To a lot of students at the University of Hertfordshire, gaming is not just a hobby but a daily activity and a chance to spend time with friends, unwind, and even a means of alleviating stress. However, the connection between playing games and concentration in school is not that simple. UH student survey show a vast array of habits, with some considering gaming a reward at the end of the study day, to those admitting that the latter can interfere with coursework.
A student who identifies himself as a fan of large-scale AAA titles acknowledges that a combination of gaming and studying deadlines may be hard to manage. “I was so addicted to Baldur’s Gate, now I’m addicted to Assassin’s Creed. I can be stuck playing all night and play a couple of days in a row and then not play for a whole week.” Occasionally, I wish that I had done something pressing and not continued playing until half the night. Nonetheless, he claims that he can manage to get his work done at the expense of sleep.
Other people are more regular in their ways. According to a Dota player, he plays almost every evening, regularly, but admits to the effect it has on his studies. “It doesn’t help at all.” I go to classes and do the assignments at the last minute. It is at times distracting. I sit down to work, but my hands naturally open Dota.” In his case, gaming is not a planned time to relax but more of an addiction.
Gaming is not considered a distraction for all students. Indie games make one student feel that they can recharge. “I log in to spend no more than one to two hours relaxing. I believe it is beneficial, since when I have a rest, I can focus on assignments immediately.” Another one agrees, adding that roguelikes are relaxing: “I do not think when I play, which means it is good at relieving stress. Afterwards, it is not hard to work.” Gaming cannot be a problem for these students, but a means of refocusing their attention.
However, the boundaries between relaxation and interference could be narrow. One of the players of the Counter-Strike game confesses, “I believe it is interfering, due to the fact that you spend so much time on the game and do not always realise that several hours have passed already.” The other student who plays FIFA with his friends says that at times FIFA gets in the way. I do not get things done till the end as we sit playing too long.
Other students go further to play games and study simultaneously. The explanation given by one Dota player is that “I prefer to have two monitors open and playing as I study. And it never bothers me.” Gaming is not a distraction to him, but a part of his working process. Some other people, however, confess that gaming may actually result in missed classes. Frankly speaking, “I miss classes due to it. I cannot wake up,” says a Genshin player.
In spite of these variations, the majority of students confirm that they are heavy users of gaming in their university life. Gaming offers a feeling of community and fun regardless of whether it is spontaneous or intentional. As one of the students explained, “You can have a good time without going out of the house. Without it here, I would be hard.”
The interviews reveal that gaming at UH does not just entail entertainment, but also balance. To others, it encourages them to work more quickly on what they are doing. To others, it may drive others out of time. The thing that is evident is that gaming continues to be an influential phenomenon among students that defines their nature of coping with the demands of coursework and focus.
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