Checkpoint: How video games power up minds, kick ass and save lives

Video games are not only for entertainment but also for mental health, as they can provide comfort and healing effects. Checkpoint explores the positive impact of gaming on mental health, featuring exclusive interviews with developers, health professionals, and gamers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 18 November 2021
Publisher: 404 Ink

You've likely encountered tired clichés surrounding gaming culture in the media, perpetuating the notion that video games are inherently violent and detrimental. These stereotypes suggest that they're solely for children, society's outcasts, the idle, or those lacking purpose. However, Joe Donnelly is here to challenge these misconceptions and reveal the incredible truth: video games can actually save lives. They saved his. Drawing from his personal journey navigating depression after experiencing a tragic personal loss, Checkpoint delves into the profound and healing impact that immersing oneself in new digital worlds and narratives can have on mental health, both on an individual level and on a broader societal scale. Whether it's the big-budget triple-A studios or the one-person indie setups, there exists a vast array of eye-opening games that explore the intricacies of the human experience, overtly and subtly, eagerly awaiting players of all ages to captivate and provide solace. Joe makes a compelling case through exclusive, in-depth interviews with video game developers, health professionals, charities, and gamers, highlighting the vital significance of gaming culture and urging us to be more open-minded and receptive to picking up a controller, not just for entertainment, but for the well-being of ourselves and our loved ones.

Weight: 262g
Dimension: 131 x 197 x 50 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912489572