I learned that if you are ever in a situation where you have to kill a swarm of enemies and one is really powerful, you should usually try and kill all the weaker attackers first and then concentrate on the stronger one. However, if you notice that after killing one of the weaker opponents that he is soon thereafter resurrected, its probably the case that the main guy did this and now you will have to kill him first. If not you're just going to have to kill the same dudes over and over again, and that could get tiresome rather quickly.
Also, waterfalls almost always hide something and if you can somehow slow the flow of water or push through the current there will probably be a cove of treasure or some secret area waiting for you. This is something that I can say with absolute certainty after playing a number of adventure games.
Oftentimes small walls that reach about waist high and chain link fences are simply impossible to scale. An unexpected detour ranging anywhere from 15-45 minutes is often required to get to where you wanted to go.
Between some of the fluff dialogue and the manual for Fallout 1, I did learn some stuff about nuclear weapons (for example, nuclear bombs don't just vaporize stuff, they still have a blast wave like conventional explosions. Duck and cover doesn't protect you from ground zero effects or radiation, but it can keep you from getting impaled by shrapnel from exploding windows) and outdoors survival (be aware of a water source untouched by animals, it could be poisonous).
Jagged Alliance 2 gave me my first bits of insight into the different weapon standards between NATO and old Warsaw Pact nations.
And of course there's Civ. Others have mentioned history, but I was already familiar with much of that by the time I was introduced to the game. However, it seems that in some circles of academia the hot thing is the theory that some civilizations advanced and conquered based on the crops and animal resources initially available to them. Books have been written on the subject long after gamers discovered that not having horses while your neighbors do is a quick way to get overrun by horsemen and knights.
1. I learned that you CAN get your money back after killing a hooker....
...and your wanted level rises to 4.
2. I learned that you can be the biggest mild-mannered pussy in the world and still get the girl. Thus, we have the metrosexual living among us.
3. I learned that I can do a forward roll and not get hurt by fireballs.
4. I learned that a 10-ton metal deconstructing robot can't hurt me when I have a spiky shield with a skull on it.
In all honesty, what I really learned is that I took the M-16 for granted. My first few experiences with them weren't impressive due to the shoddy condition they were in. However, when I finally got one that was properly cared for, it was magical.
Has no one here played The Incredible Machine or Gizmos and Gadgets?
Our elementary school GT Program essentially gave me two days a week to play with LEGO Technix and these two games. As a result, I dropped behind in Math and History -.- BUT can dissect things by looking at them.
*edit* VeritasVR seems to know what Incredible Machine was about ^^
Well, outpost 2 taught me a great deal about basic scientific concepts and what certain fields are for. I mean, I knew a bit about what magnetohydrodynamics was back when I was a kid all due to outpost 2. That's awesome.
Car games like Carmageddon ( ), midtown madness, etc taught me a decent amount about how vehicles handle. I think this made driving my car for the first time a hell of a lot easier, especially since I had a steering wheel & pedals for some of those games. :P
All the shooter games like doom, quake, half life, etc improved my 3D spacial perception skills, so I can stay oriented and know where I was and where I'm going fairly easily now. This includes in tricky situations like in submarines, driving around in the bad part of town, going into a super walmart, etc.
Games like grand theft auto 3 and so on have made it much easier for me to build and memorize maps in my head, such that now I immediately resort to looking at any new/unfamiliar routes on google maps and keep an eye out for alternate routes, etc so I know where I'm going and don't get lost.
Superpower 2 (what a mediocre game that was) taught me a hell of a lot about global geography. I love it when some of those questions pop up on Jeopardy and all the respondents just come up with completely idiotic answers.
I also know a hell of a lot about military hardware and vehicles through the combined efforts of various shooter games and especially the Operation Flashpoint/Armed Assault series of games.
It's really fun to think about all the crazy random knowledge you pick up playing video games. Of all the ones I've mentioned so far I'd probably say that Outpost 2 I liked the most because a lot of what I was doing actually felt like Science, proper.
I was going to say this... especially the original King's Quest engine Sierra adventures where it didn't pause when you started typing. You had to be pretty quick.
Has no one here played The Incredible Machine or Gizmos and Gadgets?
Our elementary school GT Program essentially gave me two days a week to play with LEGO Technix and these two games. As a result, I dropped behind in Math and History -.- BUT can dissect things by looking at them.
*edit* VeritasVR seems to know what Incredible Machine was about ^^
Seriously. Between that game and tetris my spatial reasoning is fucking awesome and i can deduce how stuff works by looking at it
OH, not to mention something I still do today:
You buy something new
YOU DO NOT LOSE THE MANUAL (in many cases, the box as well)
I'm waiting for the day my PS3 locks up and says "what was the third movie listed on the Blu Ray promotional offer in your 20gb Talladega Nights bundle?"
