Why video games aren't a waste of time | Deborah Mensah-Bonsu | TEDxLondon
Вставка
- Опубліковано 22 лис 2023
- Who says you can’t have fun solving the world’s problems? With gaming you can, says Founder of Games for Good, Deborah Mensah-Bonsu. Games give us the freedom to fail, build agency, empathy, community and help us imagine different and better futures. And with 3 billion gamers across the world, this might just be the tool for climate action that we’re missing. In fact, Deborah’s work shows an increasing focus in games and gamers to discuss and act on climate change. She asks, “There’s an unrivaled power in this medium of make-believe. How are we going to use it?”
Deborah Mensah-Bonsu is the founder of Games for Good, which focuses on harnessing the power of video games and the video game industry for social impact and climate action. She consults for console and mobile studios, NGOs and the United Nations Environment Programme where she co-created the Green Game Jam. She thrives on collaborating to create healthier cultures, products and communities and has worked with some of the most influential names in games and entertainment. She is a Special Effect Ambassador, Develop: Diversity Star Nominee 2022, named one of the Top 100 Women in Games in 2019, and has been a speaker at conferences around the world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
A good game can contain: amazing music, storytelling, movie, mindgames and almost everything else. People don't call books or movies a waste of time, right? So why would they judge games? It's not that only Tetris exist
@@plowe6751
Would you say reading too much is bad or harmful?
Off course not
@@blackwatertv7018 Yeah, but my 3K hours on league are a different story.
@@blackwatertv7018isnt it bad? U cant read books unless u isolate yourself 😅
@@blackwatertv7018I personally was going to say that it's hard on the eyes. But the isolation part is true too. But depending if being isolated is good or bad depends on the person and if they are ONLY isolating to read, but can put the book down to see or speak to people if they want is all that matters. And considering that you can have an actual voice to voice conversation with friends while gaming, who says they are actually "isolating" they may just like the people online more than the ones around them.
So kind of like I said, it's all situational. At least I think so :) haha
But I love both games AND reading. But I also like to go to concerts and races, but I would say that I'm definitely more of an introvert than anything else.
Because a lot of gamers play online the same game 5 hours a day for a year or more. That’s why. And, ironically, those same people use the argument you just used for defending their choice
Thank you for this TedTalk! It is refreshing to hear the benefits of gaming instead of the vast ocean of negative press it receives. Of course, there needs to be balance with time spent playing and selection of gaming content absolutely matters when it comes to impact on mindset, but there is really so much good that can come from gaming. Thank you for the video!
This has to be one the best ted talks I've ever watched
And its a form of art!!
Not always. 😬
@@DC9V”bad” art is still art.
Video games i think can be great to take a break from work or have inspiration. But, to endlessly grind on a game to be the best of the best in competition CAN, be a waste. Balance is all we need.
Fantastic TED Talk!!! Games for Good is truly inspiring, amazing to see what's happening in the space and it gives me hope. Thank you Debs
LOVE this! As someone that used my gaming hobby to now help parents protect their kids online, I 100% agree!!
Oh, I just found the good reason to tell my mother why do I should play video games.
I've learned how to adopt a challenge seeking mindset through video games. I now enjoy many life challenges as much as gaming ones. Even the ones with no reward attached to them. I'm still trying to figure out how I got this way so that I might teach my family and others how to learn and harness this powerful mindset.
What an amazing TED talk Deborah! You are such an inspiration to so many of us. I truly believe that this medium can have a high impact on both future and current generations.
Thank you!
Games have been educational for ages. It's when people focus on Fortnite or PUBG as the standard for everything. My favorite childhood game that was "secretly" educational was The Amazon Trail. So fun!
My favourite was Super Mario - Time Machine. I learned so much about historical figures in that game
Just like starting a startup, but accomplishes a lot less in tangible productivity.
Thanks!Beyond imagination❤
Game is an astonishing source of entertainment which alone has the power to lose all anxiety and depression from a human. But overdoing any sort of thing kinda brings trouble. Same here, although it relaxes our minds and makes us escape from the unkind reality but addiction in game also makes us quite materialistic which consequences demolishing reality from ourselves!
You are wrong ❤
This is your personal problem. Everything that you cannot control and overdoing can be dangerous for you, even the water. The issue is you, not the games.
@@ArcusCo yes I exactly said the same thing!
It's not an are/aren't question. The vast majority aren't worth anyone's time the same as with movies, novels, songs or any other art form. But as with any other art form, great numbers of them can still be found that *are* worth our time.
Thanks for this, now I can cope in peace..
I'm a 30+ year gamer, and I've been arguing for the value of games since the 90s, so I have observed the truth of Deborah's claims in my own life. I have also experienced the darker side of gaming, like addiction and anti-social behaviour. I'm not yet convinced of the claim that games teach empathy, or foster good personal qualities, but I can certainly agree with the notions of problem solving and creativity. This talk is focusing on the good, and we need that for gaming to become more than just entertainment. So, respect to all those who strive to promote the value of games, and reframe the purpose of gaming.
Just finished playing some RDR2 lol
One of the best and heartbreaking stories ever…
Life itself is a game. The mind sets which direction you take. Fake it till you make it starts with imagination. Control your mind by using your imagination. Success in life starts with imagination. To be somebody you imagine. You are in control of your game of life.,
Very good
I feel like generalizing "gaming" can be dangerous. Yes, some games can be benefitial for the reasons that were listed, but many games can be a serious threat for your life's quality. I am twentytwo and currently struggeling with addiction and escapism by playing video games, and it hurts to know that I will never get the time back I spent on gaming by myself, procrastinating and missing out in the real world.
