• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 20:44
CEST 02:44
KST 09:44
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview18Classic wins Code S Season 2 (2025)16Code S RO4 & Finals Preview: herO, Rogue, Classic, GuMiho0TL Team Map Contest #5: Presented by Monster Energy6Code S RO8 Preview: herO, Zoun, Bunny, Classic7
Community News
Weekly Cups (June 23-29): Reynor in world title form?6FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event13Esports World Cup 2025 - Final Player Roster14Weekly Cups (June 16-22): Clem strikes back1Weekly Cups (June 9-15): herO doubles on GSL week4
StarCraft 2
General
The SCII GOAT: A statistical Evaluation Weekly Cups (June 23-29): Reynor in world title form? How does the number of casters affect your enjoyment of esports? Esports World Cup 2025 - Final Player Roster HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview
Tourneys
HomeStory Cup 27 (June 27-29) WardiTV Mondays SOOPer7s Showmatches 2025 FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event $200 Biweekly - StarCraft Evolution League #1
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response Simple Questions Simple Answers [G] Darkgrid Layout
Custom Maps
[UMS] Zillion Zerglings
External Content
Mutation # 480 Moths to the Flame Mutation # 479 Worn Out Welcome Mutation # 478 Instant Karma Mutation # 477 Slow and Steady
Brood War
General
BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion StarCraft & BroodWar Campaign Speedrun Quest ASL20 Preliminary Maps Unit and Spell Similarities
Tourneys
[BSL20] GosuLeague RO16 - Tue & Wed 20:00+CET The Casual Games of the Week Thread [Megathread] Daily Proleagues [BSL20] ProLeague LB Final - Saturday 20:00 CET
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers I am doing this better than progamers do.
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile What do you want from future RTS games? Beyond All Reason
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Trading/Investing Thread Stop Killing Games - European Citizens Initiative Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread
Fan Clubs
SKT1 Classic Fan Club! Maru Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [Manga] One Piece [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread Korean Music Discussion
Sports
2024 - 2025 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion NBA General Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NHL Playoffs 2024
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Blog #2
tankgirl
Game Sound vs. Music: The Im…
TrAiDoS
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Heero Yuy & the Tax…
KrillinFromwales
Trip to the Zoo
micronesia
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 618 users

Make Yourself Better. Play SC2.

Blogs > mewithoutDrew
Post a Reply
mewithoutDrew
Profile Blog Joined April 2014
Canada56 Posts
February 26 2015 17:29 GMT
#1
Make yourself better. Play SC2.

I’ve been committed to laddering in SC2 since it was released. From 1st place in Diamond, to entering Masters at its release, I have paid close attention to increasing my APM, micro, macro, and multitasking. I believe that if a person chooses to peruse this game and continually try their best, he or she will see positive results in their life outside this game. Here are my experiences and my ideas regarding SC2 and how it makes a person better.

Better your mind

At this level of play - Masters -, I can’t just relax and cue up for a 1v1 ladder game and hope to win. I have to be ready and committed to play my best if I want to win. If I relax even a little, I could be outplayed by my opponent.

Studies show that SC2 can increase your cognitive abilities. Yes, the micro/macro/multitasking aspect of the game is a huge asset to this study. However, I believe that there is another element that might be overlooked – the race to win.

Each player knows their BOs and strategies. We also know the very specific timings in which they should be carried out in order to be most successful. Therefore, we are racing each other to win. If upgrades are slow or if you’re slow to build production buildings, you could miss your offensive or defensive timing and lose the game. There is a level of stress or anxiety that comes to playing this game (I suppose some call it ladder anxiety) and I believe this adds to it. Yes, ladder anxiety also comes from lack of knowledge, scouting, general skill etc. But this race to win will always exist. When the Terran army moves out of your opponents base with medivacs flying overhead and your colossus is nowhere near completed, you’re guna stress out! This healthy stress forces our minds to work faster. It forces us to make hard decisions and deal with a “real” threat.

