I've been teaching video game design for the last three years. As most everyone knows, a considerable amount of coding goes into video games; a carefully selected blend of programming, design and artistic expression. Now, perhaps more than ever, video games are serving as a way to help people cope with the crisis we find ourselves in; they provide people with immersive experiences that just wouldn't be possible with the current state of things.
If you're already an avid video game player, then you already know the score. If not, then why not? Is it the perception that it's just for a particular group of people? The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) reports that, as of 2019, 65% of adults in the US play video games! Worried you're 'too old' to start playing video games? Fret not! While the majority of gamers are between 18-35 years old, it may surprise you to hear that 18% are between 36-49, and a whopping 21% are 50 and up! My family and I personally play games daily, and it has become part of our evening unwinding. It brings us together, it lightens the mood, and it offers all of us a choice of entertainment.
Whether you strive to be part of a high-stakes card game or embark on epic quests in far-off lands, I encourage everyone to find a genre that speaks to them. It's time to shake the stigma, pick up a controller, and just have fun!