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Are Shortening Attention Spans Changing the Games We Play?
Technology has given us a sense of convenience and freedom that was unimaginable just a decade ago. However, the benefits of the digital revolution didn't come without a cost. Our reliance on our devices is altering our cognitive capacities. One consequence of the mere presence of our digital devices is that people's attention span is getting shorter and shorter.
It can be noted that people don't play games today the way they played them a couple of years ago. Thanks to game engines like Unreal, Game Maker, and Unity, the price of games has come down and more and more games are being released every year.
By now, you've probably heard that certain action videogames can enhance a variety of visual attention skills. These kinds of games reward players who:
- Have the ability to quickly detect movement in their field of view
- Can track multiple, fast-moving objects
- Can rapidly switch attention between different tasks
On the other hand, there are many important attention skills that have little to do with these skills, instead, they depend on remaining focused during times of relative quiet or calm. This is where action videogames can hinder people's performance.
Finally, due to the sheer volume of content available people can't and won't give the mental energy to only one game as long as they did in the past. Today, a game must be designed in a way to grab people's attention almost immediately. From RPGs to games like online pokies - they are all trying to cater to the instant gratification kind of a player.
Benefits of Shorter Videogames
It seems like videogames are getting longer and longer every year, which, when you think about it, makes a lot of sense. More and more people are viewing shorter games as inferior to longer games, however, the truth is that shorter games can often be better and more rewarding than longer games.
The first benefit of a shorter videogame is that you can actually finish it. Let's be real for a moment, how many 50-hour open-world adventure RPG games have you started and never finished? Probably more than you want to admit.
A lot of people don't have the time nor the patience to commit all the way through. With that said, this is where shorter games truly shine.
Secondly, if you've been playing videogames for a long time, you've certainly reached a point in a game where you can tell that game developers are just trying to delay the ending, which can be quite frustrating.
Well, with shorter games, you don't run into that level of filler. To be so much invested in a game for it to stretch out the ending is no fun and in a way feels like a betrayal.
Finally, nobody wants to pay $60 for a game that lasts only a couple of hours. Luckily, this doesn't happen as much as it used to. Today, if a game is less than 10 hours long, it will cost around $20. So, generally, shorter games are cheaper than longer games.
Advantages of Videogaming
Generally, all videogames are designed to be engaging, entertaining, and fun. While it has been proven that playing videogames has a lot of benefits to one's overall well-being, there are also some downsides of it you should be aware of at all times.
Well-designed games engage players in a way that meets basic psychological needs as humans. For instance, a good game gives you a sense of autonomy, relatedness, and competence. All three of these components are universal and thought to be essential for the psychological health as well as the overall well-being of an individual.
Downsides of Videogaming
One of the biggest downsides of playing videogames is the tendency towards displaying violent behavior. With that said, it’s best if you avoid playing violent videogames in general.
The second downside of playing too many videogames is that it can make children socially isolated. The key is to have balance. While it’s totally fine to play videogames from time to time, it’s also important to go out and have some real-time interactions.
Finally, videogames can be very addictive. With that said, it’s very important to put a time limit on how much you spend playing videogames. Many studies have proven that addictive games have the exact same effect on the brain as drugs or alcohol.
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