The video game industry brings in more money than TV, movies, and music combined. It reportedly makes over $200 billion annually, making it by far the largest entertainment industry in the world.
What makes video games unique is the strong sense of community that develops among players. People who are passionate about a particular title can connect instantly with a fellow player, and online communities are some of the most tight-knit groups of strangers in the digital space.
Why does online gaming form such strong connections between people from different countries, cultural backgrounds, ages, and genders? This phenomenon of connection is truly unique in a world where online personas rarely match in-person characteristics. Let’s explore some of the reasons why online gaming creates such strong communities and relationships.
Multiplayer Advancements
Several decades ago, the way you experienced video games as a group was either gathering at one person’s house for split-screen adventures or taking turns on the same console and TV. Now, gaming can be shared live with someone on the other side of the planet. Even language barriers do not prevent players from interacting with features such as preset chat responses.
Online multiplayer games have made it easy to connect with other people playing the same titles you enjoy. From that one gaming session or round, the seeds of a new friendship can form. New gaming technologies are only accelerating this trend, with the rise of cloud gaming, competitive tournaments, and VR.
Dedicated Forums
While gamers may spend hours every week with their favorite titles, they may invest even more of their time into talking about them. Platforms like Discord offer gamers a place to form communities where they discuss all things Fortnite, or League of Legends, or Minecraft. They can also use these forums for in-game live chat, allowing them to discuss strategies.
The discussion is not always restricted to the games themselves. In fact, many users have real conversations about other interests and life goals once they have established a connection based on games. This only deepens relationships among players worldwide.
A Platform for Shared Creativity
Sandbox games, such as Minecraft and Roblox, allow players to create their own worlds, private servers, and custom experiences. This user-generated content can then be shared with other players, resulting in a sort of shared creativity platform. Players will enter their friends’ servers, participate in the experiences, and then help them refine their creations.
These sandbox games give gamers the chance to act like developers, building their own worlds through collaboration and trial-and-error.
Belonging and Shared Burdens
These two components are part of what makes online gaming special. Playing a game is no longer about personal enjoyment, but about working together to accomplish a task. Whether you are trying to be the last team standing in a battle royale title or building a civilization together, the connection built through shared accomplishments is significant.
When players work together to take down a particularly challenging boss, they form a bond that is difficult to break. For young people especially, feeling a sense of belonging is essential for their mental health, and online gaming communities often provide the belonging they can’t find anywhere else.
Risks in the Online Gaming Community
Although video games can offer strong connections within a thriving community, the industry also poses risks due to poor moderation and inadequate security measures. Let’s look at some dangers that can exist in online gaming, particularly for younger players.
Age-Inappropriate Content
Online interactions are not always perfectly monitored. Parents have less control over what their kids are seeing when they play certain video games, especially those with user-generated content that is easily accessible. Here are a few tips for protecting children from inappropriate content:
- Invest in a gaming console for the whole family
- Research the games your children play
- Adjust privacy settings
- Ensure chat functions are for verified connections only
The Reality of Sexual Predators
Unfortunately, online gaming has its fair share of predatory individuals. While many game devs and forum moderators are improving policies to weed out these bad apples, it is still possible for abusers to slip through the cracks and target vulnerable children. Although this is a sensitive subject, it is crucial that parents understand how many online platform safety lawsuits are related to video games and the sexual abuse of children.
Some of the same strategies can help ensure your child is safe from online predators. Make sure they are not sending private messages to anyone outside their confirmed friends. Monitor the games they play to see if user-generated content is managed. Set up parental controls so you know they are only participating in approved adventures.
Online Gaming Has its Risks, but it Also Generates True Connection
Knowing how to stay safe while online gaming is the best way to manage the risks inherent in the industry. This form of entertainment gives players a platform to discuss their favorite titles, participate in shared adventures, and build strong communities. These unique aspects can lead to some of the strongest relationships between strangers.
The gaming industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies making live experiences even more accessible. Tournaments are becoming more popular, gamers follow streamers more than most people follow celebrities and influencers, and developers continue to find new ways for players to escape into the world of a game. True connection is possible through video games, even between people who live in different countries and speak different languages.
