Sept. 12 is National Video Game. Feel free to spend a little quality time with your controller while reclining in your favorite gaming chair this week.
The popularity of video games continues to grow across the United States. According to the Entertainment Software Association, approximately 190.6 million Americans play video games at least one hour each week.
There are plenty of die-hard gamers at Saint Francis and many of them are members of the University’s E-sports team, including Veronica Crum.
Crumm is a member of SFU’s Overwatch Team but she said her favorite video game is Minecraft.
“You can be very creative in gameplay as you explore, but caves aren’t fun due to the monsters,” said the sophomore Communications major.
Minecraft is a game where opportunities to be creative abound, and the same can be said for many other video games.
Video games, which were first created in October of 1958, were originally intended to serve as simply a fun pastime, but as time went on, the competitive aspects of games increased.
And so did the revenue that the video gaming industry generates.
Today, the global gaming industry is worth an estimated $18 billion and its arrow continues to point up. There seems to be no end in sight to the rise of competitive eSports tournaments and live-streamed competitions.
Madden player Henry Leverette has earned more than $1 million in his career competing in this popular NFL Series.
The other reason gaming has become so popular is because it creates a personalized community.
Online gaming is an effective way to build connections and relationships with others.
Digital streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch have made video games popular for those who want to watch others play instead of playing themselves.
So if you want to watch, go find your favorite gamer on YouTube. If you want to play, fire up your favorite platform and enjoy national Video Game Day!
