As I played World of Warcraft nearly every day until leaving for college, I formed a small cadre of ride-or-die cohorts. Some were my age, while others were older. We were united by our priorities: killing monsters, gaining loot, and making jokes until the early hours. Although I can't remember how we met initially, the game was designed to bring players together. We saw the same players in the capital cities, searching for companions for the next dungeon crawl. Over time, these mercenary contacts transformed into something deeper and more real. Our usernames were saved in each other's friends lists, and we started chatting on voice chat. I may have been a lonely teenager in some ways, but my life in World of Warcraft was rich with friends from different places.
Half of Americans, particularly millennials and Gen Z, are experiencing loneliness. This is evidenced by the numerous somber YouTube video essays about the lack of conviviality in multiplayer lobbies. On platforms like Reddit and GameFAQs, which were once the premier watering holes for gamers, there is a sense of despondence. People no longer chat in games as much as they used to. This generation has come to believe that a reliable source of intimacy has gone awry.
My own experiences in World of Warcraft also highlight the importance of social interaction. Mitchell Winkie, my brother and a fellow World of Warcraft sicko, recalls a late-night dungeon crawl where he was begged to log back on by his party leader. Despite not getting any in-game rewards, he felt a sense of being a minor hero and being treated kindly by his teammates. However, the negative social interactions in games are also prevalent. Call of Duty matches on Xbox Live are often filled with slurs, obscenities, and discrimination. Racial epithets and misogyny are common, especially for those who are not white heterosexual males.
Game designers have also made efforts to address the issue. Final Fantasy XIV has a mentorship program where newcomers are guided by experienced players, rewarding both parties. Journey features an abstract take on multiplayer where players can provide companionship without words. Freeman believes that removing words can sometimes be good, but there should be a way to improve social interaction in games.We have seen the potential for good in games, and we must find ways to deal with the problem of social decline. The internet can be a kind and loving place, as I have witnessed with my own experiences. We need to make it better rather than moving away from it altogether.
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