I believe that SC2 has equipped me to make quick, accurate and healthy choices when I’m under stress. I hold a managerial position in the company that I work for and I believe one of my strongest skills is making quick and decisive decisions when issues come up or delegation needs to be made. So far my track record has been very good. I believe that a lot of this is due to playing SC2. Like the game of chess, one must think a few moves ahead in every game. By training our minds to act this way, we also start to incorporate this into our everyday lives. Many times at work, a decision isn’t just a one-time action; it will eventually influence a future decision as well. One decision could branch off into 2 or more future choices, and I believe that SC2 has equipped me to make insightful choices.

Better your body

One morning, while I was barely awake in the washroom brushing my teeth, I was fumbling around with my free hand rummaging through the mirror cabinet. In my sleepy state I knocked a jar and it started to fall to the floor. Without realizing it, I let go of my toothbrush (letting it hang in my mouth) and grabbed the jar as it free-fell to the ground.

Has this ever happened to you? Since playing SC2, have you noticed this happening a lot more? It happens to me all the time now. Not that I’ve become clumsier and start knocking stuff over, but when I do, the speed in which my body reacts is much quicker.

Due to high APM and multitasking, I believe my body has simply been trained to act and react quicker. As SC2 players, our hands and our eyes are flying across the keyboard and computer screen at a rate much faster than when we’re browsing the internet, writing an essay for school, or completing a task at work – unless you’re in a very high stress, quick moving job. I believe, over time, our hands and minds start to quicken by playing SC2.

When I was in college, I learned from one of the phycology text books that a special thing happens to people who play piano. Apparently, because our hands and eyes are moving cohesively yet independent it triggers the brain in a very specific way. (Sorry I don’t have a reference to place here) Apparently, because of the brain being triggered this way, as long as the mind is being stressed with learning a person’s skill on piano will not decrease or erode. If you stop playing piano but keep learning about some subject or skill you could go back to the piano and pick up exactly where you left off because your mind was always active.

Do you remember when Stephano was in his prime and he would say things like, “I don’t practice very much” and he would still win huge tourneys?! I believe this is because watching a computer screen and playing with a mouse and keyboard has the same effect on the brain that piano playing does. Think about it, your brain, eyes, left hand and right hand are doing things all differently – the same way when you play piano. I’ve taken a break for up to a month and jumped right back on SC2 to find that my skills have barely decreased. Yeah, my hands will need some warming up and my BOs might not be supper crisp. But my mind and my skill have not decreased as I thought they might – and after a game or two I’m right back up to speed again. Let me know if you’ve experienced similar outcomes from playing SC2 as this theory I’m working on isn’t perfect but seems to have some actuality.

The moral of the story: couple SC2 with continual learning and you will keep your mind sharp.

Concluding thoughts – Video games for kids – good or bad?

When I was growing up, I started to love competitive games. When I was in the 7th grade, I started playing Myth 2: Soulblighter. I joined a clan and played a shit load of games a day and started taking it very competitively. A year later, I started playing Brood War too when it came out. When I was young, I felt like the game excited me and made a way for me to use my mind not only creatively but to increase learning – the same feeling would erupt in my mind when I’d orchestrate an army on the screen as when I learned a new concept from a text book. I started playing SC2 when I was 25 and I’m almost 30 now. If an “old” guy like me can still play this game at a competitive level and better himself mentally and physically, I don’t see why a child couldn’t do the same – and even have a greater effect!

I know this is a huge topic all of its own and should have its own separate blog, but I think that gaming – at a competitive level – for kids is a good thing. I think the child must have certain goals and levels to achieve – as opposed to just leisure playing while eating Cheetos and getting fat (however there is a time and a place for this as well). My daughter is 4 months old and I think I’ll let her play video games when she gets older – if she wants too – furthermore, I’ll encourage her too! I think with the right mentality, gaming can be a very healthy pastime for adults and children.

I hope you enjoyed reading this. Feel free to share your thoughts.

