During these unprecedented times of quarantine and social distancing, games have provided people with a way to explore and share new experiences without stepping foot outside their homes. Video games are keeping us socially engaged, helping us connect with our friends and families, and, most importantly, helping prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Here's how you can follow the gaming industry's example to stay relevant in these uncertain times.
Help Keep People Safe And Entertained
Social distancing and self-isolation are necessary measures in order to flatten the curve. With millions around the globe consequently stuck at home, people have looked for new ways to occupy their time. Recently, video games have surged in popularity, with mobile gaming activity jumping 24% in the first two weeks of quarantine and Steam breaking its concurrent user record multiple times.
Developers have quickly realized that their games provide a critical public service by keeping people connected while in quarantine. Some developers have gone so far as to add in-game messages to stay at home, featuring billboards and signs advising players to self-quarantine.
Games are stopping many of us from giving in to the temptation of leaving our homes in search of things to do. As an activity capable of reaching a diverse global audience, it’s the perfect way to keep us all safer and the pandemic’s curve flatter.
Help Keep People Connected
During uncertain times, remaining connected to our friends, families and communities is critical to maintaining our mental and psychological health. Staying physically fit and remaining productive are also important. Thankfully, games help us do it all. Stories from around the world are demonstrating how games are making our quarantined lives more fulfilling. Amid physical isolation, society is going digital and finding inventive ways to keep connected through games.
One couple who was forced to cancel their wedding plans instead celebrated their marriage through Animal Crossing. Services such as Discord are helping parents and kids stay connected through in-game interactions as an alternative to videoconferences. Minecraft is offering free educational lessons in-game that teach children who are stuck at home about world history and biology, while virtual reality games are helping users at home stay physically fit.
Games have quickly evolved from being a largely recreational activity to an important way for us to remain connected, educated and healthy. By supplementing aspects of our lives that are currently on hold due to the virus with digital activity and interaction, many of us have managed to cope during this time of hardship.
Contribute To The Cause
Whether you’re a player, streamer or developer, gaming is now the second-largest entertainment sector in the world, an industry worth $160 billion and growing faster than any other form of media. Games have kept people entertained while they stay inside to help flatten the curve, and many companies and individuals have also directly contributed to the fight against coronavirus by raising funds and awareness.
Companies like Sony have pledged funds upward of $100 million to combat the virus and its effects. Streamer Tyler "Ninja" Blevins and his wife Jessica Blevins donated $150,000 to Feeding America, and our own company's players raised $40,000 for the Red Cross in mobile tournaments. Gaming hardware company Razer is manufacturing urgently needed surgical masks for medical personnel, while Nvidia is providing scientists with free access to genome-sequencing software to help better understand the virus.
Our industry is filled with generous, caring people ready to step up to the challenge. Whether it’s through monetary donations or ensuring that protective equipment is available for our front-line workers, the gaming community is doing more than just keeping us connected; they’re helping us address one of the most challenging crises of our time.
New Perspectives
Games and digital interaction have helped us retain some semblance of normalcy in our lives. These powerful tools are keeping us healthy both mentally and physically, while also flattening the trajectory of the coronavirus curve.
As gamers and esports viewers worldwide have broken records in recent months, I have no doubt many of us will emerge from the quarantine with a new perspective on games and their unique ability to keep us connected and engaged, even when the world seems to be grinding to a halt.
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Follow The Gaming Industry's Example To Stay Relevant During A Crisis - Forbes
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