Revealed: What Really Happens to Your Body and Brain When You Play FIFA

For many years now, game lovers across the globe have been playing FIFA, one of the greatest creations in this industry. According to Fifa.com, there are currently over 250 million people who regularly play football. This is one in every twenty-five people of the world’s population.

But, while some see it as the greatest creation for gamers, others see it as trouble. The number of people addicted by this game is still growing, and some even think that it affects players by making them more aggressive and reducing their social interactions.

This brought on many questions among the community, especially after the mention of ‘’FIFA rage’’. The gaming industry was filled with examples of people who have experienced a certain addiction to this game at some point.

Research on FIFA

Since FIFA first came around in 1993, the interest in playing it has been growing gradually. Since it became extremely popular with players, it’s been debated whether or not it’s beneficial or bad for those who pick it. Some researchers believed that it reduces pro-social behaviour and promotes aggression, as well as increases the sexist attitudes in people. Others look at the perceptual, cognitive, attentional functions, as well as the quality of sleep in players of FIFA.

It’s hard to dive deep into the psychological impact of different games on its players. There are often many sides to it, especially in the gaming and gambling industry. Questions that often arise include: do players benefit from playing games or is this more harmful than beneficial? Why do people gamble if the odds are on the side of casinos? Research frequently shows the perks of playing games in terms of cognitive thinking and of course, entertainment. There’s nothing bad in using free spin coupons to gamble a bit at a casino for entertainment. It’s only bad if you become addicted, forget about the rest of your obligations, or lose track of your budget. The same applies to playing FIFA.

Because of an undying popularity, researchers have decided to explore how this game affects those who play it. Their question was: is it good for players’ health? Researchers at the University of Leeds guided by Dr. Andrea Utley investigated what happens to the body and mind of those who play FIFA.

For some time now, FIFA has been spoken ill as a game that causes rage in its players. But, the results from this study have showed a reduction in anxiety and stress for all the participants in it. It tracked everything from fluctuating anxiety levels to spikes in heart rate with the purpose to uncover what happens in the body of those who play the popular FIFA.

At some points of the game-playing, researchers have found some raised heart rates, but to normal levels that equate to a moderate workout. In fact, the results clearly show that all players had an increase in heart rate at some point. The elevations were more present when players faced an unknown player or where goals were scored – on either side.

When it comes to blood pressure, most players had a slightly elevated blood pressure after a game against a player they didn’t know, which indicated a slight level of frustration and anxiety. When the opposition scored a goal, 70% of participants in this study had an elevated heart rate.

Despite the above findings, all participants in this particular study said that they felt less anxious and stressed after playing FIFA. The results were reviewed and compared to a cardio workout, which indicated that excitement during this game is similar to taking a brisk walk around 135 BPM, which is not really something that would be related to ‘’rage’’.

Final Thoughts

Yes, the participants in this study all had raised blood pressure and heart rates, which indicates a certain surge in emotional activity whilst playing the game. This would also point to some level of rage, but according to this study, these effects cease and take a different direction when the players are done with their matches. Despite the commonality of experiencing some ‘’raging symptoms’’, this study has shown that playing this game actually reduces the perception of stress and anxiety in players.

Naturally, if this game becomes less of a fun pastime and more of a habit or addiction, players’ symptoms and effects can be greatly emphasized. This is the case with any game played, which is why it’s highly recommended to spend a certain amount playing games and make sure to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Author’s Bio:

Leslie Alexander is a content lead who’s spent the past several years working for Gamblizard, an established and trusted source in the gambling industry. For this company, Leslie provides insightful and thoroughly researched content. In addition to sharing information in the gambling industry, Leslie also shares tips for gamblers.