Can videogames help?

[Antoninus Verus]

Ok, first off, this IS NOT for debating if videogames are the cause of violence or whatever, though similar points can be brought up.

My question is this, can videogames actually help you in certain ways? For example:

1. A shooting game improving your reaction time and mental reflexes, hand eye coordination and quick thinking skills

2. A strategy game improving your decision making skills, puzzle solving skills, lateral thinking, and various other mental skills.

3. A fighter/pilot game improving your reflexes, hand-eye coordination, critical thinking skills, distance skills(The ability to judge distances while moving at a high speed), quick thinking skills.

4. Role playing games improving puzzle solving skills, time/resource managment skills, decision making skills, and helping improve a person's immagination

What do you think?

 

[philN]

I definitely think so and I think in certain instances video games are already being recognized as a way that technology can help with training and developing skills.

I know here in the U.S. there are flight simulators for people who are joining branches of the military. I was visiting a friend at the Air Force Academy not too long ago and there were quite a few of these around.

I also know that playing puzzle games and such have personally made me think in a different way. I think it would be a great stride technologically to implement the positive aspects that these games can have and use them to our advantage in the future in different areas. Although, that probably won't happen until people stop blaming video games for murder, rape, and just about any other heinous crime imaginable *rolls eyes*

 

[Ninja Turtles]

Well first person shooters do provide people with better depth perception, coordination abilities, and reflex skills.

I don't know about strategy games, people usually just learn what's the fastest way to build and decimate the others rather then form attack strategies and stuff.

Flight simulators would be like a first person shooter with more buttons.

Role-playing...time management? LOL, more like people lose their lives in those games sometimes, but it does give a person skills in taking care of their character, managing skills and money, as well as decisions as how you want the character to develop. Unfortunately, I think they can consume too many lives and people get addicted to the games, which may retard some of the skills they gain. But hey, I like Final Fantasy, a great series.

 

[blackwasp]

I think I read somewhere that they did a study of surgeons who played video games and those who didn't. Those who did had greater precision. I'm not sure of the source of the article, but I believe I read it on Yahoo news.

 

[Hydra009]

I don't know about strategy games, people usually just learn what's the fastest way to build and decimate the others rather then form attack strategies and stuff.

Sometimes, but it's often more than just that. I really liked some of the non-building strategy games in which you'd have to do some serious problem solving and team coordination in order to win.

I think board games like chess and Risk, card games like MTG, and especially pen and paper games like D+D also really help improve one's thinking skills.

 

[Ninja Turtles]

Sometimes, but it's often more than just that. I really liked some of the non-building strategy games in which you'd have to do some serious problem solving and team coordination in order to win.

I think board games like chess and Risk, card games like MTG, and especially pen and paper games like D+D also really help improve one's thinking skills.

I was thinking more along the line of the Command & Conquer, Warcraft, Starcraft, etc.

I never liked online play because I liked to build up defenses and cut off resources with walls and stuff. However, I played online once and people just create massive amounts of the cheapest units and then overrun your whole base, so I never really got into those games.

Now games like HL2, haven't played in quite awhile, now that is fun, especially the grav gun.

 

[Antoninus Verus]

One of the best strategy games of all time for working out your mind is the Homeworld series. Its basically the same as any other Strategy game, except its played in three dimensional space. So you can be attacked from any direction, not just right, left, front, and back, but from the top and bottom as well. It forces you to think in three dimensions instead of two.

 

[Ninja Turtles]

A game that has some good strategy elements in it, though the AI could be a little better was Freedom Fighters. I liked directing my team to cover certain areas. I wish HL2 had AI like that because those people were dunces especially in the later parts of the game where they just would get themselves mowed down.

 

[Hydra009]

I was thinking more along the line of the Command & Conquer, Warcraft, Starcraft, etc.

I applies there, too. You can't build every mission, and they often restrict the creme de la creme, so one often can't just rely on mindless rushing tactics. I really enjoy the old-school strategy games like X-COM. Mmmmm....

One of the best strategy games of all time for working out your mind is the Homeworld series.

Definitely. I absolutely love space fleet battles, but I could never into controlling the Homeworld ships properly.

I still play Freelancer a lot with a mod that has a lot of Star Wars/Star Trek/ Babylon 5 ships. Nothing's better than the USS Defiant dogfighting an Earth Force battleship.

 

[Ninja Turtles]

If you can ever find Freespace 2, that's a great game. You'll have trouble finding it online, and it pops up every now and then online. A truly underrated game and one that combines flight simulator, strategy, and shooter skills.

 

[Donut Hole]

I don't know about strategy games, people usually just learn what's the fastest way to build and decimate the others rather then form attack strategies and stuff.

You're playing the wrong strategy games! Just say no to flash-bang.



Yes, video games can help you improve at a variety of things, depending upon the game.

 

[Phinehas]

Vid games have also been tested in doctor's offices to see if they can destract people from pain. First person shooters work best.

I think it should be manditory for everyone who drives to play video games (not necessarily driving games though).

 

[Ninja Turtles]

Vid games have also been tested in doctor's offices to see if they can destract people from pain. First person shooters work best.

I think it should be manditory for everyone who drives to play video games (not necessarily driving games though).

The world would go crazy if everyone started to act out scenes from Grand Theft Auto.

Chappelle's Grand Theft Auto

 

[Ampoliros]

I believe a study awhile ago said that gamers were better at driving because they had better ability to track other cars, etc nearby.

 

[morningstar2651]

Ok, first off, this IS NOT for debating if videogames are the cause of violence or whatever, though similar points can be brought up.

My question is this, can videogames actually help you in certain ways? For example:

1. A shooting game improving your reaction time and mental reflexes, hand eye coordination and quick thinking skills

2. A strategy game improving your decision making skills, puzzle solving skills, lateral thinking, and various other mental skills.

3. A fighter/pilot game improving your reflexes, hand-eye coordination, critical thinking skills, distance skills(The ability to judge distances while moving at a high speed), quick thinking skills.

4. Role playing games improving puzzle solving skills, time/resource managment skills, decision making skills, and helping improve a person's immagination

What do you think?

Yep. That's why I'm going to make videogames.

 

[morningstar2651]

I recommend Deus EX - It's a FPS/RPG hybrid and it was designed by Warren Spector. I actually played it for an English class a year ago.

Another couple other good ones are System Shock 2 and the Thief series.

 

[Antoninus Verus]

Another couple other good ones are System Shock 2 and the Thief series.

Ooooo those are good. REALLY hard but good. Thief is a touch unrealistic

 

[moses916]

i have wasted the past 6 years playing a computer game at least 42 hours a week, i regret it, i no longer will play because wow such a waste of my life, now i study twice as much to make up for lost time

 

[Antoninus Verus]

Why do you say its a waste?

 

[moses916]

because i'm trying to learn 4 languages this year, while i could have learned them over the past 6 years, i have honestly not gained anything than pleasure and bad eye sight for constant submission to this game!