Mythology from Final Fantasy. I mean, seriously. Every monster in that game is part of either a fantasy book, Indian Mythology, Norse Mythology, Chinese Mythology, Japanese Mythology, Greek Mythology, and on and on...
If it weren't for them I'd never have known who Fenrir, Shiva, or Ifrit were.
Oh, also, if you have two paths to choose from, pick the one that seems like it will come to a dead end and explore it first. You find more health that way.
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MetalbourneInside a cluster b personalityRegistered Userregular
edited August 2009
In a roundabout way, I learned how to program in basic at 7 years old from copying code snippets in magazines and then changing one variable and seeing how it changed the game.
The old Sierra adventure games taught me how to type (and save often in multiple files)
Team Fortress Classic and Counter-Strike then taught me how to touch type to avoid getting my head blown off for being a chatty bitch
Gran Turismo also taught me how to drive a car fast (braking distances, corner apexes all that nice stuff)
also Leisure Suit Larry taught me to always wear a rubber if you don't want your junk to explode while you're walking down the street
Has no one here played The Incredible Machine or Gizmos and Gadgets?
Our elementary school GT Program essentially gave me two days a week to play with LEGO Technix and these two games. As a result, I dropped behind in Math and History -.- BUT can dissect things by looking at them.
*edit* VeritasVR seems to know what Incredible Machine was about ^^
I remember playing a game that was pretty much a cross between The Incredible Machine and LabVIEW. I can't remember what it was called, though.
Video games taught me that being mean to people can be amusing for about a half hour, while being nice to them rarely stops feeling good.
I was going to say this... especially the original King's Quest engine Sierra adventures where it didn't pause when you started typing. You had to be pretty quick.
Good lord people. I learned to type by 'playing' DOS prompt.
Games like Oblivion, Fallout 3 and any others with a substantial mod community have taught me the one truth of life: that the extrordinarily vast majority of people are brainless, talentless hacks who could be wiped out and the world would be better for it.
EDIT: And Odell Lake taught me the meaning of the word "angler".
EDIT: And Stalker Oblivion Lost taught me the extrordinary importance of ironsight aiming when using any kind of gun. On the other hand it also means that whenever I have to shoot from the hip in a game it drives me maaaaad.
EDIT: And ammo conservation. And a smidge of russian.
I was going to say this... especially the original King's Quest engine Sierra adventures where it didn't pause when you started typing. You had to be pretty quick.
Good lord people. I learned to type by 'playing' DOS prompt.
I used to write stories on DOS prompt as a kid, and felt so invalidated after hitting "Enter" to see "Bad Command or File Name".
I was going to say this... especially the original King's Quest engine Sierra adventures where it didn't pause when you started typing. You had to be pretty quick.
Good lord people. I learned to type by 'playing' DOS prompt.
I used to write stories on DOS prompt as a kid, and felt so invalidated after hitting "Enter" to see "Bad Command or File Name".
Yes I did this too. And this was a wayyy old version of DOS which allowed you like 30 characters. Still took me like an hour. I called it Black Story Thing.
Edit: Because of the black screen, not... oh you know.
JRPGs taught me a lot of vocabulary as a kid. And recently I've learned a lot about mythology and obscure religions from the SMT games, due to all the well researched demon bios.
Its kind of weird seeing a name like Take-Mikazuchi and instantly remembering his role in Japanese mythology.
Video games taught me that being mean to people can be amusing for about a half hour, while being nice to them rarely stops feeling good.
Especially when being nice gets you more money and experience points?
I'm not one of those crazy people who thinks society is a big conspiracy or anything, but really, these games are designed to reward nice more than naughty. In an ideal world we all really would gain more from being polite than from being ruthless, but this is not always true in real life.
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Also, waterfalls almost always hide something and if you can somehow slow the flow of water or push through the current there will probably be a cove of treasure or some secret area waiting for you. This is something that I can say with absolute certainty after playing a number of adventure games.
That kind of sharp disagreement of ideologies calls for WAR!
It also calls for a hilarious gif and ytmnd
http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=16534
Registered just for the Mass Effect threads | Steam: click ^^^ | Origin: curlyhairedboy
Jagged Alliance 2 gave me my first bits of insight into the different weapon standards between NATO and old Warsaw Pact nations.
And of course there's Civ. Others have mentioned history, but I was already familiar with much of that by the time I was introduced to the game. However, it seems that in some circles of academia the hot thing is the theory that some civilizations advanced and conquered based on the crops and animal resources initially available to them. Books have been written on the subject long after gamers discovered that not having horses while your neighbors do is a quick way to get overrun by horsemen and knights.
