Correction: The caption has been updated to correct the photographer’s name.
“In quarantine, through video games, my friendships actually had more opportunities to talk and connect with friends that before quarantine, I wouldn’t have talked to as much.”
Harrison Battle
With all the chaos of the pandemic and wildfires on the news, playing video games seems to be an enjoyable opportunity to pass time while strengthening social bonds with others.
Under the pressures of the law and debates surrounding righteousness, people keep searching for various methods of coping with the hardships stemming from this pandemic; to find a middle ground that allows people to relax, while still engaging in a positive environment. For the people that like playing video games, gaming has become a more viable activity recently.
“It’s taken over as the avenue to still feel that connection of going out and hanging out with your friends when we can’t leave the house,” a LBCC student and gamer stated.
Through different social platforms, the gaming community has reiterated their biggest fear; not being able to play any video games. In other words, gaming is a very time-consuming hobby that some take seriously. For some, without it can mean hours of excruciating migraines and stressful panic attacks, all induced from a lack of gaming productivity.
It seems most gamers are becoming impatient from being isolated in their home. To deal with this stagnation, some individuals indulge in multiplayer recreation, allowing players to interact virtually on an online network with other players.
Boredom is constantly around the corner, and people need an escape to withstand the stay at home orders. People can just use video games as a virtual simulation to experience the freedom to make choices without suffering from the consequences of their reality.
Typical gamers gave their own insights and experiences concerning how they use video games to savor every passing minute of their limited time.
LBCC student Harrison Battle is a twenty-five year old gamer that stated gaming during the pandemic only left positive impacts on his lifestyle. Battle said, “In quarantine, through video games, my friendships actually had more opportunities to talk and connect with friends that before quarantine, I wouldn’t have talked to as much.”
Gaming gives players the ability to socially connect with others, without the risky cost of meeting them face-to-face; a bargain some might say is worth pursuing.
Developing stronger social attributes through playing video games has proved to be quite relatable for many gamers. Ryon Meador, a nineteen year old gamer and LBCC student expresses his opinions regarding gaming while stuck in quarantine.
“Oh yeah, of course more people are online because of Covid. It’s something to do to let time pass,” says Meador.
Playing video games allows individuals the possibility to be enticed with excitement, creativity, and fervor so they don’t succumb to stagnation from being overwhelmed with being stuck at home.
Only time can tell whether gaming will stay as efficient as it is now, or if it would slowly decay, losing its purpose.
