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It’s a strange thing, gaming. Anywhere on the planet you find people, you’ll find people playing. But why? Most would say, “for fun.” True enough — but like most universal human behaviors, the answer runs deeper. Games are practice. They’re how we prepare for life.
For thousands of years, children have played tag and hide-and-seek — ancient training for evading threats. Boys often wrestled; girls tended toward nurturing or creative play — both forms of rehearsal for future roles. As we age, the games evolve. Drinking games smooth social tension. Board games sharpen strategy. Team sports build the muscle of collaboration.
The roots of games like soccer, baseball, and hockey trace back to Rome and Ancient Egypt. Even then, leaders saw the power of play. Roman generals encouraged their soldiers to compete not just for fitness or fun, but to build morale, camaraderie, and coordination. A unit that trusted each other in the arena could trust each other on the battlefield. Caesar himself understood this — investing heavily in games that united the public and his troops, boosting both loyalty and performance.
It entertained the masses, gave contenders a chance to earn clout, but more importantly, it created an environment to rely on one another with minimal risk. It allowed people to learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses and to build compassion and trust — without real consequence.
That same principle drives every Venture Up program. The question “What’s the point of this game?” comes up often, and our answer is always the same: it’s not about the game — it’s about the players. Passing a ball or jumping through hoops may seem trivial, but each challenge is a safe rehearsal for high-stakes teamwork. A missed catch in Focus Tubes costs nothing — except a laugh. But in business, miscommunication can cost much more. That’s why we play here first.
Perhaps the greatest merit gaming has is that it’s fun. Tag and hide-and-seek teach self-preservation through joy. Board games teach critical thinking through joy. Sports teach teamwork through joy. The joy itself makes the lesson stick.
Venture Up (est.1983) is the original team building company, helping organizations build trust and collaboration through real-world experience.
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Tags: gaming, team building, fun
