

One study found that regular gamers better managed their emotions and were less emotionally reactive than irregular gamers. Video games can also promote emotional regulation, which is handy during These Unprecedented Times. Research has found that cooperative games, like Overcooked or Portal 2, could promote more empathy and cooperative behavior outside the game for both children and adults. These social games may also foster more prosocial behavior. Games that include these social components have been found to have positive benefits on psychological wellbeing by providing a virtual space to “ hang out” with real-life friends or make online ones, leading to greater closeness and intimacy. In lieu of face-to-face outings, Among Us is probably where I get most of my social interaction each week. The game also provides a chance to catch up with one another and meet friends of friends. (It has become so popular that Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently streamed herself playing Among Us to get out the vote for the 2020 election.)Īmong Us is a game of social deduction, like Mafia or Secret Hitler, where innocent crew members need to identify imposters while completing tasks to maintain the ship. Playing Video Games Can Provide Real-Life Power-UpsĮach weekend, my friends and I get together to outwit each other aboard a spaceship in the game Among Us, which has also caught on like wildfire during the pandemic. And like other arts, video games can open up another outlet for human expression and escape.Īs surging COVID-19 cases limit holiday travel and winter in the northern hemisphere forces people indoors, video games offer a safe way to explore different worlds and meet up with friends – while providing many social, emotional, cognitive, and physical benefits to boot. The design of a game – including its graphics, animation, character development, soundscape – incorporates many of the creative elements of other art forms. Video games are a unique art form that allows for a whole new level of immersion and interaction in storytelling. The stereotype that gaming is the sole purview of adolescent boys no longer holds: the average age of gamers is actually 35 – 44 and 41% of gamers are women. Even before the pandemic, video games were a staple of entertainment for many households more than 214 million Americans say they play for one hour or more each week and 75% of households have at least one person who plays. Given the physical distancing requirements posed during quarantine, it comes as no surprise that games like Animal Crossing have exploded in popularity.

The labs’ faculty, staff and students develop projects in partnership with a cohort of international clients in this innovative initiative that investigates the forefront of emergent design and learning.Enjoying the virtual museum on our pandemic date. IDIA Lab’s research facilities include five distinct labs – IDIA Lab, CAVE Lab, FullDome Lab, HCI Lab, and Sim Lab – all working in concert with the recently formed Digital Scholarship Lab (DSL). The IDIA Lab studios were initially incubated through the Eli Lilly Endowment’s Digital Media Initiative as part of two generous grants to the University.
ESCAPE SIMULATOR LABORATORY FULL
Founded in 2005, IDIA Lab has been designing scholarly, creative, teaching and learning projects that investigate the metaverse, virtual reality, human computer interface (HCI), augmented reality, mobile apps, full dome, head mounted display, visualization and 3D simulation. The Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) at Ball State University explores the intersection between the arts, sciences, humanities with extended reality.
