The well-known MMOPG "World of Warcraft" is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and is considered a "game changer", looking back on the online gaming industry. It was the first time that gaming had reached the mainstream. This point in time can also be seen as the start of a new era - computer games, whether on consoles or PCs, began to have a major impact on our society. This resulted not only in great gaming experiences, but also many downsides - especially when it comes to the impact of gaming on everyday education. In this article, we reflect on the influence of gaming on everyday university life and provide a deep insight into this matter.

Gaming in the academic meritocracy - curse & blessing

In this digital age, students face a number of trials. Hyperinflation, post-COVID stress, unaffordable rent, and sky-high living costs—students encounter numerous challenges in their daily university life, especially when it comes to managing their work-life balance. For most student households, it’s unaffordable to focus entirely on their studies; these are often financed through loans and part-time jobs—which cause additional headaches. Often, students can only afford their studies by using a service provider like Ghostwriter Switzerland. Ghostwriters offer help with bachelor’s theses, for example, so that overwhelmed students can better focus on their studies. Since vacations or weekend trips are also unaffordable for many, online gaming is often the only escape from reality.

Even immersing yourself in virtual game worlds has its price and often brings with it numerous negative side effects. While strategy games and sports games provide a nice distraction, Free2Play or Pay2Win games can really cause additional stress and headaches - more on this in detail later. While bachelor thesis editing falls by the wayside, many second-rate "mobile games" are played on smartphones, which are literally used to "kill time". 

While some games are designed for entertainment, mobile games in particular have a different motive behind them. Many mobile games are designed to hook players in order to drain their wallets over the long term. This can lead to real crises—for example, when you have to pay for a ghostwriter to write your bachelor’s thesis because you’re too overwhelmed by the job that’s financing your studies. Due to microtransactions and other costs, some of these games can become a financial burden. If you want to hire a ghostwriter for a bachelor’s thesis to save your academic standing, those affected often lack the necessary funds.

Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-gaming-console-194511

Positive effects of gaming on everyday study life

Of course, games can also have positive effects, but this depends on the right choice of games. If you focus on classics from Nintendo, or games that are not just designed to take money out of players' pockets, positive effects can become apparent. Strategy games such as Civilization VI, Homeword 3 or offshoots of the Command and Conquer series, for example, promote logical thinking, planning skills and problem-solving skills. These are all important skills for successful study. Sports games such as Mario Kart can also provide a welcome change of pace. Some of the sports games can even motivate students to get physically active. In addition, the right multiplayer games can strengthen the sense of community and cohesion among fellow students.

Platformers such as the spin-offs of the Super Mario games or Dead Cells promote concentration and even fine motor skills - as long as you don't spend too much time on the keyboard or controller. Many students use gaming as a balance to the stressful university day and as a stress relief valve. 

Practiced in moderation, it can help to relax and give the brain a break from the stress of learning. A healthy dose of gaming fun can boost creativity and concentration. The key is to find a balance between gaming and academic commitments. With the right dosage, gaming can even increase students' motivation and stamina. In particular, games that train cognitive skills and require teamwork can support the learning process.

Shady sides and classic games VS Free2Play VS Pay2Win

Sensible gaming usually focuses on classic game series that have to be purchased. Millennials and Generation Zwho resort to free offers on the games market usually pay twice. This is done through microtransactions and additional stress, as most Free2Play games are designed to manipulate students and lure them into spending money. There are only a few exceptions in this area, such as the classics League of Legends or Gwent. In fact, it feels like 90%+ of so-called "Free2Play" games fall into the banal "Pay2Win" category. Let us illustrate this in detail with the following table.

This table illustrates how classic games with a one-time purchase price can tend to have the most positive effects on learning, while free-to-play and especially pay-to-win games tend to have detrimental effects on students' concentration, finances and learning success due to their monetization models and addictive potential.

Source: Woman in a White Shirt Showing Frustration · Free Stock Photo (pexels.com)

Our conclusion on the topic

The drastic effects of gaming on everyday learning at universities can be very complex. While classic games can certainly have positive effects on cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills, free-to-play and pay-to-win models harbor considerable risks. Aggressive monetization on the part of game operators, enormous potential for addiction and the distortion of competition can lead to distraction, financial strain and impairment of students' learning success.

"Balanced gaming behavior is crucial" is the motto for responsible gaming on PCs and consoles. Universities and teachers should sensitize students to these dynamics. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to find a healthy balance between gaming and academic commitments. Following this pattern can create positive synergies without jeopardizing learning success. Responsible gaming can even promote motivation and concentration. The key challenge is to cultivate discipline and self-regulation to resist the pull of excessive gaming.