**The media below contains the opinion of an individual student and therefore does not represent or speak to the values of Vestavia Hills High School and Vestavia Hills City Schools**
There is a stigma that video games are bad for you, but is that really true?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Video games are a delightful, thrilling pastime that you can enjoy with just about anyone, and the best part is that they can be very beneficial and positively impact your life in many ways!
League of Legends
This is one of the most well-known games in the world, and with over 140 million monthly players, plus a massive esports scene, it's a fantastic game with a diverse community.
So how does this game positively benefit you?
Firstly, this game relies heavily on cognitive function, as there are 169 champions that you can play, with the Riot team adding more champions every couple of months. With all these champions, each equipped with unique spells and abilities, it forces you to memorize and understand how to counter and play around, thus demanding a lot of memory, focus, and problem-solving skills.
Next, League of Legends requires a lot of multitasking and teamwork, as there are multiple objectives and lanes on the map that you have to fight your opponent to obtain.
That's not all, though! It is a great stress reliever and provides a great sense of accomplishment when you work together with your teammates to accomplish a common goal: destroy your enemies’ nexus and see the big VICTORY banner light up on your screen.
Counter-Strike 2 & Valorant
Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant are renowned first-person shooter games that tens of millions of people enjoy. Its fast pace and strategic playstyle have many benefits beyond just being a fun game.
One positive benefit of playing these games is improved reaction time; these games demand quick reflexes to react to enemies. Additionally, it allows you to think strategically and multitask at the same time: managing weapons, movement, communication, and planning tactics with your team.
These games also require teamwork and creativity, as you have to learn from your failures and adopt new strategies that can help you win the next match. But sometimes you don't always have teammates to back you up, and that is when you have to make quick decisions under pressure, helping you improve the player’s cognitive ability and decisiveness.
Not to mention it also highly trains your hand-eye coordination. To win the game, you have to track moving targets, make precise movements, and cultivate good depth perception.
Minecraft
A beloved game by all. A childhood favorite. How could I ever forget about Minecraft?
Minecraft is commonly referred to as a “sandbox” game because of its endless possibilities and exploration you can do.
The biggest perk to playing Minecraft is that it greatly enhances and promotes creativity. This fun-filled game allows players to create anything they imagine, ranging from complex architectural designs to engineering complex redstone machines; it allows for the impossible to become possible.
Moreover, dying is a common occurrence in this game and forces you to be resilient and learn from your mistakes.
Lastly, Minecraft has an educational application where it can teach subjects like math, history, and environmental science by simulating real-world locations and challenges the player has to overcome.
But Never Forget, Balance is Key
As always, keep playing video games in moderation. Too much video game exposure can lead to poor health, including poor posture, carpal tunnel, depression, injuries, and anxiety, computer vision syndrome (CVS) which causes dry eyes, headaches, and blurred vision.
Have fun playing the games you love and don't forget to learn along the way.
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