required pages. In contrast, the “Ako” team wrote over 30,000 words of dialogue. It required extensive research. What would a samurai family have eaten for breakfast? How much did it cost to buy a “kaimyō,” or posthumous Buddhist name, for a deceased parent? How long did it take to make the oiled paper umbrellas , called “wagasa,” that many poor samurai sold to survive?

Finally, the students developed historically accurate artwork. The game has four chapters with 30 background images and 13 characters. Making sure everything was consistent with this period in Japanese history was a huge undertaking that stretched both me and the students.

Ultimately, the team learned more about samurai life and early modern Japan than any group of students I had worked with across a single semester. They read a dizzying array of books and articles while working and reworking the overall design, dialogue and artwork. And they succeeded in developing a fully functional video game that has already been used in other classrooms across the country.

Most importantly, I believe their experience provides a template for how student-designed video games can transform the humanities classroom.

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How to write a video game story

I took a game writing course. Here’s what I learned

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My first attempt at writing a video game script begins with the socialist journalist and activist Marina Ginestà, a remarkable woman who died five years ago, at the age of 94.

Although she lived an eventful life, she’s most famous for a photograph taken of her when she was 17 years old, standing on the rooftop of a Barcelona hotel, a rifle slung over her shoulder. It’s one of the most arresting images of the Spanish Civil War, in which young, idealistic Europeans like Ginestà fought for democracy, against a coalition of fascists and aristocrats.

I’m going to use that photograph as the first building block of my game. You see, I’ve signed onto an online course called Story for Video Games , a six-session investigation of interactive narrative. By the end of the course, I hope to have created a fully fleshed story for a game. There’s no coding or art. I only have to write.

The course is run by John Yorke, the author of Into the Woods , a book on how stories work. He also runs courses on writing novels, plays, movie scripts, and TV dramas. He’s spent most of his career in British television, holding senior roles on the BBC’s most popular production, the rollicking soap opera EastEnders .

Yorke tells me that games pose a particular challenge because of their interactivity, and their reliance on spectacular visual effects.

“In games, the writing often takes second place to design and technology,” he says. “If developers invest more in the writing, in the very best screenwriters, that’s going to take them to the next level.”

Yorke says he plays “AAA, blockbuster games, when I can find the time.” He is assisted by experts in gaming, including Caroline Marchal, CEO of studio Interior Night, which is currently working on a narrative game for Sega. She formerly worked at Quantic Dream, where she was lead game designer for Beyond: Two Souls . Quantic Dream is arguably the world’s most ambitious studio when it comes to interactive narratives and character-driven gaming, seen in its most recent title, 2018’s Detroit: Become Human , which has sold 2 million copies.

“The big difference between movies or novels and video games is that, because they’re interactive, the audience is actually part of the experience in a way other media doesn’t offer,” she says. “So the journey they’re going through is the same as that of the protagonist. That creates challenges as well as opportunities.”

The session’s first exercise is to create a protagonist. Yorke asks that I mention the game’s genre in my written presentation, but he’s much more interested in the character at the center of my game than in the way the game plays. He says games are beginning to escape a long history of character cliches and stereotypes, and he’s looking for his students’ work to reflect that progress.

“I’ve seen a lot of really basic, James Bond-level characterizations in games,” he says. “It’s done out of a desire for safety. The games companies think that’s the easiest person for players to empathize with. But I think they’re wrong. That’s not how empathy really works. Empathy is about finding something inside a character that’s flawed and damaged; that you understand.”

Yorke and Marchal’s introduction to the course states their belief that today’s games should focus as much on stories as on activities. They point toward the recent success of narrative games in which protagonists (and antagonists) have displayed more depth and human resonance than in years gone by. Their gallery of examples includes The Last of Us , Her Story , Overwatch , and Reigns .

I want to find out if they’re right. Is character really as important in a game as it is in a novel or a play? So I’m going to write my story.

Creating stories

There’s one snag. I’ve been writing about games for decades. I’m deeply interested in how they work and how they affect me. But I have never in my life felt the least inclination to actually make one.

It’s not that I’m averse to telling stories. I’ve written two novels , so theoretically, I ought to at least be curious about writing a story-based game. But in the realms of fiction, I’ve always cared more about why people do the things that they do, than on what they actually do. My novels include few action sequences. The stories focus mainly on dialogue and relationships. This is how novels work. But it’s not how games work.

Most narrative-heavy games, like Telltale’s story adventures, are constantly introducing action elements that draw focus away from emotional problems and toward practical and physical puzzles. But we’re beginning to see exceptions, such as Florence and My Child Lebensborn — both of which were ranked in Polygon’s top 50 games of last year — which focus almost entirely on story and resonance.

Yorke’s course is attractive to me because it’s dedicated to the curious idea that novels and games are the same, at least insofar as how they allow us to inhabit other people.

”All stories are forged from the same template,” he says. “What that template is and why we need to follow it is the subject of this course.”

Traditionally, games have mostly been dedicated to inhabiting the physicality of their characters. Mario jumps. Solid Snake sneaks. Lara climbs. Their personalities and backstories are sideshows, or thin marketing exercises. The characters lack substance. Their motivations are arcane.

Marchal points toward woeful completion rates for many single-player campaigns. “If you look at the statistics for single-player games, the majority of players do not finish them. That’s a storytelling problem,” she says. Raptr estimated that only one in 10 players completed the final mission in the original Red Dead Redemption (which has, admittedly, a very long campaign).

She argues that, in many big-budget action-adventures, players lose interest in the mechanics, but a good story would pull them forward. Players want to care about the game’s characters and about the most important element of any story: What happens next?

“There’s a lot we can learn from the ways stories have been crafted for centuries, which can then be crafted to work with just about any kind of game, even if it doesn’t seem to fit any kind of traditional linear model,” she says.

To fix this problem, Marchal argues that game designers must rise to the challenge of increasing narrative complexity. Technology today — animation, artificial intelligence, dynamic narrative systems — allows for deeper characters than in the past. We can all agree that Lara Croft is a more complicated and interesting person than she was 25 years ago. Tomb Raider’s recent three-game reboot was built around the story of Croft’s growth as a character.

As players become more demanding and diverse, they desire more believable, flawed, identifiable characters. In his introduction to the course, Yorke points out that game stories and linear stories fit the same patterns, but that they are not the same thing. They require specific approaches. “Writing for a linear medium is difficult,” he says. “Writing for games is even harder. There are very specific challenges and pitfalls to overcome. The task gets even more complex when you consider that narrative needs vary greatly from one game genre to another.”

I’m interested in writing about people and emotions. So it feels like I ought to be able to explore my ideas through the medium of games. At least, I want to find out if it’s possible. I know my game is never going to get made. I just want to see how far I am able to run with Yorke’s ideas.

And so, my game character comes to life.

