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Today β€” 31 October 2024Main stream

β€˜Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’ Scores Franchise’s Biggest-Ever Launch Weekend, Microsoft Gaming Says

30 October 2024 at 22:30
β€œCall of Duty: Black Ops 6” has set new opening day and weekend launch records for the 20-plus-year-old franchise with its Oct. 25 release, according to Microsoft Gaming. Per data released by the Xbox owner Wednesday, β€œBlack Ops 6” was the biggest β€œCall of Duty” three-day opening weekend ever in terms of total players, hours […]

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Study: Playing Dungeons & Dragons helps autistic players in social interactions

5 September 2024 at 21:40
A Dungeons & Dragons game session featuring a map, miniatures, dice, and character sheets

Enlarge / Researchers say that Dungeons & Dragons can give autistic players a way to engage in low-risk social interactions. (credit: Nicole Hill/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Since its introduction in the 1970s, Dungeons & Dragons has become one of the most influential tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs) in popular culture, featuring heavily in Stranger Things, for example, and spawning a blockbuster movie released last year. Over the last decade or so, researchers have turned their focus more heavily to the ways in which D&D and other TRPGs can help people with autism form healthy social connections, in part because the gaming environment offers clear rules around social interactions. According to the authors of a new paper published in the journal Autism, D&D helped boost players' confidence with autism, giving them a strong sense of kinship or belonging, among other benefits.

β€œThere are many myths and misconceptions about autism, with some of the biggest suggesting that those with it aren’t socially motivated, or don’t have any imagination," said co-author Gray Atherton, a psychologist at the University of Plymouth. "Dungeons & Dragons goes against all that, centering around working together in a team, all of which takes place in a completely imaginary environment. Those taking part in our study saw the game as a breath of fresh air, a chance to take on a different persona and share experiences outside of an often challenging reality. That sense of escapism made them feel incredibly comfortable, and many of them said they were now trying to apply aspects of it in their daily lives.”

Prior research has shown that autistic people are more likely to feel lonely, have smaller social networks, and often experience anxiety in social settings. Their desire for social connection leads many to "mask" their neurodivergent traits in public for fear of being rejected as a result of social gaffes. "I think every autistic person has had multiple instances of social rejection and loss of relationships," one of the study participants said when Atherton et al. interviewed them about their experiences. "You've done something wrong. You don't know what it is. They don't tell you, and you find out when you've been just, you know, left shunned in relationships, left out.... It's traumatic."

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Indie Gaming: A Vibrant Corner of the Entertainment World

29 July 2024 at 10:10

Indie gaming has emerged as a dynamic and influential segment within the broader gaming industry. These independently developed games offer unique experiences, creative storytelling, and innovative gameplay that often diverge from mainstream titles. As an expert in entertainment, this article will delve into the world of indie gaming, exploring its significance, benefits…

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The Evolution of Entertainment: Embracing Virtual Reality

11 June 2024 at 11:51

In the ever-evolving world of entertainment, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a groundbreaking development, transforming how we interact with digital content and offering a new dimension to immersive experiences. Virtual reality entertainment is not just a fleeting trend but a significant leap forward, allowing users to step inside their favorite games, explore distant worlds…

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Exploring the Frontier of Virtual Reality Gadgets

24 April 2024 at 17:41

Virtual reality (VR) has transformed from a sci-fi fantasy into a leading edge of today’s consumer technology, offering immersive experiences that blur the lines between digital and physical worlds. As an expert in technology and gadgets, this article delves into the exciting world of virtual reality gadgets, exploring the latest advancements, practical uses, and future potential of VR technology.

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