Once stigmatized, video gaming has certainly gone mainstream now that people realize that claims of it being a bad influence were all but unfounded. The medium’s fans have also been able to shrug off their stereotype, with just about everyone playing some form of game at some point now, be it an MMORPG, a casual browser-based title or a freemium mobile game.
When it comes to gaming, though, there perhaps is no better source than Japan. The nation is home to the two biggest console companies in the world, Sony and Nintendo, and is continually looking for new gaming avenues to explore and expand into. The incredibly consistent quality of gaming platforms and software to come out of Japan holds products of the country in high regard, and perfect for anyone looking to capitalize on the benefits of gaming.
So, we’re going to delve into the proven benefits of video gaming, be it regularly or casually, as well as some Japanese gaming to explore to reap such benefits.
The benefits of gaming
Having proven the fears that gaming promotes self-isolation and violence are baseless, psychologytoday.com set about exploring the other side of the coin. While some feared that gaming had an adverse effect on one’s mind, they decided to explore the potential cognitive benefits of playing games. Citing recent research, it was found that there are lasting positive effects to playing action games, including to memory, attention, decisionmaking.
As well as bolstering your cognitive strength in these key ways, gaming has also been found to be a reliable tool in reducing stress. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that gaming is supposed to be a leisurely entertainment pursuit. However, given how seriously many people take some games, their competitive nature, and the frustration involved in some titles, many are led to believe that gaming enhances stress. As compiled by makeuseof.com, a great deal of evidence shows that playing games can relieve stress and make you feel better.
Embracing Japanese gaming for its many benefits
The key to benefitting from the relaxation from gaming is to find a game that you like, that you want to spend time with, and that you find entertaining without it being overly challenging for you – just enough. While Japan is well known for its video games, the nation is also active in less mainstream gaming niches. For instance, the new japanbet.live platform offers an incredibly diverse selection of top-class online betting markets and titles, amongst which you’re bound to find a game that you find appealing and fun to play.
The benefits of decisionmaking, memory, and attention tend to come from more demanding games. You may know him as a sweet and innocent character, but Super Mario is behind some of the most notoriously stubborn games from Japan, with the latest being Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe for the Switch, as we read on nintendo.com. The infamous platformer will repeatedly demand that you make good decisions quickly, remember where hazards lie, and pay attention to your surroundings.
A couple of games from Japan that have taken the world by storm in recent years feature what is being labeled as “welcomed grind” – with grind usually being considered bad by gamers. However, Pokémon Sword and Shield and Animal Crossing: New Horizons both feature grinding elements that have proven to be very popular. Is seems as though the grinding to catch all Pokémon or to collect hundreds of thousands of Bells for Tom Nook becomes an exercise of decisionmaking, memory, agency, and is overall quite soothing. Context matters in these cases: as long as the so-called grind is enjoyable, it may just be what gamers come back for rather than a burden. In such titles, too, this grind is optional rather than required to play/finish the game, which transforms it from a player choice to a necessity.
Japan is very good at making all forms of games, regardless of the platform. If you seek the benefits proven to come from gaming, turn to any of Japan’s top-class exports.
