The world of gaming has exploded in recent years, evolving from a niche hobby to a mainstream phenomenon. Whether you are a casual player who enjoys a few rounds of Candy Crush or a hardcore competitor vying for esports glory, being a gamer is about more than just playing games. Those who participate say that it is a journey of discovery, community, and self-expression. 

     Many who are into gaming say it starts as a casual escape. It is a way to unwind after a long day, immerse yourself in a fantastic world, or simply have fun with friends. Junior Kavin Carter shares that video games appeal to him because, “they are fun to play, they give you a chance to just have a break from reality, and there are actual avenues and careers through gaming.” 

     On the flip side, junior Nate Brungart does gaming for a different reason. Brungart states that, “Gaming is just something to do on my free time, mainly.” And that is what most do: game when they have free time. 

     Skills play a crucial role in gaming, especially if you aspire to compete at a professional level. Developing expertise in a specific game, mastering gameplay mechanics, and staying up to date with the latest strategies are essential for success in competitive gaming. Carter mentions, “Gaming brings a lot of hand eye coordination [and] reaction time because some games are super-fast pace and also have to develop strategy and multi-tasking.” On the same page, Brungart says “gaming helps develop thinking skills, communication, team management, [and more].” 

     Gaming brings all these great skills, but if you are a beginner, you do not need these abilities in advance. Carter states, “Gaming doesn’t require too much skill. You can have no skill whatsoever, but you could become one of the best players as long as you understand and know what you’re doing.” 

     Streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming provide avenues for gamers to highlight their skills, build a following, and generate income through subscriptions, donations, and ad revenue. Content creation, esports competitions, and game development are other avenues where gaming enthusiasts can turn their hobby into a source of income. 

     Youtubers inspired Brungart to “start gaming beginning in 2014 [or] 2015.” Meanwhile, Carter started gaming when he was “three years old because of [his] dad. [His] dad had a Super Nintendo, and [his] dad taught [him] how to play and read subtitles on games.” 

     The more you game, the more it expands your horizon to all the several types of games out there. Both gamers are into different styles of games. Brungart enjoys, “first-person shooters, because it’s tactical,” and “driving related games because [he] likes to roleplay in real life.” However,Carter goes more for the graphics and speed, saying, “[He enjoys] fast-paced games because they are difficult and fun,” and “games with really good movement like ‘ULTRAKILL’ and ‘Minecraft.” 

     Most of the time video games are free ,unless you choose to buy luxuries in the games or for you. Brungart says that, “the maximum amount of money [he spent] in [a] game [is]  about $100 to $200.” Carter, on the other hand, mostly spends money to help him. Carter states, “[he spends] way too much. [He] has proper gaming equipment. [He has] spent an estimated amount of over $2,000, but it is mostly used to help [him] improve.”