# The Benifits of Video Gaming **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 26, 2005, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333 "2005-03-26T08:17:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NathanForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/fbc32d/32.png) [@NathanForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NathanForce)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2005, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/1 "2005-03-26T08:17:42Z")
I’m a lifelong video gamer. I already know one downside; its ruined my eyes. Although they are still tolerable in that I can still play games. I have noticed that it seems like my hand eye cordination is better than those I know who cannot or will not play these games. This leads me to three questions. 1. What are the postive effects of video gaming? 2. How much of an impact does said gaming have on your brain’s reaction time? 3. To what extent does the military value gaming as a training and readying tool? I have noticed the Army has become involved in the development of several tactical games such as Full Spectrum Warrior and America’s Army. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2005, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/2 "2005-03-26T08:22:32Z")
Off the top of my head, improved hand/eye coordination and improved problem solving skills (if indeed you are playing VG’s which require such - I’m an RPGer myself). I’m sure someone with real answers to your question will be along soon - me, I just remembered my old Genesis rotting in the closet, think I’ll have a go at the old _Shining Force II._ Happy gaming! ---
**Author:** ![NathanForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/fbc32d/32.png) [@NathanForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NathanForce)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2005, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/3 "2005-03-26T08:41:08Z")
> [@The Sausage Creature](#): > > Off the top of my head, improved hand/eye coordination and improved problem solving skills (if indeed you are playing VG’s which require such - I’m an RPGer myself). I’m sure someone with real answers to your question will be along soon - me, I just remembered my old Genesis rotting in the closet, think I’ll have a go at the old _Shining Force II._ > > Happy gaming! I’m in total agreement about the RPGs. Nothing racks the brain more. At the moment I’m playing NHL 2003 by EA Sports. Also played Morrowind recently, on the XBOX. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2005, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/4 "2005-03-26T12:34:26Z")
There was a study recently that showed that surgeons [who spent more than 3 hours a week playing video games](http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4685909/) had 37% fewer errors while doing laparoscopic surgery, and performed those surgeries 27% faster than their peers who did not play video games. So, try and make sure your surgeon is a gamer. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/5 "2005-03-26T14:05:17Z")
Some years ago (before most folks, including myself, had a PC at home), I was diagnosed with wrong eye dominance. IOW, even though I’m right-handed, my left eye is dominant. This makes me a bit of a natural klutz. The opthalmologist who discovered this little bit of trivia about me recommended that I play arcade games to improve my hand-eye coordination. This is how I came to spend many, many hours of my late 'teen years/early 20’s, in the back room of a little diner called CrabTown USA, playing Pac Man, Mario, Jump Man and Donkey Kong. I don’t know if it helped or not, but I do know it was nice to have a doctor’s excuse to go to the arcade! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Asteroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Asteroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asteroid)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/6 "2005-03-26T14:34:35Z")
According to Vicki Caruana, > [@](#): > > Video games are a popular way for the entire family to spend time together. > > […] > > Video games can improve hand-eye coordination, cognitive thinking skills and cooperative play skills by having to maneuver characters on screen and make real time decisions. > > […] > > Children get a sense of independent achievement when they play games that have levels to complete. > > […] > > Role-playing and adventure games stimulate a child’s imagination. > > […] > > Vicki Caruana For complete article, go here: [http://www.focusonyourchild.com/entertain/art1/A0000799.html](http://www.focusonyourchild.com/entertain/art1/A0000799.html) ---
**Author:** ![Viscera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/258eb7/32.png) [@Viscera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viscera)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/7 "2005-03-26T20:06:34Z")
Personally, I think computer (but not necessarily console) games, can also help with mouse/keyboard productivity, since many games require either fast reflexes of the mouse, and keyboard shortcuts/hotkeys, which can translate into increased speed on the job. All IMO of course, so no cite. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/8 "2005-03-26T20:15:10Z")
This is anecdotal but around the time I started driving I was also heavy into the Nintendo game “Paperboy” and found myself being uber aware of the road and stuff going on around me (that’s the gist of the game) And in regards to what **Viscera** said - I got acclaimated to using my new laptop with the little nipply pointer thingy really fast by playing alot of FreeCell. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/9 "2005-03-26T20:35:49Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. To what extent does the military value gaming as a training and readying tool? I have noticed the Army has become involved in the development of several tactical games such as Full Spectrum Warrior and America’s Army. IANAS, but I think that the Army views such games more as a recruitment tool than as a training tool. In other words, an 18-year-old who plays America’s Army might think “Wow, this is really cool! I want to join the Army so I can do this stuff in real life!”, but you’re not likely to find many folks playing it at boot camp. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/10 "2005-03-27T02:30:38Z")
