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In the game

Justin Bolger
The Commuter

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

I call it “the gamer’s edge”. It represents all positive qualities that video games bestow upon the players. Lowered stress, enhanced learning capabilities, better sight, heightened reflexes, smoother coordination, and muscular rehabilitation – these are just a few of the ways video games make us better.

Gaming has a reputation of evil that is simply uncalled for. According to the European parliament, there is no firm proof that playing them has an automatic negative impact on one’s behavior. In fact, video games are fancied as more of an outlet for feelings of aggression, even in spiritual communities.

Trinley Dorje, the Karmapa Llama, a leader of Tibetan Buddhism says, “If I’m having some negative thoughts or negative feelings, video games are one way in which I can release that energy in the context of the illusion of the game.”

A gamer can cleanse their spirit while simultaneously expanding the mind by building logic skills that are used in critical thinking and learning.

Puzzle games such as Tetris or Bejeweled are an easy pull for this cause, but further thought tells us that any game involving obstacles, tactics, or strategy help teach players how to solve both realistic and fantastical problems with reason. I couldn’t name a single game that doesn’t involve some measure of these.

“Video games can stimulate learning of facts and skills such as strategic thinking, creativity, cooperation and innovative thinking, which are important skills in the information society,” says the European committee of consumer protection.

Beyond these obvious forms of learning, research by Daphne Bavelier, a professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester shows that action games like Halo or Call of Duty can radically improve visual processing. Glasses, contacts and eye surgery were previously the only methods known that could help with problems in this area. Video games are heroes in the world of contrast sensitivity.

Where would quick eyes be without hands that were equally swift and sure? This is possibly the most widely known and accepted aspect of gaming’s bettering prowess.

Surgeons are sort of the poster-boys of dexterity, I believe. Well according to studies by Douglas Gentile, a psychologist at Iowa State University, surgeons who play video games are 27 percent faster at advanced surgical procedures, and make 37 percent fewer mistakes than their non-gaming colleagues.

When the time comes that I need major surgery, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the surgeon who rocks the Nintendo DS.

Speaking of Nintendo and hospitals, “Wii-therapy” is sort of a craze in the world of physical therapy. Traditional rehab exercises can be boring and painful. Motions required to play the Nintendo Wii, while similar, also keep patients’ minds focused and entertained – more importantly off of the pain. Lars Oddsson, director of the Sister Kenny Research Center vouches for the evidence that Wii games help in rehab.

Gaming saves lives. Maybe someday Nintendo will help deliver babies too. Who knows, right?

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