Murderous communist

Olivia Espinoza is a woman in her early 20s. She dresses in factory-issue clothing or in dark, bohemian garb. She lives in Paris, in 1942, under Nazi occupation. She is a communist, a political idealist who works for the French Resistance. She is also a cold-eyed assassin.

I am required to supply some sort of visual aid to my character. Although Olivia is older than Marina Ginestà is in her photograph, the image sums her up nicely.

My game could be a shooter, or action-adventure. I’m interested in a human adventure, like A Case of Distrust , a noirish game I admire greatly, in which dialogue trees and visual puzzles lead the player toward the resolution of a mystery.

I want to see Olivia move through wartime Paris, engaging in awesome conversations with Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre, with collaborators and resistance fighters. I want to see her cope with encountering Jewish parents, hiding from the round-ups.

My desire to model Olivia’s story on a niche game turns out to be a mistake. When I present Olivia, my tutors say nice, encouraging things to me. But they’re confused about what she’ll actually be doing in the game, and they want to hear more about her motivations.

They’re not familiar with A Case of Distrust, so I take the easy option and add $100 million to my imaginary development budget. It’s going to be a AAA extravaganza, more like The Last of Us .

But it’s important to me that this isn’t another game about killing people. I want to place severe restrictions on Olivia, so she can’t just run around Paris shooting Nazis. In my game, it’s going to be just as difficult to kill Nazis as it would have been in wartime Paris.

Of course, the game is all in my head, so I have unlimited access to the best coders, animators, and financial backers in the universe. But I also have tutors, and they warn me that my game must be created within the realms of the practically possible and the commercially viable.

They are kind enough to leave me with just enough wiggle room to ignore their guidance. I figure, if I’ve been given this opportunity to write my game, I’m not going to fret about what some bean counter at EA or Activision might think about it.

I understand, of course, that in the real world, my idea would have zero chance of attracting funding. It’s fine. I’m here to find out how interactive stories work. I already know how the game industry works.

Narrative arcs

Story in games can sometimes create an inherent friction between the writer’s ambitions, the designer’s goals, and the player’s desires.

Doom co-creator John Carmack once said , “Story in a game is like story in a porn movie: it’s expected to be there, but it’s not that important.” Back in 1993 , Doom relied on its superb game design and graphical innovations to capture the imaginations of players.

But the world has moved on. Years later, the Doom of 2016 comes with a big narrative element that falls broadly into the same three-act pattern of a classic movie or play.

The unnamed playable character is faced with the challenge of closing a portal to hell. He resolves a series of crises, generally manifesting as hordes of monsters. He overcomes an antagonist and resolves the initial challenge. It’s true that he displays little in the way of personality — certainly, he’s no Hamlet — but he interacts with people who have motivations and flaws in a way that we do not see in the original game.

Overwatch is one of the most successful shooting games in the world, a modern successor of sorts to Doom . It is filled with characters like Tracer, D.Va, and Hanzo, whose backstories and personalities add significantly to the game’s appeal.

Like many creative writing tutors, Yorke argues that all great characters come with three things. They have to want something. They have to need something. And they have to demonstrate a flaw that the story addresses.

So I set to work on Olivia’s wants, needs, and flaws.

She is tasked by her resistance bosses with assassinating the Nazi chief of police in his fortified lair. What she wants is to complete her mission.

But she’s unhappy. She’s spent her life killing people, and yet finds no satisfaction, or reward, in her work. She needs to break free from her life of violence, while still staying true to her desire to defeat the Nazis and create a better world.

Olivia’s flaw is that she’s a dogmatic person who’s unable to understand her own despair. From a young age, she’s gained immense skills as a warrior, but in achieving excellence as an assassin, she’s denied herself basic humanity.

Inciting incidents

The course follows a pattern of investigation, followed by creativity, and then analysis. Each week, the students — there are about a dozen of us — watch YouTube clips, play games, and read story synopses from a variety of games. We offer perspectives on what we believe works well, and what doesn’t.

We look at motivations, antagonists, and inciting incidents, studying games as varied as Candy Crush , Ico , Evolve , The Crew , and Red Dead Redemption .

One element of game design that fascinates Yorke is the relationship between the player and the main character.

“There’s a contradiction between the agency a player has, and how that conflicts and contrasts with the desires of the game’s writer,” he says. “How you marry those two things together is difficult, but also an incredible opportunity, if you get it right.”

Some games, like multiplayer worlds, present “blank slate” characters that are built by the player, who fills in the blanks. But these stories cleave to narrative models based on heroes, villains, an inciting incident, crisis, and resolution. Resolution can come in the form of completing a mission or leveling up or acquiring a sword. These games are cast as “open-world” or as “sandboxes,” but they are essentially amalgamations of fairy tales, tied together with an overarching story.

I work my way through these examples, offering notes when required. My homework is evaluated by Yorke, Marchal, various tutors, and other students. Feedback is always delivered in a way that’s constructive and useful.

We move on to studying the classic three-act structure of stories, and how such a notion fits with games. I immerse myself in the detailed story arcs of Inside and Life is Strange .

The course addresses arguments about whether or not games, by being interactive, are fundamentally separate from linear forms. We look at mainstream literature and entertainment, from Macbeth to Jaws , drawing comparisons with games. We learn how linear structures work in the context of games, emphasizing how games bend and morph these structures in ways that are still being investigated by writers.

Redemption and rejection

I return to my project and try to apply what I’ve learned.

Yorke says it’s useful to be able to state a story’s theme in one word. My story about Olivia focuses on redemption. It’s about her relationship with deadly violence. The warrior-to-pacifist transformation has been told many times before, but rarely in the context of a video game.

Emerging pacifism throws up interesting challenges in the context of a game. I find myself struggling to find things for the player to do, while Olivia works through her journey. Again and again, my tutors try to correct my habit of longish dialogue tree sessions. I keep at it, honing my scenes to give the player as much agency and illusion of choice as possible.

Long story short, Olivia’s mission to take out the evil cop goes awry, and she accidentally kills the cop’s mistress. During her escape from the police station, Olivia kills two guards who get in her way. They are guarding a West African nun, who is being interrogated about the location of missing Jewish orphans. This is the inciting incident.

The nun knows an opportunity when she sees one. She wants Olivia to arrange for the escape of these orphans. The plan provides a short-term refuge for Olivia, so she agrees. But the nun has one stipulation. She asks that Olivia kill no more people during this mission. The nun sternly assures Olivia that while she is grateful to be free, the deaths of the soldiers are a stain on her own religious beliefs and eternal conscience.

This causes a friction between the two women, and within Olivia. Resolving this friction — the justification of violence as a means to an end — is where we encounter Olivia’s need. It also creates a challenge for the player throughout the game. Killing people will solve immediate problems, but will endanger the children. Stealth — which I have always loved playing — will be a core activity in my game.

