NEW YORK — What do you think impacted your personality the most growing up? Was it school? Your friends or favorite sports? A new survey uncovered an unexpected answer that might shock people who don’t call themselves “gamers.” Sixty-six percent of Americans say that playing video games as a kid shaped their personality into what it is today.
The OnePoll survey asked 2,000 Americans about their relationship with video games throughout their lives and their time in quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven in 10 respondents said they played video games all the time growing up. It should be no surprise then that, even today, 64 percent said they would go so far as to call their favorite game characters part of their family.
Commissioned by World of Warships from Wargaming, the survey also reveals that three-quarters of Americans believe love for video games has influenced their preferences for other forms of media – like TV and film. Two in three respondents (66%) said video games were actually better during their youth due because of their simple and pared down nature.
Is gaming a productive hobby?
Sixty-six percent of respondents described themselves as “avid gamers” and 88 percent of these respondents agreed that gaming is actually a productive hobby with multiple benefits. In fact, the top thing Americans say video games teach is the ability to learn something new and solve problems. While online multiplayer games are more popular than ever, nearly half the poll (46%) said they prefer to look for a game with an interesting narrative and story arc.
The survey also looked at the relationship between families and gaming and found seven in 10 respondents can’t wait to pass along their love of gaming to their future kids. Of those polled with children, 68 percent said their kids have encouraged them to play more video games while they’ve been in quarantine together. Another 69 percent of these respondents also said they’re thankful for video games during this time because it’s allowed them to spend more time with their children.
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“Kids who grew up playing video games in the 1990s are still playing games today and are now sharing that passion with their kids,” explains Artur Plociennik, Regional Publishing Director for World of Warships, in a statement. “We often hear from our players how much they enjoy competing with their child or even their grandparent – which we can see from the survey results.”
For some, it’s more than just a game
Two in three respondents add they often get so excited when they’re playing a video game it’s like the rest of the world disappears. This feeling may also be closely related to the competitiveness that comes along with playing video games.
Over half of the poll said they often get frustrated when playing a video game for the first time. However, 71 percent feel just as accomplished when they finish a challenging video game as they do reaching other milestones in their lives.
Those who described themselves as avid gamers were more likely to say they often get way too competitive when playing video games – at 78 percent compared to 59 percent of casual players. Avid gamers are also more likely to describe themselves as creative and logical.
“Sharing a common passion is easier than ever today through gaming – whether you’re in the same room or across the globe,” Plociennik adds. “World of Warships allows users to make these connections with each other and learn a little bit along the way.”