Well, I read an article in a newspaper a few months ago by a researcher who said that video game players (especially if they play First Person Shooters) are more likely to be lucid dreamers. I don’t know if this is a “benefit” of gaming, but I think it’s pretty cool. I managed to google up a similar article (IIRC, it’s about the same researcher) [here](http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=4991): > [@](#): > > In 2004 she repeated the poll and found that frequent video game players have more “lucid dreams” (in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming) than non-gamers. Often, the dreamer can even manipulate the action or observe it in third-person, much like a video game. > > “On an intuitive level, it makes sense,” said Gackenbach.“If you’re spending a lot of time in a changeable virtual environment, it acts as a sort of practice for another virtual reality, dreams.” > > Gackenbach’s research suggests the effects of video games on minds are much more complex. She even goes as far to suggest that video gaming may share some traits with deep meditation, in that both immerse the mind in a singular, deeply focused activity. > > “Video games are changing how people’s brains work, how they are wired,” she said. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/11 "2005-03-27T02:43:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > IANAS, but I think that the Army views such games more as a recruitment tool than as a training tool. In other words, an 18-year-old who plays America’s Army might think “Wow, this is really cool! I want to join the Army so I can do this stuff in real life!”, but you’re not likely to find many folks playing it at boot camp. Having interviewed the designers and the men running the project at E3 a few years ago I concur. The goal in the game is to sell the ‘concept’ of joining the service. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/12 "2005-03-27T04:28:08Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > This is anecdotal but around the time I started driving I was also heavy into the Nintendo game “Paperboy” and found myself being uber aware of the road and stuff going on around me (that’s the gist of the game) Well, I know that after I started playing the Grand Theft Auto games, that really helped my driving. I became very aware of when cops were nearby as well. And I would constantly get the urge to randomly run over pedestrians too. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![bclouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@bclouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bclouse)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/13 "2005-03-27T05:28:24Z")
IMO, it all depends on the video game and the person playing. It’s been said that video games can improve your hand/eye coordination. Applied to real life situations, I think this probably doesn’t add up to much. I’m not saying that in certain particular instances, like surgeons who perform laparoscopic surgery, it’s not helpful. But for normal Janes and Joes, I can’t see how playing Grand Theft Auto or Halo is going to make you better at your job or handling real life situations. Video games can make for good learning and training tools when used in conjuction with other forms of direction. I saw somewhere that the Army is using video games to teach soldiers, not necessarily how to shoot or improve their hand/eye coordination, but how to work together as a team and the importance of listening and taking orders. And I do think games makes your brain work in ways that didn’t exist before. Or if they did exist, it was in less popular forms such as role playing games or brain teaser like puzzles. Video games help you think outside the box. While this won’t affect most individuals, it will spawn a whole new group of thinkers that will influence our way of living. It’s just too early to tell how that may be at this point. Plus I feel that it introduces younger people to be interactive with computers, something that is very important in our day and age. Video games like everything else we enjoy is another form of entertainment. Doesn’t mean it’s a waste of time but it also doesn’t mean it’s going to benefit you in anyway other than enjoyment and self-fulfillment. Myself, I’d rather have my kids (if I had any) playing _Civilization_ or _Final Fantasy_ than watching another crap TV show. But I wouldn’t want them to sit around playing video games all day and doing nothing else either. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/14 "2005-03-27T09:49:46Z")
> [@bclouse](#): > > IMO, it all depends on the video game and the person playing. It’s been said that video games can improve your hand/eye coordination. Applied to real life situations, I think this probably doesn’t add up to much. I’m not saying that in certain particular instances, like surgeons who perform laparoscopic surgery, it’s not helpful. But for normal Janes and Joes, I can’t see how playing Grand Theft Auto or Halo is going to make you better at your job or handling real life situations. > > Video games can make for good learning and training tools when used in conjuction with other forms of direction. I saw somewhere that the Army is using video games to teach soldiers, not necessarily how to shoot or improve their hand/eye coordination, but how to work together as a team and the importance of listening and taking orders. > > And I do think games makes your brain work in ways that didn’t exist before. Or if they did exist, it was in less popular forms such as role playing games or brain teaser like puzzles. Video games help you think outside the box. While this won’t affect most individuals, it will spawn a whole new group of thinkers that will influence our way of living. It’s just too early to tell how that may be at this point. > > Plus I feel that it introduces younger people to be interactive with computers, something that is very important in our day and age. Video games like everything else we enjoy is another form of entertainment. Doesn’t mean it’s a waste of time but it also doesn’t mean it’s going to benefit you in anyway other than enjoyment and self-fulfillment. Myself, I’d rather have my kids (if I had any) playing _Civilization_ or _Final Fantasy_ than watching another crap TV show. But I wouldn’t want them to sit around playing video games all day and doing nothing else either. I agree generally with you, but I think you have to distinguish between games. Civilisation is a turn-based game which takes 10-40 hours to finish. It involves planning and knowledge of a number of factors built into the game (such as strength/cost of military units, types of Governments and value of scientific research). Roleplaying games usually mix a plot with bursts of combat. Less detail than Civ type games, but still a thinking process. Shoot-em-ups may well have hand-eye co-ordination value, but only develop reflex actions. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-benifits-of-video-gaming/296333/15 "2005-03-27T10:31:19Z")
> [@RandomLetters](#): > > There was a study recently that showed that surgeons [who spent more than 3 hours a week playing video games](http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4685909/) had 37% fewer errors while doing laparoscopic surgery, and performed those surgeries 27% faster than their peers who did not play video games. So, try and make sure your surgeon is a gamer. I spent a month last year with a gastroenterology group, and I spent a few days in the lab with them doing colonoscopies. They let me drive the camera for several of them, and they couldn’t believe that I had never done it before. One of them said I was probably on the level of a late first-year GI fellow by the end of the day. “Two words,” I said. “Video games.” “Oh, so you played a lot of video games as a kid?” one of them said. “Uh, yeah,” I said, “as a kid…”