As the game progresses, Olivia and the nun travel across Paris, evading patrols. They survive a series of dangerous encounters that allow us to explore cool Parisian locations, often converted for quasi-military purposes due to the war.

Missions often create practical problems that illustrate the pros and cons of the women’s competing ideologies. Pacifism is hard. It can also be dangerous and, in this setting, possibly self-defeating.

The gameplay structure is a little like that of A Way Out , which makes use of a variety of devices to tell a story about a prison break, and to explore the relationship between two very different convicts.

My dialogue tasks are heavily influenced by Mike Bithell’s superb work in Subsurface Circular , in which characters are revealed through conversations that also progress the plot. Olivia and the nun argue with one another while the story moves forward. In turn, the player is presented with provocative arguments, and a little levity, as the two women buddy up.

Olivia is forged by violence. The nun is heavily influenced by origin Christianity, and by the ancient traditions of her upbringing. In time, they will both be forced to confront their own inconsistencies because (of course) nothing is as simple as it seems, most especially to ideologues.

When he reviews my story, Yorke suggests that I find a way to physically manifest this exchange of ideas. So I have the nun present Olivia with a necklace: an enamel tortoise charm. In her home country, the tortoise represents peace.

This reminds me of a lesson about writing, one that I’ve always struggled with. Physically, writing is the act of stringing words together. The production is text. But weaving words is barely the point. Writers must think in terms of images, because that’s what the reader “sees” when they’re reading.

I’m a person who thinks in the language of words. It’s difficult for me to construct images and then write about them. I do it the other way around. This is a problem.

But if I want to write a game, even this leap, from words to images, is not enough. Game writers have to go farther.

Stories and history

A few weeks into the course and it’s impossible for me to play games without thinking about story. I play Red Dead Redemption 2 and Tetris Effect . The first is chock-full of characters and stories. The second has almost no story at all, but incorporates imagery that suggests narrative forms, such as discovery and redemption.

The dichotomy of story and not-story is at the center of gaming history. In the early days of games, those beeping, menacing Space Invaders arrived without any apparent motivation, inner conflict, or backup plan. We just shot them, and they shot us, and everyone was happy. The action game was born.

At the same time, text adventures appeared — Zork , The Hobbit , A Mind Forever Voyaging — that were wholly stories, with characters, motivation, flaws, and plot twists. They were smart, provocative, and commercially marginal.

Over the next three decades, these entirely different forms came together, and action games began to include narrative elements. Role-playing adventures, the descendants of those text adventures, became action-oriented exercises, interspersing killing and fighting with cutscenes or walking conversations between characters.

Commercial considerations and marketing drove the embrace of narrative and character. Sonic the Hedgehog was born from Sega’s desire to show off the Genesis’ ability to render fast-moving action. The company wanted a mascot who could compete and contrast with Nintendo’s Mario. Sonic’s main attributes were speed and a cocky, anti-establishment attitude.

This naked branding fed into comics and cartoons, as the character’s popularity exploded. But Sonic has always been trapped inside the mundane ambitions of his creators, and has never evolved into anything more than a funny mascot. (I accept that not everyone will agree with this view.)

Throughout the ’90s, stories became a creative consideration. Like all human beings, game developers had been brought up enjoying stories, and wanted to add gravitas and drama to their work.

But game developers were often better at coding than they were at telling stories. They made their games, and then they grafted on some hackneyed version of Lord of the Rings or Star Trek. A few games managed to stand out because of their devotion to story and to mythology, such as the Final Fantasy series.

Game publishers took note. Companies hired writers, usually to package up gameplay and art assets. Spinoff novels pulled convoluted series like Halo and Assassin’s Creed into some semblance of narrative form. Missions were cast as mini-stories, adding up to a baffling whole in which a princess was saved, a bomb deactivated, a tyrant deposed.

Critics began to write about games as stories, lambasting certain games for their ludonarrative dissonance in which the player’s actions are at odds with the personality or the aspirations of the on-screen character.

Big-budget games began to appear with more believable and compelling stories. BioShock, Mass Effect and Dragon Age explored the meaning of interactive stories, layering their narratives with provocative ideas about agency and heroism. They helped to establish games as fully rounded narrative experiences. Games now compete directly with the rest of the entertainment business, and must present themselves as coherent tales, in the same way as blockbuster movies. Many of the most highly prized games are seen as writerly endeavors.

The Witcher series is literally based on fantasy novels. The big games of 2018, like Red Dead Redemption 2 , Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Shadow of the Tomb Raider , all began life as stories about characters, not as tech demos in search of drama.

These days, game producers are more likely to view writers as central to big game projects. In press interviews, development team leaders like The Last of Us’ Neil Druckmann and Red Dead Redemption’s Dan Houser speak about themselves primarily as writers, and secondarily as producers or directors. When Square Enix rebooted Tomb Raider, it sent out its writer Rhianna Pratchett as a prime spokesperson. In interviews, she talked about Lara as a person, not as an amalgamation of polygons designed to deliver kicks to the player.

Diverse bunch

My tutors press me to tighten my story. They send me notes asking for more clarity, more interactivity, more drama, and more fun. What they really want, I divine, is more action. They poke at each scene. I rewrite. My game improves.

My fellow students are facing the same process. We chat with one another via forums. They are a diverse bunch of men and women from various countries, a mixture of mainstream writers who want to learn about games and game developers who want to learn about writing. The course costs around $1,600, and takes up maybe half a day per week for seven weeks.

Most of us have full-time jobs. So the only mandatory exercise is the writing of the game story; all the others are optional. It’s easygoing and good fun.

I’m fascinated by the diversity of the other students’ games and stories. One action-RPG tells the tale of a soldier’s lost pet. Another is a racing game about a group of cartoon couriers. One game follows the romantic adventures of a woman who does not conform to standard beauty ideals. Another takes on the god game genre, and delves into the Almighty’s personal relationship with life creation.

These writers are looking at ways to polish up their resumes or even to launch their own indie projects.

In the last 10 years, we’ve seen a remarkable growth of indie games with powerful stories and memorable characters. Among them are some of my favorite games ever, including Tacoma , Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture , Rakuen , Blackwood Crossing , Orwell , and Virginia .

Action games are wonderful, but we all occasionally (or often) want something else. We want games to make us feel the way the best movies and books make us feel. And games are now providing that. It’s amazing that, only a decade ago, “ can games make you cry? ” was a genuinely interesting question. Now, who among us has not shed a tear at a game story?

Final exercise

For the final exercise, we must present our game stories, complete with descriptions of fully interactive elements. In my story, Olivia and the nun both make accommodations with one another’s beliefs, in order to save each other and to rescue the children. Olivia encounters the chief of police. The player decides if he lives or dies.

