The Internet is a pretty great invention, don’t you think? It gives people limitless access to all sorts of information. And it connects us in various innovative ways, unimaginable even just 30 years ago.
Everything started with text chats. Then the technology progressed to the level of voice and video calls. What else do we need? Well, as is probably the nature of human beings – we are constantly looking for something to improve or add a bit of extravaganza. Standard social interactions were too simple, so they were transformed into magic – interactions through video games.
It’s a very convenient solution nowadays and quite an expansion for our traditional communications. So, how do video games function as social interactions?
Become Whoever You Want to Be
It would be strange to call someone by Skype and see them wearing a wizard hat or heavy armor with a sword. Still, those fantasy characters lay dormant inside many people – along with space adventurers, glorious fighters, pirates, and countless other heroes. Why not awaken them for a while and let your fantasy fly? Gaming is a very good place for this.
In the late 1990s, gamers enjoyed the first multiplayer role-playing games (like Ultima Online). People became elves and warriors, and they met up virtually, supporting each other. It’s much funnier than a company meeting in Zoom.
Common Achievements
Many people love talking to each other. And also, they enjoy doing something together. It was easier in childhood. Someone brings their toy car, another adds their dolls, and together they start building a sand kingdom. As adults, we need something more innovative to bring us together, but the core of this process remains the same.
Gamers delve into virtual worlds and create enormous buildings (Minecraft), go to dangerous adventures in galaxies far far away (Eve Online), or just participate in massive battles (World of Warcraft). This is an amazing new level playing field, where video games and social interaction offer lots of fresh emotions in our daily lives.
Competitions
People compete in different ways. Some try to be better than their co-workers to get a promotion. Others want to start faster on a traffic light to… well, mostly this has no logical reason at all, simply for the bare competition. And again, video games as social interaction make the whole process absolutely insane (in a positive way).
Satisfy your competitive hunger in virtual races (Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport, Project Cars 2). Become a powerful fighter (Tekken 7, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate). Participate in risky missions, where you can choose: kill or be killed (Rainbow Six: Siege, PUBG, Call of Duty).
The playing process becomes especially fascinating because of that awesome feeling – that there are real people on the other side of the “line”.
Express Yourself
There are lots of ways in the physical world to demonstrate your beautiful personality. We dress in a specific way, make unique haircuts, and buy fancy phones and cars. At the same time, there are many limitations in the physical world – did we mention the judging eyes of your neighbors?
Video games social interaction removes these limitations. In this new world, you are already someone else. What will set you apart from all the other elves/fighters/mythical dragons? Here is when cosmetic items come into the scene. Modern multiplayer games are full of them. For instance, players get fresh skins for their League of Legends champions to prove their status in the game. They buy CS:GO skins to express their style and various shades of their personality.
Characters in Street Fighter V have specific costumes. Heroes of Dota 2 can attack with unique animations, activated by special cosmetic items. This is a very big layer of social interactions in games. For teenagers, there’s now even a reliance to prove their place in society by wearing the coolest skins in Fortnite.
Combine Everything Into One Experience
Of course, gaming is not divided into specific parts. You do not start Roblox just to build robots with friends. You take the role of a clever inventor, work together on a big project, compete to make yours better than everyone else, express yourself in many small features, and interact in other hard-to-express ways. This is gaming, baby!
Video games have become an incredible tool to connect people in unique, breathtaking ways. They are not only about images on a screen or even the feelings of meaningful achievement that you might find in the hearts of gamers. It’s more about how they open new ways to interact, allowing you to feel the whole miracle of life in a new, almost fantastic way. Are you ready for such an experience? Then find your own best social interaction in video games!
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