Useful things you learned from games

Variable · February 2007

Qingu wrote: »

The Zelda games taught me logic. I'm not even joking. I did a really good job on the LSAT and I seriously owe it all to Zelda.

In Zelda, when you encounter a puzzle, there is always, always a solution. You will probably have to look around your environment for clues. You will probably have to build upon the knowledge you have learned previously in the game. You will probably have to use your tools or items in a new way or in a new combination.

Not all real-world puzzles can be solved, but still, the "Zelda strategy" for solving puzzles seems like the best fucking strategy out there. For standardized testsâ€”where there really is always an answer within reach to a puzzleâ€”Zelda logic rules.

what you say here is simple but very very important and true.

There is nothing better in a zelda game (or really almost any game) than knowing for sure that there is a solution, and that if you think hard enough, you will find it.

perfectly comparable to tests actually because every question on a test has an answer of some sort.

Rhesus Positive · February 2007

Fantasyrogue wrote: »

I have to admit, unlike the person some posts above me, I did not learn what a red herring was from Monkey Island... that joke didn't click till later Neither did the pun-based "head of the navigator" one until after I tried every item on those damn cannibals.

God, that head pun - I solved it the same way. So I guess we learnt diligence...?

Oh yeah, also what a hermit was and what memos are. Might have learnt about zombies from MI2, as well, if I hadn't already from Mighty Max.

Squirminator2k · February 2007

When learning to read, I doubled my efforts so that I could play The Secret of Monkey Island sooner rather than later (I was nearly four years old when it was released).

SirUltimos · February 2007

ZackSchilling wrote: »

This thread is destined to be filled with joke replies about mushrooms and weakpoints and VR simulators and zombies. But don't let that get you down!

I played a lot of text-heavy games when my reading skills were just starting to form. Final Fantasy kept me reading even while playing games. The vocab wasn't the greatest but I got really good at reading short passages in nearly an instant and pulling from them any useful information.

Other than that, I dunno how much games "taught" me. Not a whole lot. But they were fun and at least caused me to engage my brain unlike TV.

I'm in the same boat. I remember playing games with lots of reading when I was younger and it really helped my reading skills. I was top of my class for reading for quite a few years because of this.

FreddyD · February 2007

Memorization.
LP RP LK RP LP RP LP RK RP LP
LP RP LP RP LK LK RP LP RP RK
DF+LP RP RP LP LK LK LK RK LK RK
etc.

Xagarath · February 2007

Gaming generally improved my co-ordination rather a lot.
Besides that... never picked up much, I don't think.

VeritasVR · February 2007

X-COM taught me how to use squad-based tactics in combat. It was a hard learned lesson, because it was either that or all my soldiers fucking died. (Also, a blaster launcher beats all hands.)

Delzhand · February 2007

Docken wrote: »

"What can change the nature of a man?"

A miserable pile of secrets!

Wait, wrong game.

Gosling · February 2007

I learned where to vent if I had a bad day- Rampage, Smash Bros., Destruction Derby 64.

I also learned what San Marino looks like (Carmen Sandiego). It looks like a hill with a castle on it. That's about it. It took me several more years, despite this, to figure out that Formula 1's San Marino Grand Prix isn't actually held in San Marino.

SimBen · February 2007

Delzhand wrote: »

A miserable pile of secrets!

Wait, wrong game.

Mankind ill needs a savior such as you!

LewieP · February 2007

Allways, allways check behind waterfalls.

quovadis13 · February 2007

Well, for starters, I wouldnt be nearly as efficient a killing machine as I am now if I hadnt spent all those long, long hours playing all those murder simulation games.......

[/parody]

4rch3nemy · February 2007

I once hid in a cardboard box from my girlfriend and caught her cheating with LIQUID SNAKE.

I'm still dating her: at least it wasn't Raiden.

No, but seriously I learned to multitask from Starcraft. Micro/Macro, and all that. Plus, you get some basic math skills from JRPGs and what not, counting all the numbers.. not to mention the engrish. Also: I can stuff a room FULL of boxes ala Tetris, now.

