Impact on the video game industry during the COVID-19 pandemic

Luz Ortiz,Héctor Tillerias,Christian Chimbo,Veronica Toaza

doi:10.47460/athenea.v1i1.1

Luz Ortiz, Héctor Tillerias + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.47460/athenea.v1i1.1

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Abstract

This work presents trends and comparisons that show a change in the consumption and production of video games in times of confinement due to the health emergency. The video game industry has modified its philosophy and adapted its products to the new requirements and trends of consumers who see in this activity a way to appease the psychological and social impact due to quarantine and isolation. There is evidence of a 65% increase in the use of online video games, which has broken a world record. Products that have new aspects and considerations never before proposed by this great industry have been developed and offered, such as thematic games related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: Video game, pandemic, online games, confinement. References [1]M. Olff, Screening for consequences of trauma–an update on the global collaboration on traumatic stress.European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 2020. [2]Z. Li, China’s Digital Content Publishing Industry: The 2019 Annual Report on Investment Insights and Market Trends. Publishing Research Quarterly, 2020. [3]R. Agis, An event-driven behavior trees extension to facilitate non-player multi-agent coordination in video games, Expert Systems with Applications, 2020. [4]O. Wulansari, Video games and their correlation to empathy: How to teach and experience empathic emotion. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, 2020. [5]C. Bachen, Simulating real lives: Promoting Global Empathy and Interest in Learning Through SimulationGames. Sage Journal, 2012. [6]S. Fowler, Intercultural simulation games: A review (of the united states and beyond). Sage Journals, 2010. [7]G. Chursin, Learning game development with Unity3D engine and Arduino microcontroller. Journal ofPhysics: Conference Series, 2019. [8]K. Hewett, The Acquisition of 21st-Century Skills Through Video Games: Minecraft Design Process Modelsand Their Web of Class Roles. Sage Journal, 2020. [9]R. Bayeck, Exploring video games and learning in South Africa: An integrative review. Educational TechnologyResearch and Development, 2020. [10]K. Hewett, The 21st-Century Classroom Gamer. Games and Culture, 2021.

Highlights

Economic and psychological aspects such as isolation, the global market crash and behavioral variations in people, have been imposed unexpectedly during the quarantine period caused by the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide [1]
The growth in demand for video games was evident, its philosophy of continuous improvement has managed to capture the attention of its consumers through the use of cellular devices, implementing new technologies and through the incorporation of new techniques like non-player characters that allow the implementation of dynamic, credible and strategically unpredictable behaviors, which make the player want to get involved in the game's plot, capturing their attention considerably [3]
The current situation has motivated the video game industry to focus its attention on promoting online games which, from the user's point of view, offers an escape from reality to have fun safely, foster relationships with others people and share experiences, sometimes fostering empathy and creating pro-social themes [4]

Summary

Introduction

Economic and psychological aspects such as isolation, the global market crash and behavioral variations in people, have been imposed unexpectedly during the quarantine period caused by the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide [1]. These changes have been internalized by multiple industries and sectors that have expanded their market niches to improve productivity and economic growth. The current situation has motivated the video game industry to focus its attention on promoting online games which, from the user's point of view, offers an escape from reality to have fun safely, foster relationships with others people and share experiences, sometimes fostering empathy and creating pro-social themes [4]. There are video games that provide violent and socially resentful content, which is why it is important that parents accompany them in choosing and controlling the type of video game their allowed to play, especially amongst younglings [11] [12]

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