On April 08 2011 09:38 Swede wrote:
Online IQ tests mean nothing, and even your IQ IS 150 it doesn't mean there's a causal relationship between your IQ and time spent on BW.

Yeah. I might be born with it. We took an IQ test at school and I got the highest in my class but they didn't give our IQs, just the rankings. There is no way I can find out my IQ other than online IQ tests. Anyone know a legit online IQ test?

Swede

New Zealand853 Posts

April 08 2011 00:38 GMT

#26

I don't know if they do, but there certainly seems to be a desire to perpetuate that idea on these forums. These posts come up all the time and I always get the feeling that it's the result of people trying to justify the amount of time they spend on SC2 to themselves.

I'm not saying that SC2 doesn't provide some degree of learning to a player, but it certainly shouldn't be treated as if it's anything other than an added bonus.

I play Broodwar a lot. I just took an online IQ test. My IQ is 150. Is it normal?
If yes then BW didn't affect me at all.

Online IQ tests mean nothing. And even your IQ IS 150 it doesn't mean there's a causal relationship between your IQ and time spent on BW.

Disregard

China10252 Posts

April 08 2011 00:38 GMT

#27

It doesnt improve you intellectually, more on the side of reflex, ability to focus and such.

edit: Unless you're playing some hardcore historical RTS. Well, that increases your knowledge. D:

RoosterSamurai

Japan2108 Posts

April 08 2011 00:45 GMT

#28

Honestly, I think CCGs are probably a bit better at accomplishing the things in the OP than RTS games.

TrainFX

United States469 Posts

April 08 2011 00:48 GMT

#29

if applied right then experience at sc can improve your critical thinking skills

UpHeaVaL

Canada57 Posts

April 08 2011 00:49 GMT

#30

On April 08 2011 09:15 HellRoxYa wrote:

Show nested quote +

Being smart is being able to solve problems, not the time it takes you to do so. So your analogy doesn't hold up very well. Unlike computers which operate on the same basic principles some people's brains are actually able to solve problems that you and I can't.

Anyway, computergames in general have been shown to train reflexes. It obviously doesn't make you smarter, though. It might help you process information faster in general, and it definently trains your multitaskingability if you're playing the game at a serious level.

Smartness is a relative term. We determine smartness by comparing with not so smart. Being smart is being able to SOLVE PROBLEMS QUICKLY. Or more specifically, quicker than the average population. A smart dog is one that can solve 3d obstruction puzzles...only because most dogs can't. Just because Jim down the street can solve them too, doesn't mean we consider him to be smart. Again, it's relative.

Any video game is a form of mind aerobics. Any game for that matter (chess, checkers, monopoly) is a form of mind aerobics. Scratch that, basically any mental activity at all is a form of mental aerobics. The thing is, the number of mental faculties potentially used to solve problems is quite extensive. And whatever activity you are doing is 'training/exercising' a small set of those faculties. So yes you are making those faculties 'smarter'.

But don't forget that most activities have a negative effect on some faculty or another. So your question becomes: Do RTS, in terms of mental faculties, improve our mean problem solving powers. Are the gains more than the losses? Social ones for example? Who fuckin knows!!! It's a ridiculous thing to ask let alone measure....

Grobyc

Canada18410 Posts

April 08 2011 00:50 GMT

#31

I think it can help develop keen observation skills, yes, but I wouldn't classify what you gain as simply "smarts".

YejinYejin

United States1053 Posts

April 08 2011 00:51 GMT

#32

You'd definitely have to verify the cause and effect. I'd assume Brood War these days just generally attracts a more intelligent individual than, say, Angry Birds.

That said, I think the incredible multitasking, constant action, and required, quick decision-making probably does help to keep your brain sharp. There was a cracked.com article where they cited a study in which elderly people played either BW or Tetris for a few hours. The ones that played BW showed better multitasking immediately afterwards, so that's cool!

UpHeaVaL

Canada57 Posts

April 08 2011 00:53 GMT

#33

On April 08 2011 09:33 NicksonReyes wrote:
I play Broodwar a lot. I just took an online IQ test. My IQ is 150. Is it normal?
If yes then BW didn't affect me at all.

Show nested quote +

LOL. You are not born with an IQ. Maybe a capacity for one, but that's it. And IQ score is NOT a static number at all. A genius 4 year old has a lower IQ than a dumb 20 year OLD. And IQ decays with age as well, most people peeking in 20's. There is no LEGIT IQ test. They are ALL heavily math/logic biased. And as I stated in an earlier post, smartness and IQ, while being corollaries of each other, are not the same thing. Rainman's IQ as with many high functioning autistics are off the charts, but I certainly wouldn't say they are smart...not being able to button your pants precludes that designation

mordk

Chile8385 Posts

April 08 2011 00:54 GMT

#34

Ever since I started playing RTSs massively, I've gone down at least 2 points in my grades (out of 7), and am now having severe difficulties concentrating.

You can improve at multitasking, but im my case I just end up "paying attention to tons of stuff, but concentrating on none of them" which absolutely sucks when you want to study.

Nah, it doesn't make you smarter, there are lots of better things for that.

eviltomahawk

United States11135 Posts

April 08 2011 00:55 GMT

#35

Depends on how you play the RTS.

Low-level players are quite content just playing vs easy AI, turtling up hard and building an elaborate base before acquiring a victory that was supposed to happen several hours prior. At least that was how I played back in the day...

However, I think higher level, more competitive play can be quite useful for higher-level thinking. Digging into timings and meticulously crafting builds takes a lot of logical thought and theorycrafing. Utilizing game-sense to dynamically adjust your play in the middle of games rewards creativity and intuition.

IMO, I guess it's better to play an RTS as opposed to some other types of games, like FPS games. However, there are plenty of RPGs and puzzle games that can be equally, if not more stimulating to the mind.

KevinIX

United States2472 Posts

April 08 2011 00:56 GMT

#36

RTS games don't make you smarter. But smarter people will be better at RTS games.

DarthXX

Australia998 Posts

April 08 2011 00:56 GMT

#37

I don't think RTS makes you smarter, I think its more smarter people play RTS games.

NicksonReyes

Philippines4431 Posts

April 08 2011 00:58 GMT

#38

On April 08 2011 09:53 UpHeaVaL wrote:

Show nested quote +

uummm.... ok. If you say so. Sorry.

YejinYejin

United States1053 Posts

April 08 2011 00:58 GMT

#39

On April 08 2011 09:56 KevinIX wrote:
RTS games don't make you smarter. But smarter people will be better at RTS games.

On April 08 2011 09:56 DarthXX wrote:
I don't think RTS makes you smarter, I think its more smarter people play RTS games.

Hahaha, thank you for these two successive posts, guys. But yeah, this seems to be a common sentiment.

shawster

Canada2485 Posts

April 08 2011 01:01 GMT

#40

that's like asking if basketball makes you more athletic

might keep you in shape, might sharpen you up, make you more disciplined, gain a greater knowledge of sports in general but it won't make you more athletic.