Many of us are taught to believe that video games are a "waste of time" and "will never get you anywhere in life" when in reality gaming can be beneficial when done in moderation. From a young age video games gave me a space to immerse myself in a land of imagination where I could be anything or anyone I desired. Every game is its own story providing new possibilities, endings all stemming from the decisions the player takes.
Many studies have shown that games increase decision making, reaction times and other factors related to cognitive performance. Games make the player consider all possibilities, much like life one must be able to analyse, adapt and overcome different situations in virtual environments. Personally video games have offered me a sense of community filled with people who I can relate to both in real life and online. Organisations such as "Quickfire" and "Gamers" are known in the Maltese scene for hosting major tournaments on the island that are able to bring people together and compete for large prize pools. At the end of the day competitive gaming (more commonly referred to as "esports") is growing both locally and internationally resulting in furthering both the economy and video games as a franchise that can be enjoyed by both young and older generations.