The nun falls into the hands of the Nazis. Olivia breaks into the Nazi compound, but when she finds the nun, Olivia discovers that she has been tortured beyond any possibility of escape. The nun begs to be spared further torture and her inevitable confession. She must die in order for the children to live. The nun sacrifices her own beliefs in the sanctity of life, while Olivia sacrifices her warrior self. The last person Olivia will ever kill is the nun (again, this is a player choice).

The tortoise “peace” necklace makes its reappearance in the final scene, offering Olivia a practical strategy for shepherding the children past Nazi guards, and onto a waiting boat bound for Britain.

In the final scene, we see her on a Normandy beach, gazing out across the English Channel. She will win the war, but she will kill no more. Her want, need, and flaw have been resolved.

Useful lessons

I’ve learned a ton of storytelling tips and techniques that shape the story, that add to its most intense beats, and that create an ending that feels satisfying and whole, at least to me. I feel the class has made me a better writer, and it’s made me understand game design more fully.

I’ve also learned to further appreciate how games are taking basic theories about story and subverting them in the name of fun and interactivity. When I play Reigns: Game of Thrones , I’m struck by how cleverly each character, each quest, and each decision follows a pattern of inciting incident, crisis, and resolution (though not always in that order).

Few games can (or should) blindly follow a three-act shape. But understanding form is how artists learn to subvert and surprise. This is the value of the course.

The biggest lesson is that writers of games aren’t merely storytellers; they are kinetic designers. Like all writers, they must create words by conjuring imagery. But they must also operate in the realm of action. The story is about the characters, of course. It’s also about what the player sees. But, most importantly, it’s about what the player does in the context of the narrative. Marrying character, action, and player together is the trick. This requires three-dimensional thinking that I now know for certain is a tough skill to master. My admiration for good game writers increases.

I still have no plans to make a game, but I’ll write up Olivia as a short story for my weekly fiction writers group. She exists in the world now. She and the nun have taught me something about what it means to be a person.

I hope my fellow students will find jobs, or project backers, and will bring their ideas into the world. That would make for the sort of narrative resolution Yorke would enjoy.

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Benefit of Playing Video Games

Video games are seen as a useless entertainment to many parents and even some educators believe that they damage a child's brain. Over the years, violent video games have been blamed for leading people to a life of crime because they believe that games are the cause of kids becoming violent or develop an antisocial behavior. In reality many psychologists and scientists have found that playing video games can actually have benefits towards a person's brain. Video games can eventually […]

The Impact of the Video Games on Children

In this paper I will explore the impact that video games has on children. I will discuss the research on the effect of violent video games on children in particular. At this moment gun violence and particularly school shootings are an extremely hot topic that has resulted in the speculation of different causes for this recent surge in gun violence. Violent video games is one of the leading reasons many are giving for these horrific acts. With all of these […]

Effects of Multi Media on Violence in School

School violence on students can cause psychological and physical pain. The physical pain they get can cause them to be hospitalized. Sometimes that school violence cause students to shoot up schools. People's aggressive behavior increased watching aggressive programs on TV. Students that watch aggressive TV show start to become tougher and less emotional. TV mainly effect students because in the show they watch they become aggressive with other people. Research has also shown that the viewers who watch violent shows […]

Future of Video Games

In many centuries, technology has been a big contributor to human history. It has helped humans advance in many different areas of life. It has provided us with the abilities to advance the human race, and gain more knowledge than our previous ancestors. Technology over the years has advanced rapidly. Not that long ago, the very first cell phone was an extraordinary invention that caught the world by storm. It helped talking with people from long distances remotely seem like […]

Violence and Video Games

The latest debate that is long standing in country today is the big debate does or is video games harmful to our children. Do they allow our children to become harmful to their selves or others, there have been studies internationally looking at the ages from nine to nineteen from 2010 to 2017, over 17,000 adolescents found playing video games led to increased physical behavior over time. There were 24 studies done from countries including U.S., Canada, Germany and Japan […]

Violence in Media

Researchers from Ohio State did a study where they showed one group of 8-12 year olds a movie where the characters used guns and another group a movie where the characters did not use guns. When the group that watched the movie with guns were handed a real, unloaded gun, they pulled the trigger on average 2-3 times more than the group that was not shown the movie (LoBue). The idea that violence shown through media is the source of […]

Video Game Rating System

Video game rating system has come under attack considering the recent mass shooting incidents. Many believe that violence shown in the video games is responsible for these shootings and have called for governmental regulation of the video game industry. In the article"" The Video Game Ratings is an effective Regulation"" Patricia Vance argues that video game rating system created by ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) is an appropriate mechanism to promote and regulate the video game industry. The ESRB was […]

Do Violent Video Games Make you Violent?

A common myth about violent video games is the user is more prone to become violent along with a whole lot more issues like desensitization and many other things. Many think this because it has been a big bad wolf for the media blaming things like school shootings and other horrible things on violent video games. I personally play violent video games and have been asked frequently if i feel violent playing the games. In a article by the washington […]

Negative Effects of Media on Teenagers  

Media is literally in every facet of teenage life, and it is having devastating effects on young people today. Cyberbullying pushed a teen in Texas to commit suicide. Brandy Vela was eighteen years old and cyberbully pushed her over the edge resulting in her suicide. Brandy told her family she was going to kill herself and her family watched her as she shot herself in the chest. Teenagers in Brandy’s high school made fake accounts of her and made comments […]

Research on Video Games and Violence

The day and age we live in are getting more violent and aggressive. Since 2013 there have been at least 300 school shootings. As of 2018, there have been at least ten school shootings. As a result, parents and others have blamed the increase of such horrific acts on violent video games. Some of these video games may include the widely known "Call of Duty franchise, "Halo, "Grand Theft Auto, and "Destiny. Though video games may be correlational to violence […]

Teens should be Allowed to Play Video Games

In a research study that has been conducted on 1000 children among the age group 12-17, about 970 children play computer, web, portable, or console games (Lenhart et al., 2008). About 500 children said they played video games ""yesterday."" Video games are being played by all age group and genders. There are enormous video games available on the market, both for consoles and computers, which require some type of physical activity. Simulation games that are meant to simulate outdoor sports […]

Why Video Games do not Lead to Individuals being Anti-social?

