Abstract
Since the 2010’s, a technological trend has been flourishing: the development and enhancement of video games across different platforms. The early 1970s began the evolution of video game systems, from Atari and Magnavox Odyssey (1972) to Game Boy (1989) to Nintendo Switch 2 (2025) today. Video games themselves have also evolved, from the first basic computer games of the 1950s (such as OXO and Tennis for Two), to the introduction of arcade games in the 1970s (Pong, Space Invaders, PAC-Man), to the popular video games of today (Grand Theft Auto, Minecraft, Fortnite, R.E.P.O., to name a few). Several factors contribute to their popularity: games are engaging and enjoyable to play, games drive the player to work toward goals and reward the player for goal completion, and playing games can relieve stress. However, video games can also be perceived as a toxin in our society. Players may develop an addiction to gaming, and gaming may trigger violent behaviors that are otherwise not exhibited by the player. Despite the negative perception of video games, extensive research supports that video game play can improve cognitive skills, maximize intellectual capacity, facilitate collaborative learning, spark creative imagination, and advance development of soft skills, as well as positively impact mental health and personal relationships. I have developed my Cosmic Scurry demo to display some of these benefits.
Semester/Year of Award
Fall 2025
Mentor
Mark A. Pitts
Mentor Department Affiliation
Physics, Geosciences, and Astronomy
Access Options
Open Access Thesis
Document Type
Bachelor Thesis
Degree Name
Honors Scholars
Degree Level
Bachelors
Department
Computer Science and Information Technology
Recommended Citation
Phipps, Makendra M., "Level Up: How Video Games Can Be Beneficial and Spark Creative Imagination in Players" (2025). Honors Theses. 1115.
https://encompass.eku.edu/honors_theses/1115
Trial making test A and B results for hand-eye coordination
PTT Test Results.png (23 kB)
Plate tapping test results for reaction time
Ditrich Test Results.png (48 kB)
Ditrich test results for reaction time
Detection accuracy.png (95 kB)
A chart that displays attentional blink results for different game genres
Visual Search Accuracy.png (66 kB)
Search accuracy results for cognition
Verbal Span.png (107 kB)
Complex verbal span results for cognition
Creativity Results.png (30 kB)
A table that displays the results of using Minecraft to enhance creative thinking
Dream Bizarreness.png (173 kB)
Table that displays the relationship between video game play, dream bizarreness, and creativity
Table 1.png (50 kB)
Table displaying motivations for video game play in children
Polish Game Choice.png (91 kB)
Game preferences for Polish adolescence aged 10-12
Polish Game Choice 2.png (92 kB)
Game preferences for Polish adolescence aged 13-16
Platforms.png (8 kB)
Platform assets
Astronaut.png (3 kB)
Player sprite
E-2.png.png (2 kB)
Interact icon
Power ups.png (4 kB)
Power-up icons
Fire.png (1 kB)
Fire asset
Exclamation Point.png (2 kB)
Alert icon
Level 1.png (18 kB)
Ice level design
Level 2.png (41 kB)
Dry level design
Planet Options.png (11 kB)
Code for planet option information
Planet Load.png (13 kB)
Loading planet type
Option Ice.png (85 kB)
Code for player movement on ice levels
Option Dry.png (53 kB)
Code for player movement on dry levels
Timer Objective.png (27 kB)
Properties for the timed task
Timer.png (78 kB)
Timer in the game display
Item Script.png (16 kB)
Item properties and data
NPC Script.png (24 kB)
NPC properties and data
Item Collect Check.png (77 kB)
Code to check if all items have been collected
Title.png (29 kB)
Title screen
Pause.png (89 kB)
Pause menu
GameOver.png (24 kB)
Game over screen
LevelWin.png (28 kB)
Level win screen
SettingsTitle.png (45 kB)
Settings menu in the title screen
SettingsPause.png (141 kB)
Settings menu in the pause screen
