BCS - The (positive) effects of playing video games preceded by BCS AGD SG AGM

In the past, video games have often been associated with a range of alleged ill-effects, with the popular press and, indeed, published research, painting a lurid picture of the harms caused by playing games. However, a growing body of work suggests that video games may, in fact, have a positive role to play in our lives.

In this talk, two studies will be discussed: one on the use of video games to develop students’ employability skills, and another on the impact of video games on players’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Along the way, we will dispel some of the myths about video games that have been fuelled by a combination of moral panic, tabloid hysteria, and bad research.