While there is still much to learn about video games, it is a common misconception that video games are a large contributor to individuals becoming anti-social and developing an Antisocial Personality Disorder. In fact, this is the exact opposite of what happens behind the scenes when video games are played, especially for prolonged amounts of time. Video games and the link to anti-social behavior has been a subject of discussion for the better part of the decade, but despite what […]

Stop Blaming Video Games

In today's society, we are able to find violence and aggression everywhere; in magazines, on the TV, on social media, on video-sharing websites like Youtube as well as in video games. Yet, why are violent video games such as Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto and Assassin's Creed are assumed to be the largest source responsible for the eruption of violence? The criticism towards violent video games from teachers, parents, and the media are so constant that these games have […]

Why you should Play Fortnite

Fortnite Fortnite has taken the video game world by storm. Fortnite is on every console including PC and even on IOS and Android devices. Fortnite Battle Royale has been the most popular game globally since Epic Games, the developer, launched its trial in July of last year. Fortnite: Battle Royale is a Hunger Games-esk game of where up to 100 people jump out of a bus and have to land on an island. On this island, players find weapons, health […]

Video Game Industry

Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest, and others are among the video games that I play. They are consuming, interactive, competitive and fun. When I first started playing video games many, many, years ago, I played them all by myself. What is great now is that the games can be played with one, two or more people at a time. Teams can be formed and it becomes a game where you work together to win. Of course, this requires a […]

Virtual Violence and Video Games

Virtual violence in video games has become more and more realistic in recent years which has created an area of concern regarding whether the aggression and violent actions experienced during play have an impact on real-life situations. Over the past 15 years many studies have been conducted and significant research has been done that focus on the relationship between interactive, realistic, violent video games and violent behavior. This relationship is questioned in many of the studies, and the ultimate results […]

Violence, Addiction and Expenditure in Video Games

I am against video games because they promote violence, addiction and expenditure. Video games are good when life gets bored and monotonous with the same schedule every day, but people now have made gaming as their profession, which affects them adversely. I played video game for the first time when I was 12 years old. It was fascinating and easy to learn than any other of my course content so, I got addicted to gaming. I found myself depressed and […]

Why Violent Video Games is not the Reason for Violence

Even if people believe that video games has caused violence, video games has definitely brought new ways of benefiting the young minds. Since the 1970s, video games introduced a new way of entertainment for children and teens. Video games has produce a wide variety of games, ranging from peaceful and adventurous to violent and fast-paced. Video games has grown tremendously in the twenty-first century, the most trending games today are violent such as Activision's Call of Duty series, which is […]

Fortnite for me

Fortnite has been out for a year now and it has changed a lot with the release of the Battle Royale edition which was released on September 26th of last year.From map changes to weapons being vaulted and new skins with new seasons being in the game. Which today marks the first day of Season 7. Fortnite is the best game because of the pickaxes,skins,and emotes. Fortnite is a great game because of the great pickaxes. The Rainbow smash pickaxe […]

How Video Games are Good and Bad for your Health?

Are video games good or bad for your health? I think video games would be good for your health because when I play video games I feel more relaxed and at ease than aggressive and mean. I think that some people only use it as a little getaway from the world which is fine as long as they come back to the world rather than becoming anti-social. Which video games are good for communicating with each other? The ones that […]

Video Games and Their Impact in Sports

Introduction As an avid fan of Soccer and a fondness for the Fifa video game franchise, I was interested in delving deeper into the details and trying to find an arbitrary relation between the two. While the importance of physical abilities and motor coordination is non-contested in sport, more focus has recently been turned toward cognitive processes important for different sports. Coaches should be innovative in their methods and use concepts familiar to children. If that means allowing the next […]

Video Games in Education

The use of a video game for education is a two-sided coin with each side pushing strong arguments for and against the use of them to teach and help students retain information. There is supporting research for both the detrimental effects of games and the real learning power they can foster. It is my belief, however, that games can truly be harnessed to promote the development of learning behaviors, not only in children but in adults and the elderly as […]

Video Games – Game over

Anyone who has ever picked up a controller knows that "game over" is a temporary state of being. If a particularly challenging level bests you, most games give you an immediate chance to retry, now armed with more of the knowledge, experience, and skill needed to complete your quest. For many gamers, real-life works the same way. A team of 25 scientists from Europe and North America recently reported that people who played nine or more hours of video games […]

Effects of Fortnite Games

Advances in technology since the 1980s has led to a rapid increase in the computer video gaming industry. Different categories of the online video games have been developed during the period including fortnite games which have become craze currently. From the study by Groves and Anderson (2013), the video game industry has been growing rapidly with market volume rising from 100million to about 4 billion in a five-year period between 1985 and 1990. Jones (2018) also finds that there has […]

The Effects of Video Games

The industry of video games has grown exponentially over the past twenty to thirty years, and the amount of games available to the public has skyrocketed (Green 2). The first video games were being made only 50 years ago. Access was not widely available, and content was limited to very simple games such as Pong, which in itself became popular. However, in a world where computers are becoming ever more essential to everyday life, the video game industry can only […]

Violence Video Games

The first video games emerged in the late 1970s with poor graphics and a low amount of depicted violence. Since then, video games have become much more violent with far more sophisticated graphics making the games seem almost lifelike. This has prompted concerns from the media and psychologists concerns that frequently resurface in the wake of school shootings. For example, following a 2006 school shooting in Montreal, the Associated Press reported that the shooter had been "fascinated by the video […]

Video Games are not the Cause for Mass Shootings

Video games, one of the greatest sales in the entire world, are currently found as a threat. It is usually characterized to be evil and a bad influence on people around the world, especially to minors. It makes children more ""violent and aggressive"" (Laczniak 70). President Trump stated, ""Video game violence & glorification must be stopped""it is creating monsters!"". There have been many comments are arguments over this situation. But is all that true? All these stereotypes and miss understandings […]

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How To Write an Essay About Video Games

Introduction to the world of video games.

Writing an essay about video games requires an appreciation of the medium as both an entertainment form and a cultural phenomenon. Begin by introducing the broad world of video games, covering their evolution from simple pixelated adventures to complex, narrative-driven experiences. Highlight the diversity in genres, from action and adventure to strategy and simulation, and acknowledge the vast demographic that video games appeal to. This introduction should provide a general background that sets the stage for a deeper exploration of specific aspects of video gaming, such as their impact on culture, psychological effects, or the gaming industry’s evolution.

Analyzing Specific Aspects of Video Gaming

The body of your essay should delve into the particular aspect of video gaming that you wish to explore. If you're focusing on the cultural impact, discuss how video games have influenced and been influenced by popular culture. For a more psychological approach, explore how gaming affects cognitive skills, behavior, and social interactions. If your angle is industry-focused, consider discussing the evolution of game design, breakthrough technologies in gaming, or economic aspects like the esports industry. Use specific examples and case studies to support your analysis, demonstrating a deep understanding of the chosen focus area.

Debating Controversies and Ethical Considerations

An essential part of writing about video games is addressing the controversies and ethical considerations surrounding them. This may include the debate over video game violence and its impact on players, the portrayal of gender and minorities in games, or issues related to gaming addiction and mental health. Present various perspectives on these debates, offering a balanced view that considers both the concerns raised by critics and the arguments put forth by proponents of video gaming. This section should engage critically with these topics, showing an awareness of the ongoing discussions in the world of video gaming.

