How your mind implodes with new skills from videogames

Welcome to a documentary called “How your mind implodes with new skills from video games”.

We all at some point must have heard that ‘videogames are a black hole for attention’ and‘ you do nothing but just sit there and do nothing productive’, but are these sayings bonkers, or reality? We will cover this so that you can chillax and not be bothered with statements that are not based on facts. We will look into puzzle solving skills and multitasking, as well as socialising and health benefits.

Before we begin our journey through the logic behind video games, I would like to thank our sponsor: Raid Shadow Legen- I’m just joking, I will never be as annoying as those ads, although I do believe that I wish that I am as successful as them. Ahem, so without further ado, let’s get cracking onto our journey!

1)Video games can improve problem solving skills and memory.

Shown by many scientists and gamers, many video games help improve and adapt puzzle solving skills, as well as photographic memory and background logic, as if I don’t already have them. Some examples of games that develop these skills are Minecraft, Tetris and Luigi’s Mansion.

Isabela Granic, PhD, of Radboud University stated that important research has already been conducted for decades on the negative effects of gaming, including addiction, depression and aggression, and we are certainly not suggesting that this should be ignored, however, to understand the impact of videogames on children's and adolescents' development, a more balanced perspective is needed. This suggests that although many guardians believe that videogames have a negative output, this isn’t always true.

2)Games can improve self-accountability and make you more social

“Everyone knows the best games are those that are challenging. Defeating that 'impossible' boss or getting that 'Ultra-rare' achievement feels like real accomplishments. That rush of dopamine really does teach us perseverance and personal accountability. The reward our brains feel teaches us to focus our own actions and helps us control the situations around us. Lessons like this are easily applied in the real world.” Christopher McFadden, November 15, 2017 We all must have felt this way at some point during a video game. This feeling makes us more approachable and social, as some show pride by activities that require focus, so others will be interested as well. With the current situation of the pandemic, even more people are online in their free time. This leads to more socialising inside the games and making more friends. Games can help students learn (with education specific games) and have helped with education during the lockdown. They can also aid creativity in teenagers and help children with ADHD and Autism. The World Health Organisation suggested that people play games to help keep connected while we are in lock down.

3)Video Games can improve multitasking

All gaming communities around the globe are focused on one aspect or one type of game, whilst others have a broader range of their likings. Although we each have our own preferences, we all know that you are always focused on completing one aspect of the game or some certain quests. However, you will always find yourself thinking of what to do with each challenge whilst you’d be doing a different activity. Video games can improve that skill as you are already occupied and you find more time to do even more. This helps during different jobs so that you won’t go over the deadlines of different projects.

4)Shooting games improve accuracy and eyesight

Although some may consider this false, it is logical that aiming a lot during shooting games improves precision and accuracy, making you better at the game in general. Proven by the University of Rochester in a 2009 study, video games make you depict visible changes in the surrounding environment and subtle changes in brightness all around you. Pretty cool, huh?

5)Video games can improve reading skills

‘Y'all got nothing better to do than just standing in front of a distraction. Why don’t ya read a book?’ Well, we technically are already doing that during our play sessions. It turns out that a lot of dialogue can also improve our reading skills and also improves our vocabulary, even though we don’t know that we’re kind of doing that automatically when you’re playing. A lot of people from a broad age range prefer to read dialogue or tasks that they have to complete during the game so that they can have a clearer view of the storyline or have a better run at missions/quests. A study from February 2013 took place in Italy where a group of researchers took some children aged 7 to 13 and made them play ‘Rayman Raving Rabbids’, and the tests showed that the children that took part of the test were able to read faster and clearer compared to ones who haven’t.

Articles based on:

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/02/video-game

https://interestingengineering.com/9-everyday-skills-video-games-can-improve