Gaming, the digital revolution- A Documentary Review
I recently watched a documentary titled "Gaming, the Digital Revolution" on Youtube. The documentary explored the history, impact, and future of video games. Video games have evolved from being just a hobby to a major form of entertainment. Billions of people worldwide play games, making it a huge industry.
The documentary discussed the shift from traditional gaming to esports, with tournaments drawing large audiences. Video gaming has left bedrooms and lounges for stadiums, and evolved into esports, with tournaments drawing tens of thousands of fans. The industry, funded by sponsors, recruits esports players as teenagers, and trains intensively for hours in secret to earn several thousand Euros a month. The cost of producing video games has increased significantly, comparable to the Film industry. But, It is also earning billions in revenue, surpassing the film and music industries
The documentary also took note of changing demographics of gamers, with the industry expanding its reach beyond traditional kids and male stereotypes to target women and adults. It highlighted the current boom of casual gaming, such as Angry Birds and Candy Crush, as well as explained the free-to-play model with microtransactions in the games.
However, the documentary also devolved into the concerns about potential negative effects of violent video games on behavior. The industry's use of players' data raises privacy concerns, and the long-term effects of extensive gaming on individuals and society are still unknown. The documentary explored the use of video games as soft power tools by countries like the U.S., China, and Hezbollah, while raising concerns about the continuation of stereotypes and data collection practices. It has examined the potential of video games as educational tools, quoting the gamification of learning.
There are few important takeaways from the documentary, which I personally relate to are:
- Games are for Everyone : Video games are not just for teenagers; they have become a big part of entertainment for people of all ages. My nephew and my brother play games starting from Candy Crush to Clash of Clans.
- Emerging Esports: Gaming has turned into a serious competition with esports, where players are like rock stars and tournaments with huge crowds. It has become a profession, many Youtubers are playing and earning through live games while the audience watch them playing.
- 2nd Highest Industry: Surpassing film and music industry, gaming industry is shaping our entertainment choices.
- Not every game asks you to pay: Free-to-play games or games with microtransaction are easily accessible on the phones. So, even kids are installing it by themselves and having fun playing them.
- Learning through Games: Video games can be used for learning and education, making studying and problem-solving more exciting and engaging. I have seen games to learn English, and they really make it interesting to learn.
- Not Just for Boys: Majorly games are built with boys' perspectives, but now there are efforts going on to include more diverse characters and players.
- Be mindful while playing: Some violent games like war games are affecting the behavior, so one should be mindful about why he/ she is playing the game, and awareness that the game is not a reality is important.
- Data privacy: Few games ask for storage and other permission to collect the player data, it directly concerns the privacy of a user.
- Unethical use of game: As gaming connects the world, it has a large user base. Some countries are using it to spread propaganda and create rivalry.
- Future of Games: Major players such as tech giants are entering in the gaming industry. I read somewhere than some Indian industrialists are also investing hugely in the gaming industry.
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