Non-Existent Freezer · February 2007

As many have mentioned, I learned a hell of a lot of my vocabulary from text based games, as well as some degree of teamwork, especially verbal communication when pressed for time.

mrcheesypants · February 2007

Read my sig.

mspencer · February 2007

I learned: never, NEVER enlist.

(Thanks America's Army, and America's Army: Rise of a Soldier!)

I learned from an early age to always identify the contents of a mysterious flask before drinking. Also when attempting to kill monsters in a dungeon, your chances of survival are directly proportional to your typing speed.

(Thanks Dungeons of Daggorath!)

I learned to avoid following an enemy into small rooms. Also it's easy to frustrate and infuriate people by dodging their attacks and never fighting back.

(Thanks, Subspace!)

I learned to always aim for the legs. If you can't do that, pop out and surprise-chainsaw your enemies instead.

(Thanks, Gears of War!)

I learned caltrips are your friend. Caltrips are my favorite weapon. I LOVE caltrips. LOVE them! (OK, yeah, that's a quote.)

(Thanks, Shadow Warrior!)

Gorilla Salad · February 2007

Tetris taught me to always leave a single open square in each row of my walls.
God Hand taught me that Wrestling Gorilla's with Zippers on their back are trying to kill me, as well as various midgets.
Seriously, though, pretty much everything that has already been mentioned

Merovingi · February 2007

emnmnme wrote: »

I'd like to know if videogames have dulled people's fears in tense situations. Does the avid Burnout player's heart skip a beat when, in real life, he faces a near-collision in his car? Or does he handle it calmly and get out of trouble with steady nerves?

Though it is arguable, I say that I've been desensitized (to a point) by video games, movies, and TV so certain themes and situations don't bother as much as they probably "should." I should note that I don't see anything wrong with desensitization... coping and dealing with potential nasty stuff is an advantage in my opinion.. but... Anyway, I have been in a few near-accidents while driving. Luckily they wouldn't have been serious but because of quick reaction time I was able to avoid them. Now, I don't know if it's because of playing a lot of video games, but I've noticed that I do have some pretty damn good reflexes. I've also noticed that I'm pretty calm "under fire," so to speak.

Again, I don't know if I'd be the same way if I hadn't played a lot of video games but I like to think that it's helped a little.

One way video games has "helped" me, I guess, is through knowledge. This mostly applies to military and warfare themes so it doesn't exactly help me in every day life, per se, but knowledge is knowledge

Anyway, through playing all the Jane's Combat Simulations, Falcon 4.0, OperationFlashpoint, and other military sims I've learned a lot through reading the in game reference or by learning on my own because it's peeked my interest. I grew up, as a kid, being very interested in all the warplanes and helicopters so the interest was natural but playing the games enhanced as well assisted in what I now know today. The things I know about warplanes, how they work, how they're used is because of the video games I've played. Hell, put me in a real F-16 cockpit and I'd be able to do a hell of a lot more than your average person who isn't a pilot in the airforce. I'm no fighter-pilot, sure, but playing Falcon 4.0 with full realistic avionics has taught me a great deal. I learned, from playing America's Army, how to unjam an M4 but I don't think that's very useful in day-to-day affairs.. who knows.. maybe one day.

So, things like that..

EvilBadman · February 2007

Delzhand wrote: »

A miserable pile of secrets!

Wait, wrong game.

What a horrible night for a misquote.

SimBen · February 2007

EvilBadman wrote: »

What a horrible night for a misquote.

EvilBadman... What do you here?

EvilBadman · February 2007

SimBen wrote: »

EvilBadman... What do you here?

Sometimes, even I don't know.

On topic: The historic strategy games are gold for learning. Also pen and paper RPGs taught me the importance of maths.

Xusder · February 2007

My interest in guns were stemmed from alot of games, but the game that stands out the most was Metal Gear Solid 2.

Especially the gruff voice of David Hayter explaining the details of the AKS-74u or SOCOM H&K Mk23 Mod0 Pistol.

MGS3 does an even better job with SIGINT. Tons of hours wasted in the communications screen listening to the details of the XM-16E1 and Colt Single Action Army.

Pure awesomeness.

Also, random facts were learned from those games. Many random facts...