Concluding with a Personal or Predictive Touch

Conclude your essay by summarizing your main points and offering either a personal reflection or a prediction about the future of video games. If you choose to reflect personally, share how your understanding of the topic has evolved or why it holds significance for you. Alternatively, offer predictions about how video games might continue to evolve and impact society. This could include advancements in technology, shifts in societal perception, or potential new areas for growth in the industry. A strong conclusion will not only tie together your essay but also leave the reader with a lasting impression of the depth and complexity of video gaming as a subject.

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Essays About Video Games: Top 12 Examples and Prompts

Video games have revolutionized the way we have fun today. If you are writing essays about video games, check out our guide to inspire your writing.  

Few can contest the fact that video games have taken over the world. From the basic, almost “primitive” games of the 1970s like Pong to the mind-bending virtual reality games of the 2020s, they have been a source of entertainment for all. Moreover, they have proven quite profitable; countries like Japan and the United States have made tens of billions of dollars solely from the video game market.

Despite their popularity, much has been debated over the potentially harmful side effects that video games may have, particularly on children. One side argues that playing certain video games can lead to people exhibiting violence in the future, while others believe that video games teach players essential life skills. Regardless, they will continue to be a part of our lives for the foreseeable future. 

For engaging essays about video games, read the essay examples featured below for inspiration.

1. What electronic games can teach us by Kendall Powell

2. designers are imagining video games without guns by keith stuart, 3. playing video games all summer won’t make you feel worse by nicole wetsman, 4.  violent video games bad by andrea newman.

• 5. ​​The health effects of too much gaming by Peter Grinspoon

Writing Prompts For Essays About Video Games

1. video games: good or bad, 2. the benefits of video games, 3. what is your favorite video game, 4. do video games cause people to become violent, 5. video games in your life, 6. video games vs. traditional games, 7. is the video game rating system enough.

“In other studies, researchers found that gamers who trained on Tetris were better at mentally rotating two-dimensional shapes than those who played a control game. Students who played two hours of All You Can E.T., an educational game designed to enhance the executive function of switching between tasks, improved their focus-shifting skills compared with students who played a word search game.”

Powell explains a few possibilities of applying video games to education. As it turns out, certain video games can improve players’ skills, depending on the mechanics. Researchers are inspired by this and hope to take advantage of the competitive, motivational nature of gaming to encourage children to learn. New games are designed to help kids improve their focus, coordination, and resilience, and game designers hope they will succeed. 

“Imagine a game where you’re a war reporter seeking to capture the most iconic, representative images in a battle environment: You’d still get the sense of peril that audiences expect from action adventures, but your relationship with the environment would be more profound. It would be Call of Duty from the perspective of a creative participant rather than a violent interloper.”

The graphic nature of some video games is said to make kids violent, so it is only natural that some creators try to change this. Stuart writes that it is possible to maintain the fun that shooter-type games induce without using guns. He gives examples of games where you do not kill your enemy, simply stunning or capturing them instead. He also suggests photography as an alternative to killing in a “shooting” game. Finally, he suggests basing video games around helping others, making friends, and doing more peaceful, creative tasks.

“Any role video games play in skewing well-being that did pop up in the study was too small to have a real-world impact on how people feel, the authors said. People would have to play games for 10 more hours per day than their baseline to notice changes in their well-being, the study found.”

Wetsman counters the widespread belief that video games “destroy your brain.” Research done with a sample of 39,000 players over six weeks has shown that whether one plays video games for long or short periods, their mental health is not impacted much. There are some exceptions; however, there are not enough to conclude that video games are, in fact, harmful.

“Some people believe that the connection between violent games, and real violence is also fairly intuitive. In playing the games kids are likely to become desensitized to gory images;which could make them less disturbing, and perhaps easier to deal with in real life. While video games aren’t about violence their capacity to teach can be a good thing.”

In her essay, Newman writes about the supposed promotion of violence in some video games. However, she believes this violence does not cause people to be more aggressive later. Instead, she believes these games expose children to certain atrocities so they will not be traumatized if they see them in real life. In addition, these games supposedly promote connections and friendships. Finally, Newman believes that these “harmful” can make you a better person.

5. ​​ The health effects of too much gaming by Peter Grinspoon

“Gamers need to be educated on how to protect their thumbs, wrists, and elbows, their waistlines, their emotional state, their sleep, and their eyes. Simple education around taking breaks, stretching, eating healthy snacks, and resting and icing your thumb, wrist, or elbow when it starts hurting can address injuries early, before they become significant. For the eyes, gamers can try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, try to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.”

Grinspoon discusses both the benefits and the health risks of gaming. Video games allow people to interact with each other remotely and bond over specific missions or tasks, and some research shows that they have cognitive benefits. However, some gamers may develop vision problems and hand and wrist injuries. Gaming and “staring in front of a screen the whole day” is also associated with obesity. Overall, Grinspoon believes that gaming is best done in moderation.

Looking for more? Check out these essays about hobbies .

Many parents believe that their children’s “bad behavior” is because of video games. Based on your experience and others, decide: are video games good or bad for you? Make sure to read viewpoints from both sides and write an essay based on your position. Would you encourage others to play video games? Discuss these pros and cons for an interesting argumentative essay.

Like anything else, video games have both positive and negative aspects. Explain the good that video games can do for you: the skills they can equip you with, the lessons they can teach, and anything else. Also, include whether you believe their benefits outweigh the disadvantages they may pose. 

For your essay, write about your favorite video game and why you chose it. What is its meaning to you, and how has it affected your life? Describe the gameplay mechanics, characters, storyline, and general impact on the gaming community or society. You can write about any game you want, even if you have not played it; just ensure the content is sufficient.

Many claim that playing violent video games can make you violent in the future. Research this phenomenon and conclude whether it is true or not. Is the evidence sufficient? There are many resources on this topic; support your argument by citing credible sources, such as news articles, statistics, and scientific research.

Video games have been a part of almost all our lives. Recall a treasured experience with video games and explain why it is significant. How old were you? Why do you remember it fondly? How did this experience make you feel? Answer these questions in your own words for an exciting essay.

There are stark differences between video and traditional games, such as board games and card games. For an engaging essay, compare and contrast them and write about which is more entertaining, in your opinion. Be creative; this should be based on your own opinions and ideas.

The video game content rating system is used to classify video games based on their appropriateness for specific ages. However, parents complain that they are not strict enough and allow the display of violent content to children. Explore the criteria behind the rating system, decide whether it needs to be changed or not, and give examples to support your argument.

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Video Games — Video Games and Their Impact

Video Games and Their Impact

• Categories: Cognitive Development Video Games

About this sample

Words: 433 |

Published: Feb 12, 2024

Words: 433 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

References:

• Barr, Matthew. “Video Games Can Turn University Graduates into Better Employees.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 2019.
• Etchells, Pete. “Five Damaging Myths about Video Games – Let’s Shoot ‘Em Up.” The Guardian, 2019.

