Playing Video games makes you smarter?

[Hadeel]

Re: Playing Video games makes you smarter?

@Umer

I’m not doubting the size of the Entertainment Software Industry. I play video games myself sometimes, so More Power to them.

However I would never play a game with the mindset that it will make me smarter. To me it’s just entertainment and nothing more than that.

Makes sense. Entertainment is what games really are all about and saying that games make you smarter doesn’t really work.

@Captain_Obvious

I wouldn’t say that it makes you smarter per se. On the other hand, it might demonstrate skills/aptitudes that the player already has. Playing a particular game or type of game might help further develop certain skills/thought process such as pattern recognition. However, I’d say it’s very rare that these skills would be applicable anywhere outside the context of the game itself. This is a general statement though and does not include educational games that are made with the purpose of developing a certain skill. Otherwise, software like driving/flight simulators have been used for training purposes.

Exactly! It may trigger the hidden skills a gamer has!

I’ve played pattern recognition games and they really enhance your thinking skills and speed.

Educational games are a totally different topic and I must admit you brought up a pretty good example. Training simulators teach stuff and that’s a given so maybe the study isn’t all crap?

@uzzybuzzy

I read somewhere that the brain training games don’t actually improve your IQ levels.

Like CO said.. they probably enhance your skills if not develop them.