Obs · February 2007

Learned how to manage my stocks and get the best profit margins.

Thanks to Ultima Online

In the early days of Ultima I was a killer/murderer, but eventually my connection was getting too laggy so I had to focus on craft skills.

I joined up with a guild that basically specialized in business turn-arounds. We worked with some people who's businesses were going to the shitter and helped them bring them back up majestically. We made millions and millions of GP. By the end I had about 300 million+ GP in the bank.

Torso Boy · February 2007

I'll be damned if Pokémon didn't teach half my school to read.

Couscous · February 2007

I learned how to plan the most efficient way to level up from RPGs.

Lucky Cynic · February 2007

DAoC taught me to get up and try again. In my old guild, I was scrounge to do assassin missions for Realm points but thanks to moving on, I am getting nearly one realm level every night I RvR!

JJ · February 2007

I think I learned to not enlist from watching the first half of Full Metal Jacket.

Anyway, I can't think of anything at the moment that games have taught me.

natxcross · February 2007

Skooldaze taught me how to get through sk... school. (Don't get caught.)

Sim City 2000 taught me basic organisation skills. (Don't put your nice stuff next to stuff that smells.)

TFX taught me the value of being prepared. (Don't wait until you're flying on fumes before you try to find out how to land the plane.)

Baldur's Gate 2 taught me how to deal with other people. (Be kind to everyone until they pull a weapon.)

Deus Ex taught me that actions have consequences.

Operation Flashpoint taught me the value of running away.

Gorilla Salad · February 2007

Resident Evil taught me that no matter how much firepower you have, you still need a key to open a locked door.
Phoenix Wright taught me that we need to eliminate juries, re-instate the death penalty, and make it so that trials can only last 3 days.

YardGnome · February 2007

Playing the Call of Duty games helped me in my U.S. History class.

Gorilla Salad · February 2007

YardGnome wrote: »

Playing the Call of Duty games helped me in my U.S. History class.

Play 3 WW2 games and you can give detailed explanations of the tactics used on D-day, a relatively close estimate of how many casualties there were, and what happened on D-Day.

Couscous · February 2007

Senor Fish wrote: »

Play 3 WW2 games and you can give detailed explanations of the tactics used on D-day, a relatively close estimate of how many casualties there were, and what happened on D-Day.

Play three Star Wars games and you will learn more about Hoth than you ever wanted to know.

Gorilla Salad · February 2007

titmouse wrote: »

Play three Star Wars games and you will learn more about Hoth than you ever wanted to know.

I learned nothing about Hoth from KOTOR 1, 2, and Rogue Squadron 2. I just know it's really fucking cold. That's all I ever wanted to know, so...

matt7718 · February 2007

Civilization taught me a lot about history and what types of technolgies changed the world.

Knowing about granaries and temples and wonders of the world when I was 7 made me appear a LOT smarter than I really was.

Sushisource · February 2007

I learned a substantial amount of vocabulary when I was younger from video games.

I also learned that when first starting a journey, even rats will probably rape you in the face.

Barcardi · February 2007

LewieP wrote: »

Allways, allways check behind waterfalls.

Haha... i remember thinking exactly this in Oblivion when i came across about a 60 foot waterfall southsouthwest of the main city, and surprisingly there was nothing there.

The_Lightbringer · February 2007

Whenever you find yourself on a task that proves too difficult for you to accomplish, the only method proven to work 100% of the time is to get 200 of your closest friends and ZERG RUSH THAT BITCH.

-Painting a house? ZERG RUSH IT
-Throwing a kick ass party? ZERG RUSH IT
-Doing your exams? ZERG RUSH IT
-Assaulting a Terran base with 3 marine filled bunkers and 4 seige tanks? ZERG RUSH IT (Carefully)

Wombat!! · February 2007

I learned how to apply a tornaquet(or however the hell it is spelled,) from America's Army.

Couscous · February 2007

I learned that you can count on some of your trusted friends to suddenly reveal that they are evil despite the fact that they had the opportunity to kill you dozens of times.

Duki · February 2007

I know far too much about ancient combat and warfare. Totally needless information, but there you go.

Penny Arcade

Useful things you learned from games

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