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3DS: 3454-0268-5595 Battle.net: SteelAngel#1772
3. I learned that I can do a forward roll and not get hurt by fireballs.
4. I learned that a 10-ton metal deconstructing robot can't hurt me when I have a spiky shield with a skull on it.
In all honesty, what I really learned is that I took the M-16 for granted. My first few experiences with them weren't impressive due to the shoddy condition they were in. However, when I finally got one that was properly cared for, it was magical.
The Raid
Hey, I have a blog! (Actually being updated again!)
3DS: 0860-3240-2604
edit: most rpgs
-X-COM taught me about tactics.
-EverQuest taught me about teamwork.
-The Incredible Machine taught me about innovation.
-Starcraft taught me about coordination.
-Thief taught me about improvisation.
-Company of Heroes taught me about adaptation.
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
I learned that war has never been so much fun.
The Raid
Our elementary school GT Program essentially gave me two days a week to play with LEGO Technix and these two games. As a result, I dropped behind in Math and History -.- BUT can dissect things by looking at them.
*edit* VeritasVR seems to know what Incredible Machine was about ^^
Part of the reason I became an enginemawhatsit. :rotate:
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
Well, outpost 2 taught me a great deal about basic scientific concepts and what certain fields are for. I mean, I knew a bit about what magnetohydrodynamics was back when I was a kid all due to outpost 2. That's awesome.
Car games like Carmageddon (
All the shooter games like doom, quake, half life, etc improved my 3D spacial perception skills, so I can stay oriented and know where I was and where I'm going fairly easily now. This includes in tricky situations like in submarines, driving around in the bad part of town, going into a super walmart, etc.
Games like grand theft auto 3 and so on have made it much easier for me to build and memorize maps in my head, such that now I immediately resort to looking at any new/unfamiliar routes on google maps and keep an eye out for alternate routes, etc so I know where I'm going and don't get lost.
Superpower 2 (what a mediocre game that was) taught me a hell of a lot about global geography. I love it when some of those questions pop up on Jeopardy and all the respondents just come up with completely idiotic answers.
I also know a hell of a lot about military hardware and vehicles through the combined efforts of various shooter games and especially the Operation Flashpoint/Armed Assault series of games.
It's really fun to think about all the crazy random knowledge you pick up playing video games. Of all the ones I've mentioned so far I'd probably say that Outpost 2 I liked the most because a lot of what I was doing actually felt like Science, proper.
Many of my friends are like this, but I have better grammar and spelling than them because I actually take this subject very seriously.
Seriously. Between that game and tetris my spatial reasoning is fucking awesome and i can deduce how stuff works by looking at it
You buy something new
YOU DO NOT LOSE THE MANUAL (in many cases, the box as well)
I'm waiting for the day my PS3 locks up and says "what was the third movie listed on the Blu Ray promotional offer in your 20gb Talladega Nights bundle?"
If it weren't for them I'd never have known who Fenrir, Shiva, or Ifrit were.
Oh, also, if you have two paths to choose from, pick the one that seems like it will come to a dead end and explore it first. You find more health that way.
Handmade Jewelry by me on EtsyGames for sale
Me on Twitch!
Team Fortress Classic and Counter-Strike then taught me how to touch type to avoid getting my head blown off for being a chatty bitch
Gran Turismo also taught me how to drive a car fast (braking distances, corner apexes all that nice stuff)
also Leisure Suit Larry taught me to always wear a rubber if you don't want your junk to explode while you're walking down the street
I also picked up a few bits and pieces of Norse, Shinto and Hindu mythology, as well as general history.
And you can learn about all kinds of mythology from just about any SMT game, really.
I remember playing a game that was pretty much a cross between The Incredible Machine and LabVIEW. I can't remember what it was called, though.
Video games taught me that being mean to people can be amusing for about a half hour, while being nice to them rarely stops feeling good.
Good lord people. I learned to type by 'playing' DOS prompt.
EDIT: And Odell Lake taught me the meaning of the word "angler".
EDIT: And Stalker Oblivion Lost taught me the extrordinary importance of ironsight aiming when using any kind of gun. On the other hand it also means that whenever I have to shoot from the hip in a game it drives me maaaaad.
EDIT: And ammo conservation. And a smidge of russian.
Actually I could probably be an ok DH
Also: People tend to hide their money/gems in tall grass.
I used to write stories on DOS prompt as a kid, and felt so invalidated after hitting "Enter" to see "Bad Command or File Name".
Yes I did this too. And this was a wayyy old version of DOS which allowed you like 30 characters. Still took me like an hour. I called it Black Story Thing.
Edit: Because of the black screen, not... oh you know.
Its kind of weird seeing a name like Take-Mikazuchi and instantly remembering his role in Japanese mythology.
Especially when being nice gets you more money and experience points?
I'm not one of those crazy people who thinks society is a big conspiracy or anything, but really, these games are designed to reward nice more than naughty. In an ideal world we all really would gain more from being polite than from being ruthless, but this is not always true in real life.