How are video games helpful?

Question

I am doing a project on video game addiction. I have come to see that there can be some beneficial parts of video games. Those of you who play video games, are there any good things you can get out of video games? besides like handeye coordination. i am looking for something like if your family plays it that can be your family time or you can make friends by playing with the same people online

Answer 1

Me and my dad used to never get along. Now that we both play Runescape, we are the best of friends. Even he likes it!

Answer 2

It depends on the game, for some things. For example, a game like Rome:Total War may get you interested in history. But the biggest benefit, that you can get from many videogames, is problem-solving. A game like Metroid, where you aren't give much direction and must figure out where to go and how, encourages critical thinking. GTA does as well, I'm sure.

But yeah, I'd say critical thinking is a biggy in a lot of games. I used Metroid because I'm familiar with it, but I there're many other examples, like Fire Emblem. Almost every game encourages the use of critical thinking though....even a fighting game. Most player vs. player matches in fighting games are a complex litany of mind games...

Answer 3

For people who have difficulty with social interactions, online video games provide a way for them to have "safe" social interactions--the video game is between them and the other person, so they are able to interact without worrying about body language or tone or other worrisome things. Also, others will value them for their abilities in game, which they usually have, rather than their popularity at school or something, which they might be unable to attain.
(That's in reference more to "clans", or a group of people online who play games together on a regular basis and are able to form relationships over time, not so much just people one meets in a game where relationship or social interaction doesn't really happen).
Also, it helps with problem solving. There are several video games where the only way to solve a problem is to shoot it or bash it over the head, but there are several others where there are multiple ways of solving problems, and practice in solving problems in a video can help somebody solve problems in the real world also.

Answer 4

I'm a full time pre-nursing college student with a part time job, and I need to spend a LOT of my time either studying or working. When I relax, I try to stay away from unproductive things, like watching TV or reading stupid magazies.

So on the train or between classes, when I feel like I need a relaxer, I whip out my Nintendo DS Lite and play "Big Brain Academy". It keeps my brain thinking, but in a much more fun way. I'm improving my score in that game a lot and I feel like I'm not wasting time.

Answer 5

sure video games are very helpful, first, when u are bored a video games could help a lot, they can help u release stress and can be some kind of family time together.Also u can make friends with people online, it can also help u develop your mind more like, u can solve problems more easily than u used to because u play a lot of games in which u have to solve puzzles like resident evil games, hope this helps.

Answer 6

One trick is that you can talk about types of games like Brain Age.
Brain Age for the DS actually stimulates your brain and helps you work on your memory and logic skills, brain age is also intended for older people too, so that they can keep their minds working and prevent dementia.

ANother type of game you can slide into your project are all these new videogame esc things that are adversited on tv to help younger kids learn by motivating them with viedogames. Such as the V Flash, heres a link:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=56125

Answer 7

I like to drive race cars whenever possible. Video games help me learn new tracks that much faster. I can run many race tracks on my Playstation and show up at the real track and already know the fastest way to get around the track. It works fantastic!

Answer 8

Yes there sure are. They can relieve stress and if you don't have anything to do you can play a handheld game on a long trip so you don't have to just sleep or stare into space. I play games on long trips and it makes me fell relieved and happy and makes time travel a lot faster

Answer 9

Hand-eye coordination, problem solving, brain building (Brain Age for the DS) are just some of the ways they can help.

Answer 10

relieve stress....

in life... well its not like a very big help, but it helps you on find ways to solve routine problems,,, for example, you learn to think how to do tasks more simple, or find patterns to make easier your jobs...

many games make players they have to try all possible solutions in order to finish a level, so when people are in a situation, they think how to solve it the same way they would do it in a videogame,,,,

or something... lol, videogames are really not that helpful at all lol