The history of video games has dated back all the way to October 1958 with the invention of Tennis for Two. Since then video games have become fairly popular among both the youth and older generations with multiple different genres that have emerged over the years like RPGs (Role playing games), racing games, adventure games, fighting games, puzzle games, and many more. Some popular games that have been on the rise lately are “Among Us,” “Apex Legends”, “Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War,” “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare/Warzone,” “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive,” and especially “The Last of Us 2.”

According to the 2020 Game awards, “The Last of Us 2” won as the top game with the most wins in each category including best audio design, best performance, innovation in accessibility, best action and adventure, and overall game of the year with 2.8 million units sold worldwide.

Whether or not a player is more familiar with newer, well-developed games, less serious games, or older games of the past, the community spreads far and wide. Fans of all types and intensities are in plain sight in almost any crowd or location.

So, how do the students and teachers at Air academy feel about video games, and which ones are their favorite?

“I love video games. Whether it’s multiplayer and playing with friends or playing an immersive story RPG. It’s a chance to see the dedication developers put into their worlds that they create,” exclaimed Junior Odin Wiswall.

RPG, also known as role-playing games meaning when players take on the roles of characters in a fictional setting an example would be Final Fantasy VII.

“My favorite video game is a tie between the ‘Witcher 3 and God of War.’ Both have amazing stories and graphics. Bother of them also excel at one hard thing to do in RPGs which is not making sidequests seem like a chore that’s the same one just with different people. Each encounter is meaningful,” Wiswall also expressed.

On the other hand, Jake Klohe prefers a game like ‘Garfield Cart’ as it is something you can do with your friends.

With game favorites, there are also least favorites,

“My least favorite video game genre is puzzle games, they just don’t hold my attention very well. I really enjoy strategy games and games where you have to work with other players as a team to win,” AAHS history teacher Richard Thiele commented.

While Klohe doesn’t prefer RPGs and Wiswall noted that he didn’t like Telltale games as they don’t offer as much freedom while playing.

Throughout the history of video games, there have been many conversations on whether it is a distraction for teens or actually helpful, specifically when it came to teenagers or preteens playing video games as some may consider it bad for school or too violent.

“I think video games are beneficial to kids to an extent they can help with things like reaction time or things like that but they can also be a huge distraction,” Klohe explained.

Wiswall agreed as he implied that video games could improve critical thinking, reflexes, and teaches motor skills–as long as parents are careful about which games they allow their kids to play.

Ultimately, as time progresses video games will continue to grow, improve, and affect young people’s everyday life whether that be a positive or a negative thing.