COVID-19: Escape to the cyberzone

Fine-tuning to game culture

Social distancing and self-isolation shape a distinct game culture, where people are inclined to choose games that support shared play.

Video game players' appetites shift constantly, which informs game designs. "An interesting phenomenon recently is that people are interested in playing solo and also watching others playing online," said Mikael Jakobsson, a research scientist at the Game Lab of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has been investigating how gaming activities fit into cultural and social practices.

That knowledge cues game designers that "they shouldn't focus solely on games offering single playing experiences. They need to produce something that can engage fans of livestreamed games," he said. This can be seen in the Battle Royale game. The game is popular in and of itself, but it also makes influencers who stream their play on livestreaming platforms, such as Twitch, for others' consumption famous. "To achieve that, the games must have high 'skill ceilings'," he said, referring to the highest potential skill that the gamer can attain only if he or she is committed enough to master it. "Only a challenging game is interesting to watch because the streamers have the chance to parade their skills that others can't do fully," Jakobsson said.

Children's screen time has seen an explosion as the result of global school closings. "Like adults, kids also need space to breathe under the chilly grasp of social distancing. Games should be encouraged. It is not easy to be at home with their parents for extended periods. They need alternatives apart from home," said Hanna Wirman, founder of the Global Game Jam Hong Kong.

Professionals in child education suggest parents cut kids some slack when it comes to restricting screen time these days.

Play is the primary avenue to knowledge for children. Wirman's 4-year-old daughter likes playing an indie game called Florence. "It has a beautiful interactive story with simple puzzles throughout. … I believe she learns problem-solving as well as something about emotions as characters' facial expressions. She does not understand most aspects of the love story, of course, but the game is peaceful, has really nice music and proceeds slowly," Wirman said.