Cheers!

***
"That's it, back to Winnipeg!"
vOdToasT
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Sweden2870 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-02-26 19:33:51
February 26 2015 19:31 GMT
#2
Mentally stimulating games are ok, but games like World of Warcraft let ones brain decay with lack of use..
If it's stupid but it works, then it's not stupid* (*Or: You are stupid for losing to it, and gotta git gud)
Yorbon
Profile Joined December 2011
Netherlands4272 Posts
February 26 2015 20:46 GMT
#3
I recommend you play more sc2
puppykiller
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
United States3126 Posts
February 26 2015 23:40 GMT
#4
Idk man, once it becomes and addiction it's a downward spiral that disconnects you from the world even if it pumps you full of intense euphoric emotions.
Why would I play sctoo when I can play BW?
Dalguno
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States2446 Posts
February 26 2015 23:54 GMT
#5
Yeah, keeping away from addiction is pretty important. Fo sho.

One thing I noticed from my SC2 playing was an improvement in chess. I was not an avid player by any means, but after playing SC2 for a long time I played my first chess game in years. It seemed like a completely different game. For the first time I could think ahead to what I wanted to make happen and had a general idea of how. I would have been wrecked by anyone with a knowledge of chess strategy, but against another novice it wasn't even close.

I think that rolls over into life, too. I am able to think ahead to things coming up and organize my life a lot better. How does that measure up to other things that are also productive, such as reading or playing an instrument or other things? It may be negligible in comparison, I don't know. But still, cool little improvements from playing a video game, I'll take it.
"I'm gonna keep making drones cause I'm a baller, and ballers make drones." -Snute
mewithoutDrew
Profile Blog Joined April 2014
Canada56 Posts
February 27 2015 16:32 GMT
#6
On February 27 2015 08:40 puppykiller wrote:
Idk man, once it becomes and addiction it's a downward spiral that disconnects you from the world even if it pumps you full of intense euphoric emotions.


Yeh, balance is a very important part of life, be it in hobbies, work, school - whatever. The addiction component is very real, and even though I think I grew out of it, I know it played a part in my love for games as a child.
"That's it, back to Winnipeg!"
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Replay Cast
00:00
DH Dallas | TheStC Showmatch
CranKy Ducklings98
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
PiGStarcraft492
StarCraft: Brood War
firebathero 81
Dota 2
monkeys_forever151
League of Legends
Grubby3470
Counter-Strike
summit1g9522
taco 835
Other Games
shahzam796
Artosis503
JimRising 428
Maynarde190
Pyrionflax152
Mew2King66
RuFF_SC210
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1652
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 16 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• davetesta129
• Hupsaiya 69
• Mapu6
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• Ler45
League of Legends
• masondota2771
• Stunt305
Upcoming Events
Wardi Open
10h 16m
PiGosaur Monday
23h 16m
The PondCast
1d 9h
Replay Cast
1d 23h
RSL Revival
2 days
WardiTV European League
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
RSL Revival
3 days
WardiTV European League
3 days
FEL
3 days
[ Show More ]
Korean StarCraft League
4 days
CranKy Ducklings
4 days
RSL Revival
4 days
FEL
4 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
RSL Revival
5 days
FEL
5 days
BSL: ProLeague
5 days
Dewalt vs Bonyth
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2025-06-28
HSC XXVII
Heroes 10 EU

Ongoing

JPL Season 2
BSL 2v2 Season 3
BSL Season 20
Acropolis #3
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 2
CSL 17: 2025 SUMMER
Copa Latinoamericana 4
Championship of Russia 2025
RSL Revival: Season 1
Murky Cup #2
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25
BLAST Rivals Spring 2025
MESA Nomadic Masters
CCT Season 2 Global Finals
IEM Melbourne 2025
YaLLa Compass Qatar 2025

Upcoming

CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
K-Championship
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
SEL Season 2 Championship
FEL Cracov 2025
Esports World Cup 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.