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Let’s Plays are out. The gaming video culture essay is in

Over the last decade, long-form video essays have grown in popularity — arguably entering into a boom all their own . Viewers can easily look up a video essay on just about any topic they’d like to, from deep dives into filmmaking, theme park history, fashion, and everything in between. With such a large offering of video essays out there, one sub-genre that has found its own footing is that of the video game culture essay.

The draw of the video game essay

Niche topics in a not-so-new format, coexistence with traditional game reviews.

These particular gaming videos are a style of visual essay that offers both the creators behind them and viewers the space to explore video games in new ways that extend beyond what we’ve come to expect in a video game review. That flavor of video tends to dig more into a niche topic that the creator is most interested in — be that a theme, specific character, or even how artistic choices impact the game.

These gaming essays have managed to find their own foothold within the wider world of video game commentary while maintaining a pretty even coexistence with the traditional game review format. Both offer up individual thoughts and insight on video games while actively not detracting from the other.

• Square Enix just set a new bar for video game demos with its latest RPG
• Video game adaptations are about to change the game in 2024
• PlayStation Portal misunderstands remote play and cloud gaming’s appeal

To better understand that foothold and coexistence, I spoke with two creators who have been making culture gaming essays. They explained what exactly drives them to share their unique perspectives through this format and what serves as a draw to both gaming essays and reviews for viewers.

Understanding what initially drives a creator to get started on making video game culture essays can give us insight into why they’ve found such a strong foothold in the gaming space to begin with. There’s something to be said for knowing the passion behind something. For both Maria (also known as eurothug4000 ) and Daryl Talks Games , the initial interest to discuss more niche topics related to video games stemmed from outside influences.

Maria, who has been creating videos on YouTube since 2018, shared that her background in studying art during her A-Levels helped serve as inspiration for the discussions around art direction and aesthetics that she has in her video essays.

“I had a very good teacher throughout those years,” Maria tells Digital Trends. “There was one exercise, in particular, she would make the class do when analyzing the works of artists, which would basically just be a good old brainstorm diagram. We would have the painting or photograph in the center and write anything that comes to mind as we looked at it — texture, mood, content, etc. This is something I do in my mind when looking at games. It’s just a natural process so deeply ingrained into my brain — I can’t help it!”

“Essays give both players and creators a chance to find beauty in the mundane, clarity in the intricacy …” 

Daryl Talks Games initially started out on YouTube in 2009. But as a long-time gamer with an interest in psychology, he knew that he wanted to get back to making videos eventually. Nowadays, he makes “essays that center around the “interaction between psychology, video games, video game design, and life.” His inspiration came from Mark Brown’s Game Maker’s Toolkit , a channel that takes deep dives into every aspect of game design.

“I was captivated by his ability to explain things I had never noticed in games and how fascinating it was to learn why games work from a design standpoint,” he tells Digital Trends. “I came across his channel during my last year of undergrad and since I was studying psychology, I found myself making connections between a lot of the points he was making and the things I was learning in class. I pretty much just said ‘Let me try the whole essay thing, but my gimmick will be psychology.’ Since I was uninterested in grad school and a bachelor’s in psychology pretty much only qualifies you to be a YouTuber, I just kept on making videos!”

Both creators approach their gaming essays through a new lens that gives them the ability to explore games in ways that go beyond the limits of standard criticism.

With the broad range of possible topics that creators can explore in their gaming essays, it’s no surprise that creators choose to look at hyper-specific things that catch their interest — such as the space in games that players encounter between a respawn point and the boss.

Niche topics offer viewers the chance to see what creators are seeing in a game that extends beyond just a cursory playthrough or answering the question that many turn to reviews for: Is this a game that I’d like to play?

“They’re just documentaries, but smaller, with more personality, and sort of, dialed-in to one very niche topic. I have a whole essay on the mental health of this one particular side character in Deltarune . Jacob Geller has an entire video exploring games that specifically save their most interesting bits for last,” Daryl Talks Games says. “I think both myself and others that do this enjoy it so much because creatively, the sky’s the limit. Essays give both players and creators a chance to find beauty in the mundane, clarity in the intricacy, and generally just a chance to enjoy games on a deeper level than if we had just played them and moved on.”

That ability to explore and enjoy games a little deeper in gaming essays certainly offers viewers another way to look at and experience the games that they’re playing, almost peeling back certain layers in a sense. Some gaming essays tend to tread into lengthy territory as a result, often going over the 30-minute mark. Ladyknightthebrave has an hour and a half look at the Last of Us series , while some of Tim Rogers’ videos are about as long as an HBO miniseries.

Maria, who originally began producing game reviews, eventually figured out that she enjoyed making this style of gaming deep-dive more.

“A lot of the time I focus on the inspirations behind certain games that contribute to their art style,” Maria says. “For example, Demon’s Souls ‘ background in dark fantasy and its similarities to Frank Frazetta’s works, or the cultural aspects behind Resident Evil Village that I rarely see in games. In Kuon (PS2), even the saving mechanic is contextualized by having a small ritual involved instead of just a menu with a save button. While I love just how game worlds look, it’s really impressive to me when they can fit their mechanics into it as it makes me feel even more engaged.”

Gaming essays and game reviews have come to a rather unique coexistence. And while viewers and creators alike might prefer one form of gaming commentary over the other, both Maria and Daryl Talks Games honed in on the fact that both serve slightly different purposes at the end of the day — even as they both work to answer questions.

“They’re just documentaries, but smaller”

“A review, in my mind, is to inform someone whether they would want to purchase the game for themselves, or to simply see what other people generally thought about it,” Maria says. “A video essay can offer the same, but ultimately they’re about learning something new, whether that’s about the game, someone’s personal experience, or even something seemingly unrelated. A lot of my videos have got me researching all kinds of random topics. I’ve learned about Italian horror cinema, camp fashion, and even the origin of CPR dolls to name a few!”

“There are plenty of reviews for the game Omori out there, but I am definitely the only one offering a detailed analysis on how it illustrates dissociative amnesia.” Daryl Talks Game says.

That slight difference in overall purpose sets gaming essays and reviews apart from each other but also ties them together. Creators and viewers can easily pick and choose which of the two they’d like to create and watch respectively.

“We all see and play games differently which means that everyone gets their own experience,” Daryl says about the coexistence of gaming essays and reviews. “For some, the mechanics are more interesting, for others, it’s the music, for some it’s all of it! Just about any genre of gaming video will be important to someone out there and it will never be impossible for a person to only watch one type of gaming video.”

In a space that could easily have been dominated by one or the other, gaming essays have managed to find a unique coexistence alongside game reviews while maintaining their own individual draw. Creators like Maria and Daryl Talks Games find a lot of joy in the varied ways that they can discuss games in their essays, sharing special insight and discussions around topics that are important to them — all while deepening the collective toolkit we use to understand games.

