Video games are most often seen as the culprit for children becoming too violent, people becoming unsocial, and are even considered as the main reason behind many mass shootings that are occurring these days.
However, what many people fail to see is the fact that video games can also be very beneficial when it comes to helping and teaching people. There are various flight simulator games if you want to get into flying, there are tons of music related games which teach you how to play a musical instrument, and there are even games in which you can learn how to play online casino games before you startplaying with real money.
The newest positive use of video games is utilizing them to fight depression and anxiety. There are several reasons why this is a great concept and why other game developers should come with similar solutions for current problems.
Depression as the Main Antagonist
Mental health is finally getting the attention it deserves to have and is recognized as a central segment of the way we live our lives. Gone are the days when depression would have been dismissed as a condition which will pass on its own. These days people are aware that if we were to have normal and decent prospects for the future, we would have to address mental health problems accordingly.
There is a wave of video games which are coming out at about similar time and all of them deal with the loneliness and isolation of the main protagonist and how he or she copes with it. In games such as Electronic Arts' release Sea of Solitude, the main character, Kay, tries to survive in a city which has been flooded and one of her main challenges is not to become too lonely. If she does, she will be turned into a monster as were other humans who were too lonely and are now monsters that haunt here.
The interesting aspect of this game is the fact that it puts depression and loneliness as its main game objective which has to be prevented. It is not like in the past when Max Payne was going on a killing spree while being hunted by a depression caused by the deaths of his loved ones. No, this time, depression and loneliness are the things which should be eliminated. Hence, they are no longer the catalyst for the protagonist's actions, but they are on the receiving end of his or her actions.
A Better Medium
Many people argue that video games are actually one of the best mediums for fighting depression as they are more hands-on than traditional media such as TV or movies. Watching a film such as Silver Linings Playbook is a great way to see that other people have the same problems as you do, but they don't help a lot when it comes to dealing with and combating that problem.
Video games on the other hand, are much more effective in this regard. They are not a passive medium and in them you can enact your frustrations. In games, you can both connect with the main protagonist and relate to their problems, but also take action in trying to improve your mental health.