The Growing Success of Video Games
There’s no denying the increasing popularity of video game production since video game animation first emerged in the early 1970s. Video games animation was once seen as a fad that would pass all too quickly. Nonetheless, the current billion-dollar industry has kicked that assumption to the curb. The planet, collectively, spends more than a billion hours on any given day playing video games. In 2013, the Grand Theft Auto franchise, released its fourteenth installment. Within the first day of its release, release grossed more than $800 worldwide. According to fastcompany.com, up until that point, it had been the most successful launch day for entertainment in terms of movie releases, record releases, etc. For many years, avid video game players may have thought video games pulled plenty of inspiration from classic movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars. Where Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft paralleled Indiana Jones in many ways, consumers are starting to recognize this transaction as a two-way street. Many movies are become inspired to emulate themes successful video games have capitalized on, and in other cases production studios have chosen to completely adapt a video game and bring it to a new form of life. So how and why do we continue to question the influence of video games? Benefits of Gaming Scientific research dedicated to video games has become increasingly popular. Studies found that gaming benefited an array of human traits such as cognitive, social and emotional capabilities. For example, some scientists found that a gamer, no matter what age, performs significantly better when it comes to testing attention span and multi-tasking. NPR suggests that parents stop hesitating letting their children get lost in their gaming stations as a result of these finds and how they can assist with brain development as well as the possibility of other real-world benefits. Other benefits include improved vision, and the ability to focus for longer periods of time. Also, scientists have uncovered that the gaming industry has decreased the gap between genders.
Women Seen as Equals
When a product has an expanding audience, it’s more likely to establish a long-lasting presence, no matter the industry. The video game industry has certainly capitalized on the fact that it appeals to kids of all ages, men and even women. It’s no longer a market that focuses on males to be the primary consumers. In fact, fifty percent of video game players are women of all ages. What some studies found was that the results between men and women’s spatial cognition tests varied greatly—resulting in men displaying higher scores. Math and engineering require spatial cognition. A scientist by the name of Jay Pratt invested a lot of time to a particular study that involved unraveling the real reason behind this discovery. Women with little to no gaming experience saw significant improvement in scores when they were taught the basics about video games. The women involved in this study then went on to play video games for about 10 hours. After administering the spatial cognitive tests for a second time, the women involved displayed improved scores—almost eliminating the gap in scores between their male counterparts. Video games give any mind the ability to process information in a different way. Minds that become well versed in video games are able to pick up undetected and statistical abnormalities in any setting, therefore being able to use it to their advantage. Improving Relationships Kids no longer only enjoy going to movies with their parents. Today, many will admit to introducing their parents to the latest version of angry birds or other simple video games that can turn into an entertaining afternoon as well as a bonding experience. The growing number of benefits that accompany the act of parents and kids playing video games together continues to grow. Brigham Young University conducted a study that found children who played video games with their parents were more likely to feel well connected to their families. These same kids were also more likely to behave better than other piers who didn’t share any sort of bonding experience with their respective parents. This activity can also improve and strengthen mental health for boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 16. While boys and girls at this age may not spend the same amount of time playing video games on an individual basis, the number of boys and girls playing video games with parents was evenly divided. Hollywood is well aware of the benefits associated video games. They’ve seen the way strategic character design can turn an idea into a lasting franchise. These are only a few of the reasons we’re starting to see an increasing trend of video game cinema today. More characters like Lara Croft are gracing the screens because of their captivating stories and overall messages. It’s a trend that won’t be fading any time soon.
Powerhouse Animation is a traditional 2D animation studio based in Austin, Texas with offices in Burbank, California. Since 2001, Powerhouse has been making ideas come to life through animation, illustration, and motion graphics. With a staff of 35 in-house artists, animators, videographers and designers, Powerhouse works on a wide variety of projects and has created animation for companies including Disney, Sony, Marvel, DC, Old Spice, Coca Cola, Miramax, the USO and more. To learn more about some of these projects visit www.powerhouseanimation.com.