By Adama Ahmed
Amongst the pastimes( forms of entertainment) in quarantine, one that is popular is gaming. Through different devices and consoles, people can kill their extra time in a fun way. Video games that have become popular or resurfaced in popularity during this time are Fortnite, Animal Crossing, and Call of Duty Modern Warfare.
IHS students have not only been partaking in their fair share of games as a means of a leisurely activity, but as a way to communicate with their peers. Because of the quarantine, students can’t hang out with their friends, but video games solve this.
IHS junior Brett Clinton shared this sentiment, saying, “Gaming is a great way to stay connected with your friends. It promotes teamwork and other social skills we are missing out on because of the quarantine.”
In an attempt to use the pandemic for their advantage, Fortnite held a virtual concert featuring Travis Scott called Astronomical for Fortnite players. The world renowned hip hop artist has a strong fan base which helped generate the buzz for the event, in addition to Fortnite already being so popular.
The virtual concert held from April 23-25 managed to generate around 12 million viewers.
IHS junior Junnan Shimizu, who attended the concert amongst many, felt, “ It was a really interesting way to make light of the situation we are in. The concept was very creative and it was executed pretty well. I think Epic Gaming made a great decision in having this concert and should continue to create more events like it.”
Another game which has gained popular traction is Animal Crossing, a life simulator game exclusively available on the Nintendo Switch. The appeal of the game comes in the comparison of unlocking new characters and features and comparing to friends.
The popular reigning game, Call of Duty, has also made a special appearance on screens. With a new game being released each year, it manages to be bought annually by it’s cult following.
The latest release, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is what gamers have been playing. The multiplayer aspect of the game has also contributed in it’s popularity as it can be played with friends.
Despite the pandemic, IHS students are still making the best of their free time.