Interview responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

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Digital Trends attended Summer Game Fest Play Days once again this year, as well as events held by Xbox and Ubisoft, and we were able to play demos of a variety of upcoming games from all corners of the industry. We played or saw a hands-off demo of over 30 games slated to release throughout the next year or so. From new entries in long-running series like Mortal Kombat or Armored Core to more quirky and experimental indies that are pushing the video game medium forward, there was a lot for us to like at this Summer Game Fest Play Days and its surrounding events. Still, we talked and narrowed things down to our ten favorites so you could have a succinct list of some of the best-looking video games that are on the horizon. In no particular order- with the exception of our Game of the Show - here are our 10 favorite games we played last week as part of Summer Game Fest. Game of the Show: Cocoon

It’s incredibly difficult to describe what makes Cocoon so special; it’s truly one of those games you need to actually play to understand. The atmospheric, insect-themed adventure game transported me to another world entirely during my demo session, letting me get fully lost in its sci-fi ambiance. Part of that is due to the astonishingly tight game design that had me traversing its visually striking environments and naturally solving puzzles with no explanation necessary. It’s an experience that stuck with me long after I put the controller down, and I wasn’t the only one. It was the one game on my peers’ tongues all weekend, as both press and content creators couldn’t stop praising it despite not being able to describe why. That makes it an easy pick for our game of the show, beating out some impressive Titans on this list. ~ Giovanni Colantonio Armored Core VI: Flames of Rubicon

If there’s one video game presentation happening over the next week that has the most to prove, it’s the Xbox Games Showcase. Despite a strong start to the year with Hi-Fi Rush and a solid Developer Direct showcase, Microsoft’s gaming branch has floundered in recent months because of struggles with its acquisition of Activision Blizzard and the rocky launch of Redfall. With the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct Double Feature, Microsoft must reconfirm its commitment to gaming and to releasing high-quality first-party exclusives.

That said, Xbox is in an excellent position to do just that because of Sony’s underwhelming May showcase. As the first major gaming presentation of the summer, Sony had the chance to “win” the whole game reveal season early with its PlayStation Showcase. Ultimately, that live stream proved disappointing because of its focus on CGI reveal trailers and live service games.

Trying to pick the best video games of all time is a task defined by one word: hubris.

How could anyone possibly create a definitive list of gaming's greatest accomplishments when there’s such a wildly large variety of games to choose from? That’s a question we asked ourselves over and over when deciding to put together our own top 50 list. It was the kind of task we could slice up hundreds of ways, coming out with completely different lists every single time based on our preferred methodology. That’s a testament to the rich history of games, which offer countless diverse experiences worthy of praise.

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• Our Official List of Great Video Game Essay Topics

Any essay that you write should be well-written, accurate, and interesting to your audience. That begins with finding a great topic for your essay. Check out our list of the best essay topic ideas. You should be able to write a great essay about gaming with one of these topics. If you struggle with it, you can always order a custom essay on video games.

Topics on Social Issues

The topic of video games comes up quite frequently when various social topics are being discussed. If you are taking classes such as sociology, public health, political science, or journalism, your essay might focus on the many social issues relating to video games. Writing essays on violence in games is always an option, but there are others as well. Here are a few topic ideas:

Persuasive Essays Related to Social Issues

• Do Violent Games Cause Behavior Problems?
• Convince readers, in an essay about violence in games, that the average person will not be affected in a negative way.
• Should video game rating systems be more stringent?
• Are parents ultimately responsible for what their kids play?
• As a society, do we unfairly blame video games when we should be focusing on personal responsibility?

Narrative Essays on Video Games And Their Impact on Society

• Write about a video game that you played as a child that was too violent for you
• Have you ever been addicted to online gaming? What was that like.
• Talk about an incident of harassment that you witnessed when playing online video games.
• Write essays on violence in gaming and the impact of that in early dating relationships

Expository Essays on The Social Impact of Video Gaming

• Write a  short essay  on the impact of video gaming on health and wellness
• Compose a research paper that addresses the effects of allowing young children to do violent video games
• Write a case study about a young adult who has never been exposed to video games vs. one who has been

General Essay Ideas That Relate to Social Issues

• What should be done about sexism in gaming?
• How can the gaming industry become more inclusive as a whole?
• Why is sex and violence such a common theme in video games?
• Does early exposure to video games impact the ability of children to self-regulate?
• What are the biggest social problems related to gaming?

Video Game Essay Topics New Technology

If you are an avid gamer, you probably keep up with the latest technologies, reading specialized magazines, and eagerly await the latest and greatest releases. You may have even been part of a beta testing new things or involved in open source gaming projects. Most importantly, you likely have lots of knowledge and opinions on gaming technology. Check out these essay ideas:

Persuasive Essays on Gaming Technology

• Will virtual reality impact video game technology or is it simply a fad?
• Which release is causing the most buzz?
• Streaming will replace consoles, yes or no?

Expository Essay Ideas on Gaming Technology

• Pick an up and coming technology and explain how it works
• Explain the history and development behind an upcoming technological advancement in video tech
• Discuss the trend of gamers as designers

Other Video Technology Essay Ideas

• Write a compare contrast essay on virtual reality in gaming vs. augmented reality
• Write a review of a new gaming system that you have recently tried out.

Topics About Educational Games

Persuasive Essays on Video Games in Education

• Should children spend more time focusing on lectures and hands-on work than gaming?
• Argue which educational video game parents of toddlers should choose
• Video games have no place in education. Argue a side
• Is gaming a possible solution when dealing with disengaged students?

Expository Essay Ideas For Gaming in Education

• Explain how gaming is used in special education
• Describe the features that make a game educational vs. entertainment
• Research and explain the process educators use to integrate gaming into the classroom

Other Educational Essay Ideas

• Review the most popular educational games that have been released this year
• Write a paper about the differences between educational games today vs. 10 or 20 years ago
• Write a case study about a school that incorporated gaming into their classrooms    

Essay Topics For Passionate Gamers

If you don’t find anything that interests you above, don’t fret. You can still improve your writing skills while expressing your passions for gaming. If you have an interest in gaming, you have many options when it comes to writing essays. This is especially true when it comes to classes where you have a bit more flexibility in your writing assignments. Check out these topic ideas:

• Write a descriptive essay about the first gaming experience you have had
• What are your predictions about the future of console gaming
• What is the funniest thing that happened to you in an online gaming experience
• What 10 worst things that impact the world of video gaming be opinionated!
• Compare and contrast the first release of a video game with the most current
• If you could invent a video game, what would it look like
• Write a review of the most popular game available today

Remember that you must balance your passion for the topic of gaming with good writing skills and factual knowledge. You will still have to research, cite your sources, and do the other work that goes into writing a good paper. As always, if you need help with a gaming essay remember that we are available to help as we are top essay writing service . Happy gaming!

Posted by: Natalie

Natalie Andersen The blogger and writing expert for GetGoodGrades.com

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