Why Are Autistics Drawn To Video Games? (Guest Interview: Alex J. Brimmer)

This week I talked to my friend Alex about why Autistics tend to gravitate towards video games.

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[DJ-kyfk]

It is nice to have a guest speaker addresses the fact that people with autism are drawn to video games because of creativity it increases in the brain that stimulates it.

[chillbaby]

I stopped playing video games in the 90's when games increased so much in visual stimulation - moving backgrounds, lots of different bright colors swirling around the screen that I have try to ignore...i get overwhelmed looking at and trying too process everything going on on the screen. If the game is more visually calm, i can have fun for a little bit but then i just get bored when every objective is the same: shoot, shoot, shoot while dodging bullets, shoot and jump some more...hit, hit, hit, kill this guy, kill that guy... i just begin to lose interest. Now, Stardew valley i became addicted to for awhile, plants v zombies the first version. Maybe its just the type of game that matters i guess... i dunno.

[nakyer]

Another video I can refer people to that shows "Yes, there ARE Autistics that can talk and converse and have lives."

Thanks, guys.

[beginningandlast]

Hey nathan, I love your videos. Your videos have been encouraging since my son was diagnosed with high functioning autism. He’s 4 and has social challenges but is very intelligent. You give me hope that my son will live a good life.

[auburneytuckerson]

I have mild to moderate autism. I just got diagnosed.

[cekayd]

I’m glad you’re fine with people just referring to people with autism as “autistics” just to make it easier to say because a lot of people, especially non-autistics, get offended over them not being called “autistic people”

[DJ-kyfk]

It is like Minecraft- you could build your own world the way you see fit and no one can tell you that otherwise.

[WhutADrag]

There's also the fact that lots of video games can be really stimmy !! That's a main factor for me tbh. I love when games add little animations in the grass, add particle effects floating around in the air, and have a soothing soundtrack. Undertale is by far one of my favourites because it's so homey-feeling, the scenery almost always has Something that shifts around (whether it's fireflies/fairies(?) in Waterfall, the monsters looking around in Snowdin, or the lava in Hotland), and the music is usually so soothing. Just, video games hit basically every good point for us Autistics, so it's hard not to go back to them whenever we need something to occupy us or somewhere to escape to :P

[HappyHoney]

I'm 60 and I play WOW. Have forever. I rarely multi-box anymore. It's harder to play 3 toons at once now.

[aspiewithattitude]

I liked it however did a convensation with another person on the spectrum and also with another person who also YouTubes. This had clearly defined what gaming addictions is and how it impacts on the person. I don't know too many aspies I could know who would help me make videos like this, this video I reckon would inspire other autistic YouTubers to interview another Aspie in the convensation format to break the monotony. The most inspiring autistic YouTubers are always the coolest aspies out there.

[DJ-kyfk]

You should bring more guest speakers for future videos.

[magsdoesnotknow]

This sounds dumb but I'm obsessed with organizing animals into groups (when I was a tater tot I'd sort all of my plastic toy animals and stuffed animals into categories, and then those into smaller categories). So needless to say, games like Minecraft and zoo tycoon were where it's at for me, I can sort to my heart's content while still looking like I'm doing something everybody else does, playing games lol.

[irasthewarrior]

I'm an autistic gamer because the outside world is too idiotic to put up with.

[nikolateslaize]

I didn't notice at all Mass Effect characters have no expressions :D Now I am more convinced about my self diagnosis :D And I spend hours to create my character to look just like me. For FPS games I have no problem but like Civilisation or Europa Universalis and RPG games I can't let go of my moral codes. I can't invade countries or make unethical things :)