I think what you’re saying is valid and I’m sorry you feel that way. However I’d like you to try to see that “gaming” isn’t the actual problem. Society in general is the real problem. Through gaming you can experience infinite amounts of realities, perspectives. You can learn history, science, physics, alchemy, even dance if you like. My point is gaming is, by itself, a world of opportunities. Opportunities that you don’t get to experience most of the the times irl. Those experiences can enlighten you, inspire you, change you. And with that you can help to build a better society, just by being yourself
Hope it makes some sense and again, I’m sorry you feel like you wasted time
I think you are the minority. Majority of gamers use the medium the same as TV or movies.
You're right. There's a whole UA-cam channel called Game Quitters for a reason. Dopamine. Films, books, TV shows have an ending. Even if you watch them again and again, it's not the same as games which can be endless. It's so easy to just use games to avoid getting things done in real life. And before you know it hours go by and then days and then you start to wonder what you're doing with your life.
I use games in school with music teaching because the kids love them and engage and learn more. But we have to be careful if we generalise gaming as positive because gaming addiction is a serious reality for many people and is ruining lives
i feel the same i spent countless hours playing videogames but hear this: its never too late to experience life and at least videogames are fun, but theres more. another hobby will give you more lasting joy. the fun in gaming usually just is in one moment but if you start building stuff for example you have the joy everytime you benefit from the stuff you built. look forward not backwards
Virtually all games require you to strategize, even the arcade shoot em up. You're always required to think of your next move, what would be best, better, and ideal. You're frequently required to choose which thing you want to encourage, usually at the detriment of another. The negative aspects you're probably thinking of are also totally present in movies too.
Go Debs!! 👏👏👏👏
We finally have a Ted Talk for this. The older generation discrediting gaming as making children violent.
When 13 and above year olds spend much of their time on GTA with actual organized crime.
Compare a world of people who've spent most of their time in the 420 community versus those who grew up playing Animal Crossing; or Stardew Valley...
I on the other hand, am from a different thread. Portals, Siphon Filter, Splinter Cell, Halo etc...
Now, Remnant... For Honor.
Finally something I can agree with
🎉
😍
Beautiful talk, what's her K/D/A ratio though? 🤔
When you start getting addicted to games, it’s very difficult to fall away from that. I’ve been playing for 9 hours a day. Sometime less, sometimes more. My point is that people should use video games as a way to have fun and learn, while getting enjoyment; balance your real world daily activities, such as sleeping (important) with the digital world. 😢
A game, a code written with semantic that serves support for a system, based on the assembly of symbols to serve a function. Just like philosophy or mathematics can help us play with reality, we can use these to forge our senses to a clearer vision. I hope that games who let more creativity come to life because it would be fun to play with new systems with open source access so that diversity becomes a serious play.
😊
Right ❤
😂❤❤❤
Have you ever heard of a co-operative game? I found one the other day. Everyone wins or Everyone is defeated. It's called Ant colony. Very interesting in my opinion 🤔
"Trust and time" ? I think time is funny. Time doesn't exist. It's energy. Looking at your energy as time is like thinking your credit card is money. Time is a collective imaginary friend or foe depending on what you are into, connection or control. 🙃
Wow
Then there are multiplayer games where you keep grinding and grinding to get to the top of the ranks and then when the season ends it resets and u do it all over again.
that is why competitive games have a bad reputation .
Hola
Video games arent a waste of time, multiplayer competitive games are definetly a waste of time
Could BE
Someday ago I just comment on one of this channel video and commented it's my birthday and I will change my life and I did it.
You didn’t cover why video games aren’t a waste of time. All you did was talk about what the people could do or are doing with their money that they won from industry.
Dopamine hits are addictive in any form. Doesn't matter from what stimulation.
theyre a waste of time but in some ways kept me alive and having something to look forward to.
If it keeps you alive and giving you something to look forward to then it’s not a waste of time
@@blackwatertv7018 I forcibly tried to kill off my interest in them trying to better my life/career and had some scrupulosity/delusional thought about humor and fictional violence that damaged my interest in them
If it kept you alive and gave you something to look forward to then that's far from a waste of time. They're not productive, but the best moments in life tend to be unproductive. I realized that when I had kids -- who I also play games with 😉
Valid points, but I think someone got a payout from someone invested in the industry.
I think Bethesda didn’t get your memo
Bill Burr and I think Joe Rogan often criticize people who play video games but Burr especially says he just enjoys watches sports all day which really isn't better lol. It's kind of weird how there is a stigma/bashing of video games when said people just watch movies/tv/sports all day and they don't really get as stigmatized.
wonder how many hard core gamers got an autistic son....ive got two boys, both in the spectrum
Cope
Why? Lol
Cope about what exactly…? Words mean things like
games are good: goes ahead and picks the most artistic, and meaningful ones. Talk about the people who play wow or call of duty at least 6 hours a day. Talk about gaming addiction.
Exactly. These kind of videogames are uber waste of time, and should be legitimelly banned for kids at least until highschool.
How about going out and getting a job and a real life instead of using a fantasy to blind yourself from the realities of life. Video games are a waste of the pursuit of living a life of accomplishments. Living a life of accomplishments gives you purpose in life, while watching video games leaves you with nothing but wasted time that will come back and haunt you eventually. Get successful or further impose on your self a scull full of mush.
you know you can do both ? Play games and be productive ? lol
Climate change 😑
Hmm. Dubious angle. Anything in excess is bad. And most game developers aim to breed addiction.
Gaming enthusiasts provide countless justifications, but the reality is that its drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Therefore, I intend to keep my kids away from it for as long as possible.
Virtually all games require you to strategize, even the arcade shoot em up. You're always required to think of your next move, what would be best, better, and ideal. You're frequently required to choose which thing you want to encourage, usually at the detriment of another.
You're not helping them by completely avoiding them. You should instead choose the kind of game that requires more thought.
Your kids don't watch kid cartons?
cap