How of has video games helped/harmed you?

[Exo]

Hi, I am just trying to get input from other gamers on how they feel like what video games have taught them.
Such as have video games taught you better methods of communiticating with people? Have you got increased determination from video games such as not giving up on a boss or level until you beat it? Has video games made you a better thinker such as figuring out sphere puzzles in ffx or just figuring out how to beat a level you previously couldn't? Has video game helped you learn to deal with stress? Has video games taught you better hand eye coordination? Bascially I would like to know anything you have learned from video games good or bad?

P.S. If anyone has any books,online articles or anything about things learned in or because of video games that would be great

[Xantan the Foul]

The Bomber's Secret Society of Justice, the group of good deed doing youngsters in Majora's Mask, made me want to make a site about helping people.

I'm still working on it.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Team Work, if it wasn't for video games, I'd probably be a difficult person to work with, but with vivid storylines of today's games. It's really helped out alot.

When I was a kid, I was always told never to trust a person. (Which is helpful in some cases, but not flat out trust nothing at all)

Befriending people and learning about them, trying to gain their trust is so much more complex and alot better then living in fear.

Makes me a more outspoken person I think.

[NeoSNightmarE]

Video games helped me because i was able to learn how to focus with them. i would play games and just zone in on the game for 10/12/15 hours sometimes. it also helped me get through school because i was known as a gamer and i would hang out with other gamers. its just always been a part of my life and a good part at that.

[vulcanjedi]

Hmm

I remember an article about the gulf war combat pilots being the first "Nintendo generation" and like 90% of the people responsible for remote controlled weapons were video game players.

They spent more time elaborating on the NES and it's effects on the pilots and really didn't get into the Genesis or SNES generation.

I knew a guy who was into games and was a combat simulator programmer for the government. But he ended up tweaking and had a sex change and is now a craft coordinator for a production company.


VJ

[Aswald]

In the horrible year of 1993, I found a ColecoVision at a grage sale.

After all of those years, could finally play Burgertime, Pepper 2, Bump `N Jump, Cosmic Avenger...

It helped. Brought back memories of better times.

[Untamed]

Hand-eye coordination.

[digitalpress]

You know, there's a topic started by me on this very subject, months ago... but I can't find it!

I know that I mentioned a few things:

1. I'm much better at maintaining control of my car in snow and ice, which has been really helpful because I drive a rear-wheel drive Firebird and our winters haven't been great.

2. I can tell you what golf club to use in any given situation despite the fact that I never play "real" golf.

3. I have some degree of ambidextous ability that I was not born with, which I attribute to the motor skills gained from excessive game playing.

There was more, but I forget now. If I find the link I'll post it here.

[tyranthraxus]

Well we all have different experience so I'm going to go against the grain
here.

As much fun as I've had I would consider video games to be a negative
introduction to my life. I was about 10 when we got a Commodore 64
and I had an awesome time with that thing, made friends with the whole
pirate trading scene at school and it got me a lot more interested in
technology and made me computer literate. And I can think of some
great NES sleep over parties in the late 80s that were just a blast
and then later Genny sports and fighter competitions.

However, when I think back knowing what I know now. I was more
involved with sports, reading and art before video games invaded my home.
Before it was something I did at other kids houses or at the arcade.
My circle of friends had a wider span of interests too, not just gamers.
And I know that those games ate up all the time I used to spend on my
other hobbies.

Video games are in many ways an anti-social experience. Most multiplayer
games are competitive not cooperative. I learned more about teamwork
by getting a job and playing sports than I did by playing Double Dragon or
Smash TV. And my weakness for years was RPGs and adventure games. I
would get lost for weeks in those games. Some of those games were just
plain magic and a fanstastic game experience but its a fake experience.
Much like someone who spends far too much time reading romance or
D&D books.

Today I have a much better balance between games, career and the
rest of life. But when I was younger I was a video game junkie.

[RJ]

I'm much better at maintaining control of my car in snow and ice

Yeah, what Joe said. I think I drive better due to driving/racing games.

Awhile back some guy wrote into our paper's editorial section blaming younger drivers' poor driving skills & "5-second attention spans" on video games. I responded back & let him have it big time.

[drwily008]

I have developed extreme social skills paralelled by no other after years of sitting in my Mom & Dad's house by myself, then at my 1st 2nd and 3rd apartment, now in my all sound dampening dedicated ROOM OF DOOM. Just kidding, I've always been outgoing and games havent hurt that ever.

Soon I will be opening up my OWN video game, music, movies, and more store! I'll be able to make a good living and continue to do something I really enjoy!

[njiska]

Video Gaming has done wonders for my reflexes and i've learned much from some games about how to tell a good story (MGS). But it's also harmed me because i've skipped out on my college school work to play games like Burnout 3 and Ninja Gaiden because they're so damn addictive.

I've never learned social skills from gaming, but i have met some cool friends in games like Warcraft 3, CS, UT '04 and so on.

[crazyjackcsa]

Joe is right, this post is around here somewhere. I'd say there has been positives and negatives. A Negative is I actually feel I've become more anti social through games, I just play instead of meeting people. On the Positive side. Gamers develop these characteristics: Improved Eye hand co ordination. (the rest of the body is another story) . The Abilty to track more objects, info at a time on screen or in real life. Improved problem solving skills. and a really neat ability to count without thinking. The average person can look at three grapes andk now that it is three grapes without counting. Gamers can do that up to about 5.

[Rogmeister]

It's emptied my wallet...and bank account...

[StealthLurker]

Video games got me interested in computers and now I'm a software engineer.

[Sanriostar]

Quick version:

Good: Met freinds I still have to this day through this hobby.

Bad: Set up a cycle of compulsion and massive distraction with skewed priorities that I wasn't able to break untiill I got into college in Sept 2002. I still play and collect, but I'll not go game shopping or thrifting for months at a time now, and not feel bad about it.

[SKVermin]

Primarily, videogames have allowed me to support a family of four.

Also, my five-year-old son has obsessive compulsive disorder and has found that videogames are a great outlet. His problem-solving skills have developed to a level far above most adults I know. And his hand-eye coordination is through the roof. Just before Xmas, he beat Halo 2 on normal without help. And since he's started getting into games he's become much more social with other children at school.

[DynastyLawyer]

It's emptied my wallet...and bank account...

Word. Likewise, videogames are kind of a drug. While there's a profound illusion you're doing things and making progress, in actuality, you're not doing shit, aside from procrastinating on your studies.

That said, I think games make for really good morality plays, and videogames are their own subculture, with it's own one-liners and incredible shared moments.

[Untamed]

Oh yesss... Joe made a good point.

Ambidexterous.

I am that now, thanks to video games.

[jdc]

Hmmm.....

They've caused me to spend horrific amounts of money that could have been spent on other things.

They've caused me to spend horrific amounts of time that could have been spent on other things.

They've caused my blood pressure to rise quite high on numerous occasions.They've also honed my skills at swearing a blue streak.

They've also allowed me to be at home with my family every evening, given me great hand-eye coordination and all of those years spent with Gran Turismo taught me to look at driving in a different light. I know how to brake and enter a corner and accelerate out of the apex at the precise time. Thank you Yamauchi. Too bad #4 couldn't have been better.