This is the second part of the interview. To read the first one, click here!
Marc: What advice would you give to students who want to enter the industry?
Elsa: There are several ways to work or be involved in the field of games. A “typical” profile does not really exist, for the moment. I met several people working in the field of gambling who had studies in other fields, who did not have specific studies or who had entered the field of gambling late in their journey. Thus, I would say that the important thing is to listen to yourself and your needs. If you are interested in the field of video games, find out more, go and talk to different stakeholders in the field, listen to Youtube videos, follow Twitch, start immersing yourself in the field in order to create a network of contacts and let go of the passion afterwards.
Marc: What advice would you give to parents who want their children to play in moderation?
Elsa: When I talk to parents who don’t know the world of video games, I always try to start with psychoeducation about what are video games? in particular to explain that there are several styles of video games. I take the time to answer questions well and make game suggestions as needed. Like any new thing, the important thing is first to understand the situation and to understand the problem before looking for solutions. In the case of moderation, a reflection on the needs of the child is always necessary. Why does my child need to play so much? To socialize? To feel competent? To escape reality? To acquire skills? The answer(s) to this question provide a good guide for the rest of the intervention.
Marc: Do you have any other tips for parents who don’t know a video game?
Elsa: Of course, I invite parents to look for relevant and valid resources to learn, whether it is parenting coaching, literature or professional websites, such as Shared screen, in order to have tools and support in their decision-making and interventions with their children.
Marc: What are you playing right now? And do you recommend the titles in question?
Elsa: Right now, I discovered the cooperative game It Takes Two. This is my top 1 video games released lately to work on cooperation and empathy. The theme of the game (the divorce of parents and the management of family conflicts) is well brought into the game and could be worked with young people in meeting. In addition, the game is entertaining, colorful and accessible to all levels of players.
M: Do you have any games to recommend for children? and for teenagers?
E: In terms of video games, I always recommend cooperative and multiplayer games to intervene while having fun with your children, or as part of mental health interventions. The collaborative video game allows you to work on several social skills (empathy, listening to oneself and the other, conflict management) and cognitive and emotional skills, such as stress management, effective communication, time and priority management, organization… In addition, cooperative games allow you to spend beautiful moments with your family and strengthen the attachment relationship. One of my favorites of cooperative games, for teenagers and adults, is the game Overcooked; a cooking simulation game that requires good collaboration, communication skills and conflict management.
Elsa, on what social networks can we find you? Do you have any creations, sites to promote?
LudiPsy is present on various social networks, including
- LudiPsy, LudiPsy’s blog,
- and Twitch.
You can find all the links on Linktree.
