INTRODUCTION
We live in an era of digitalization. There is nothing today that cannot be found on the Internet. Write it down and it's right in front of you. From buying a comb to looking for a job to playing games, the internet makes everything easy. Internet help some people to cope with boredom, while others develop a strong interest in games. The gaming industry has grown in multiple folds since the release of the engaging platforms. In the current scenario, it is hard to believe that people played outdoor sports and games. E-gaming has turned into a big industry itself and has set new milestones for other industries.
It is human nature to be attracted to something that provides accessibility. With the rapid advances in technology, the gaming industry followed developing new ways to play, and significant improvement in the graphics and gamely. Gaming became popular with new and shorter games available on every platform. Even casual gaming has improved with mobile devices being more and more capable, phone games have become more challenging and plentiful.
Students are major participants in online games. There is nothing surprising in the fact that they may spend the whole day or night playing online. The latest development in video games might see the end of expensive consoles. However, such passion for online games may result for them both positively and negatively. Let’s see what pros and cons for students online games have and if it is worth playing them.
POSITIVE IMPACT OF ONLINE GAME
· Motivation- It is not surprising to listen to the words of a mother: "First do your homework, then you'll play on the computer!". Although it always affects school-age children, things with college students are not different. There may not be a mom who says this, but the desire to play means that you need to tackle homework faster. As a result, the games motivate students to complete their tasks faster.
· Enables brain activity- One of the biggest advantages of online games is related to brain development. Compared to gambling, there are online games such as strategies, adventures, puzzles that stimulate brain activity and allow you to acquire very important skills for life without putting in too much effort.
· Improve problem-solving skills- Most modern online games have a strategy that must be recognized by the player in order to win a game. By making one or the opposite step the players solve puzzles, search for answers, try different approaches to continue their progress. Such different strategies develop students' problem-solving skills.
· Experience aspects of individual identity- In games, each person can try out a variety of roles. You can be a negative character or a hero who saves the planet. Such possibilities help open up new characteristics of your character and understand in which direction you would like to develop.
· Increase perseverance, accuracy, and logic- To become a winner you should try to pass one or the other level several times until you learn all the secrets and tips for its successful completion. Such numerous repetitions lead to perseverance and accuracy in attempts. If you don't act logically and accurately, your efforts will never lead to desirable results.
· Development of teamwork and cooperation skills- Many modern online games are often played in pairs, groups, teams. Connected via the Internet, players can communicate with each other to act together and achieve the desired results. These games teach you to work as a team and to be important team players.
NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF ONLINE GAMING
· Lack of time for more important activities such as studying or playing outdoors- When students spend a lot of time playing games, they don't have time for other activities. University appointments also lose priority if an important battle is planned for the evening. This results in low grades and academic problems. Moreover, such students do not go for a walk and exhaust their organisms sitting in front of the screen.
· Dependence- One of the most serious problems associated with online gaming is addiction. People become obsessed with the virtual world, lose their sense of reality and spend all their time playing. Most of the time it concerns gambling, online casinos but also simulations and other games can be dangerous. If a person can be easily influenced, the likelihood of becoming addicted is much higher. Addiction is a serious psychological problem that requires treatment, so it must be detected promptly.
· Aggressive behavior- Many students are so influenced by the games they play online that they bring their virtual characters into reality. They get used to solving problems like their bad heroes and this aggressive behavior becomes commonplace for them. Such outbursts of aggression should be eliminated immediately or they could become a habit.
· Isolation from society- The online world is an opportunity to get away from real problems, and students who face a lot of problems in studying find this sense of freedom in games. They become so involved in the game that they lose their sense of reality and isolate themselves from society. This results in the absence of friends, inability to solve real problems, communicate and be a member of society.
· Harmful influence on health- Sitting in front of a computer, tablet, or mobile phone screen is incredibly harmful to students' health. First of all, there is a negative influence on sight which is in constant tension. Sometimes you need to wear headphones all the time, so your ears are under pressure too. Second, it is the position of the body. A sitting or lying position negatively affects your back, neck, and if you don't change it regularly, it can cause health problems.
CONCLUSION
Online games are incredibly popular with students looking for new thrills in virtual reality. They take up a great deal of their time as it is a perfect way to get rid of stress, grueling assignments, and annoying roommates. However, despite the large number of benefits that online games bring, it is important to schedule playing time or the negative consequences will greatly outweigh all the benefits.