The Phenomenon of Video Games: the Production of Digital Media of Everyday Life

Objective: The goal of this work is to explore video games as key determinants of the modern social environment and their impact on everyday life. Theoretical Framework: The study draws on the conceptual frameworks of J. Huizinga and R. Caillois, who identified play as a central aspect of human life. According to this view, all human activities have a playful element, influencing thought, perception, and worldview. Games, while evolving externally, maintain a core social function throughout history. Method: We apply Huizinga's approach to analyze how digital media transform the social, cognitive, and existential dimensions of life. Additionally, the concept of the "gamer-body" is developed using M. Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological-existential approach, focusing on the body's role in cognition and existence. Results and Discussion: Video games unite people, raise ethical and social issues, and enhance the individual’s spiritual journey. They confront players with their own alterable nature, acting as a "portal" through which they discover their essence. Over time, video games have increasingly influenced the real world, transforming everyday life with competitive interactions, rating systems, and digital interfaces. The physical and cognitive functions of individuals are reshaped by these technologies, making digital presence an existential necessity.