Modern Gaming And Social Interaction

I know gaming often receives a bad rap, usually because those who enjoy it are so engrossed in it that they they forget human interaction. But it needn't be that way. Modern gaming and social interaction can actually go hand in hand. Some time back I wrote about how we enjoy Bingo in our condominium's Residential Club get togethers. Back then, we used to include the game only during special events but seeing how successful it was in bringing us all together in fun, we decided to make it a weekly event that the young to the very elderly enjoy tremendously. We have a great time!

And so, I bring you this guest post by Bo Sherman, who talks about modern gaming can be a great tool for social interaction.

Modern Gaming And Social Interaction

Many of us tend to think of video games as activities meant to be played independently, and in some cases gaming can even seem antisocial, or meant for particularly introverted people. Some years ago, ideas like this were accurate at least in some cases. But now, they couldn't be further from the truth. While there are still plenty of solo gamers out there, the average video game nowadays caters more to groups of friends and communities than individual players! Here are a few examples of just how the modern gaming industry is offering a great source of entertainment infused with social interaction.

Multi-player games

Perhaps most notably, the advanced console industry's intensifying focus on multi-player modes has worked wonders for social gaming. Instead of playing alone on consoles, or having to get together with friends in person to play together, gamers all over the world can now connect online to play their favorite titles together. Most of the publicity in this regard goes to games like Call Of Duty, and it's true that the action and shooter genres are responsible for much of the multi-player content online. But amidst all the publicity that games like these receive, it's important to recognize that there are other genres that are designed for social experiences!

In some ways, Nintendo still leads the way in this regard, with the new Mario Kart 8 standing out as one of the best new console games for multi-player action. It received nearly all positive reviews at Metacritic, and it's an absolute blast to play with family and friends, either in person or via online multi-player.

Apps

Apps offer another great look into the increasingly social nature of the video game industry. They may not allow for in-person multi-player like the aforementioned console games, but they do make it possible for us to play games with others no matter where we are. Apps like Draw Something and dozens of others have taken the idea of mobile gaming and turned it into a social experience-an excuse to exchange messages with friends and family members even as we play games with them. Some of these games actually provide a very easy way to stay connected with people over distance, all while providing one more subject to talk about together.

Casino games

Even in the casino branch of the gaming industry, there are plenty of socially-oriented options emerging. In fact, while the typical casino game can sometimes be a little bit dry and uninviting, these platforms are increasingly offering light, fun content that's a little easier to enjoy with a crowd, whether just for fun or for real money challenges. At the betfair bingo site, you'll even find a number of bingo games with themes designed to cater to various specific interests. A "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" game, for example, caters to a game show audience, and options like "Ghosts Of Christmas" and "Santa Surprise" will suit those looking for some seasonal gaming options. Basically, the themes make the games a little more interesting, and the games themselves are playable online with entire communities of players.

In short, there's almost nowhere you can look in the video game industry today where you won't find some games that are as well suited to social activity as individual amusement. This is a great development in the industry, and it is particularly worth taking advantage of over the holiday season.

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Bo Sherman is a freelance writer who enjoys writing on a variety of topics including gaming, entertainment, and technology.

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So, do you enjoy gaming? What is your favorite?

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