New research from ING has revealed younger Australians are increasingly turning to non-conventional methods for learning about financial responsibility, gleaning information from sources like video games. In a study, around 76% of respondents indicated that gaining a better understanding of their finances was confusing, and 69% found it boring. But through video games, many found an avenue for developing their earning and saving skills.
Around 38% of Australian gamers believe they have gained valuable financial knowledge from video games, which has positively influenced their saving habits. Of those respondents, the majority learned their skills from , with , and also teaching financial responsibility. The vast majority of those games – barring – have unique economic systems that require player investment and understanding.
is a unique example. As soon as you arrive in the game, you are saddled with debt and must work it off by taking on menial tasks like fishing, bug catching, crafting, collecting items, and pulling weeds. It’s also got a light introduction to shares, in its turnip market – players must learn to buy turnips at a low cost, and then sell them when the purchase price is high.
is arguably the most complex game of the bunch. It tasks players with guiding digital humans through a semi-realistic virtual world, taking on jobs to make ends meet. The economic system of is not particularly robust, and it can be broken easily, but still it teaches players about .
