The isolation enforced by Covid-19 is currently increasing the number of players, for example on Steam. Now researchers with a focus on gaming behavior want to know exactly: Are you really playing more than before the Corona crisis? And if so, what and why?
Anyone can take part in the new study called "Playing through the pandemic", quite simply from home. It is all about the mental effects of PC and video games: Can a round of Call of Duty: Warzone help people in social isolation manage the pandemic impact? Is immersion in atmospheric single-player games soothing?
You can find the answers in one Questionnaire about your playing behavior during Coronenter a. The questions come from two scientists from the Chemnitz University of Technology and the Leibniz Institute for Knowledge Media in Tübingen. Estimated processing time: less than 20 minutes.
Important: Participants must be at least 18 years old. The answers are anonymized and the questionnaire was checked and approved by the Leibniz Institute's ethics committee.
Playing through the #Corona virus Pandemic? We (@ManuelNinaus& i) conduct a study #gaming while # Covid19 by. We would be interested in your experiences! Here is the study and all the information: https://t.co/KD9MiOVNeP #PlayApartTogether #stay at home #SocialDistance
– Steve Nebel (@Stnebel) April 21, 2020
Among other things, the survey aims to investigate the increased popularity of video games during the Covid 19 pandemic. The researchers involved cite the behavior of the World Health Organization (WHO) as an example. As part of the advertising campaign #PlayApartTogether the UN agency has its previous one critical attitude to games given up – a year ago, WHO officially recognized addiction to games as a disease.
The video game industry had also recently made connections between games and the fight against Corona:
more on the subject
PC games turn in-game advertising against Corona
GameStar has contacted the researchers in the new Corona study and will report on the first results and conclusions at a later date.
Coronavirus information and protections
The Federal Ministry of Health offers a comprehensive FAQ on coronavirus, as well as daily news and instructions on protection against infection. You can also reach the independent patient advice service on the following telephone number: 0800 011 77 22.
