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Do you prefer watching movies or playing video games? Well, according to a new survey report by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), 63% of Gen Z individuals prefer gaming to watching movies.
So why is that? Perhaps this is due to social interaction and technology engagement, whereby 71% of Gen Z say playing video games is a great way to socialize, especially with friends and family. Baby Boomers also agree, with 21% saying the same thing and 83% of parents play games with their kids, while 51% game at least once a week with their kids.
This makes sense as Gen Z is a generation that grew up with digital technology. Social interaction and technology engagement resonate strongly with them where they can be both viewers (watching people play online via Twitch) and active participants. While they can still watch movies for hours, it's more of a linear and passive form of entertainment, unlike video gaming which offers and appeals to players' control of the narrative and outcome.
With social interaction and connectivity (to people) as the core of gaming for Gen Z, modern gaming is now considered an important social experience. ESA's report further highlights having a communal activity is crucial in a digital era, helping them to have a sense of community and connection. On top of that, the survey also revealed video gaming now helps to enhance a wide range of skills such as problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, eye-hand coordination and even resource management.
The ESA also notes that as the preference for gaming over movies is increasing, so will the economic status of the entertainment industry. After all, the video game industry has a value of $184 billion to $97.5 billion from the movie industry globally back in 2023.
Although the data was collected in the USA, we think it's not that different in Malaysia from our observations of our surroundings. Times have changed indeed and if you want to know more about the report, you can check it out more over here.
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