Imagine you’re a king or queen who has risen from poverty to rule the land, your every decision affecting millions. Or maybe you’re more into action - bullets whizzing by your head, explosions on your left, squad mates on your right as you fight for freedom. Now picture yourself barreling into a corner at Daytona International Speedway topping 190 m.p.h., your foot on the throttle and second place just inches away from your back bumper.

It’s all possible with a press of a button and the spin of a disk. Video games can take you where you want to go, let you be the person you want to be and live out your mildest, or wildest, dreams. A multi-billion dollar industry today, video games are how millions of Americans, both children and adults, choose to spend their recreational time.

“As far as the pros for gaming go, I think games do a wonderful job of making us more mentally active in our recreational time versus something like watching T.V.,” says Ron Weaver, production faculty member at the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy at UCF. “Compared to just sitting and watching your favorite show, at some point you may be required to think about what’s happening onscreen, but, for the most part, you’re passively just watching. In games, however, you’re going to have to think and strategize a lot harder, demanding far more mental acuity and problem solving skills.”

Other pros include increasing hand-eye coordination and natural dexterity, studies show. “Games force us to think, just like our education system is designed to do, and I think games are very underrated for that aspect,” Weaver says. Research has also found that games can improve children’s logical thinking ability and decision making skills.

Weaver notes that there are cons that can associated with gaming, much like any other entertainment media. “There are definitely a number of games and personality types in our culture that are creating unhealthy habits with regards to their relationships with games,” he says. “There are risks for creating problems; or not taking care of your loved ones because you’re caught up in something else, similar to alcohol and gambling. Games can do that, too.”

Still, he says that the Wii console has also opened up gaming as a fun, recreational activity for completely new demographics, generating far more interest in older generations and women. “It has exposed a whole new segment of the market to the idea that games are not just about shooting people,” he says. “I believe that no matter who you are there is a game out there for you.”

The casual game market has exploded recently, with many who wouldn’t dare pick up a controller donning plastic guitars for games like Rock Band and balance boards for games like Wii Fit. “I never really played games before Rock Band,” says Christina Gutierrez of East Orlando. “I thought they were mainly for guys, but since picking up the band stuff, I have started to play others and I really like it.”

For those looking for the next step in interactivity, they may want to ditch the plastic instruments and head to Hard Knocks in Oviedo. Described as being similar to a real life video game by owner Joe Wheeler, Hard Knocks is considered the ultimate combat simulator combining laser tag with themed environments and weapons modeled after their real world counterparts.

“We ask you to enjoy video games and then we challenge you to walk into one,” Wheeler says. “It’s that next level of challenge.” Home to Florida’s largest gaming lounge, the center also hosts special events and video game tournaments. “It’s good clean fun. It doesn’t replace being outside running around, but we have youth customers to adult customers, male and female, that thoroughly enjoy gaming and combat simulation, competitively and recreationally,” he says.

Whether you’re saving the world, living out your rock star dreams or even farming (yes, there’s a game for you, too), the entertainment experience for the price can’t be beat, according to many gamers.

“I think one of the great things about good games is that they’re able to keep you immersed and inside that enjoyable world better than any other media,” says Weaver. “You come out of the experience feeling like you really enjoyed yourself the whole time and there’s a story you can tell about what happened; games are incredible for harnessing that power.”

Article by Corey Gehrold