Exploratory Essay
With the introduction of the internet and video games, many people have been drawn towards these two sources of entertainment. While the internet has provided us with countless hours of content that is constantly being added to popular online websites such as: (YouTube, Facebook, and Google), video game creators have gone out of their way to create new games and game genres with the intent to draw in millions of new players. Since these two sources share the same space on a computer, tv, or any other display screen, those who have been drawn in to this never-ending entertainment have found themselves essentially unable to leave their screens for long periods of times. This is mainly due to the undeniable fact that “There is always something new to watch” and “There is always something new to play.” One big question that is being asked upon this newly introduced pastime activity, that many have labeled as an addiction, is that: “Can this new activity countless individuals have become bound to help us with improving our attitudes and necessary skills to get through our future lives successfully? Or, do those who neglect proper use of this new activity have their chances of being successful and healthy greatly reduced?” Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
The online world, regardless of the internet or video games, has taken a clear toll on the lives of many. People like Justin, Patrik Wincent, and a friend of Antonius van Rooij, who were all heavily involved in the online world, have expressed the things they have lost due to their uncontrolled devotion towards the virtual world. In his interview with Dr. Phil, Justin states that after all the time he has put into gaming over a “10 year” period, he has nothing to show for his devotion to video games in real life and has consequently lost educational path and desire to continue to learn. Similarly, Van Rooij discussed in his TEDx talk how he knew a player who “played games extensively” and was very successful in his game world, but one day declared that his life outside of the game world was greatly suffering. From this evidence it can be seen that just by being devoted to spending time towards the virtual world, your chances of being successful are essentially diminished. However, that isn’t really the case. In Justin’s interview with Dr. Phil, he makes note of the fact that his online accomplishments are unable to be transferred over towards the real world because he does not see a future in which he is a “Pro Gamer”. Pro-gamers, also known as e-sport athletes, are individuals who simply have been able to get themselves sponsored or put on a team and enter events and tournaments in which they are able to compete for large sums of real life currency. Additionally, becoming a Pro Gamer isn’t the only way individuals have been able to earn money from playing video games. Online Streamers, people who devoted large parts of their day to broadcast to their followers on broadcasting sites like Twitch, and Content Creators, who upload videos on sites like YouTube for their followers, are able to attain substantial earnings in correspondence to how popular they are.
Works Cited
“Video Game Addiction Symptoms and Treatment.” American Addiction Centers, American Addiction Centers, americanaddictioncenters.org/video-gaming-addiction/. Accessed 18 February 2018
“Why Unemployed 23-Year-Old ‘Addicted’ To Video Games Prefers Virtual World.” YouTube, uploaded by DrPhilShow, 14 July 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKh4p_KBpFw.
“Dr. Rachael Ross Analyzes Possible Health Impact of Excessive Video Gaming.” YouTube, uploaded by DrPhilShow, 14 July 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOyyPvezmoE.
“Does video gaming ruin people’s lives? | Antonius van Rooij | TEDxGhent.” YouTube, uploaded by TEDx Talks, 26 July 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tQs5ZSrNwc
“What you are missing while being a digital zombie | Patrik Wincent | TEDxStockholm” YouTube, uploaded by TEDx Talks, 25 January 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAIxb42FjwE
“How gaming changed my life | Shanna Zwart | TEDxHilversum” YouTube, uploaded by TEDx Talks, 12 December 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7br3mY2vRaQ
Ferguson, Christopher J., and Patrick Markey. “Video Games Aren’t Addictive.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Apr. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/04/01/opinion/sunday/video-games-arent-addictive.html.
Dunckley, Victoria L. “Gray Matters: Too Much Screen Time Damages the Brain.” Psychology Today, 27 Feb. 2014, www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mental-wealth/201402/gray-matters-too-much-screen-time-damages-the-brain.
“Highest Overall Earnings.” ESports-Earnings, www.esportsearnings.com/players.