On April 09 2011 04:28 IrT4nkz wrote:
It doesn't make you smarter but it definitely changes the way you think about problems, issues and situations. Has changed mine for sure.

Second this
Smarter? probably not
But it sure helps me develop crisis management skillz (aka. dont freak out and spam szzzzzzzzz when terran drops your main)

Phayze

Canada2029 Posts

April 09 2011 05:28 GMT

#102

Doesn't make you smarter in the "recall x fact at y time with z consistency", but it does promote high brain activity and in that sense make you smarter. As other posters said it also makes you more comfortable with snap decisions and helps immensely later in life with pressure. It most certainly makes you smarter. but not in the sense I labeled above.

vahgar.r24

India465 Posts

April 09 2011 09:29 GMT

#103

Decision Making and Assumptions. Yes.

Elothis

111 Posts

April 09 2011 09:56 GMT

#104

yeah, but i think smart in the way of "intelligence" isnt learnable at all^^
but i really think that its a better hobby for your "smartness" than sitting in front of your tv all day and drinking beer :D

hyperioNsin

92 Posts

April 09 2011 11:01 GMT

#105

I think people just tend to say that so they have an exuse for playing so much.

andrewwiggin

Australia435 Posts

April 09 2011 11:48 GMT

#106

Lol ... People can be so funny.

This is how it works:

Playing LOTS of Starcraft makes you

1. 1000% better at playing Starcraft
2. 0.001% better at the auxiliary skills you need to play Starcraft.

It's called specificity training. You only get better at something when you do it specifically. You think playing starcraft will help you if you're in charge of negotiating a big corporate merger? Maybe by about 0.00001%... If that.

True story bro.

sharky246

1197 Posts

April 09 2011 13:32 GMT

#107

Well, if you mean getting smarter as in getting better grades, then no obviously. But if you mean getting smarter as in more intelligence, still no. You can always do an iq test before and after playing considerable amounts of starcraft 2 to see any notable changes. That being said, theres not much to discuss.

mordk

Chile8385 Posts

April 09 2011 13:42 GMT

#108

On April 08 2011 12:01 VapouR. wrote:
I find the constant multitasking and flicking between control groups makes it hard to focus on one thing for extended periods of time, like when studying.

Same for me.. I suck at studying now. I can pay attention to multiple patients at the ER though lol. My ability to focus has definitely suffered from playing too much starcraft.

CryMeAReaper

Denmark1135 Posts

April 09 2011 15:52 GMT

#109

dont really make u smart i think. ofcourse u need to make decisions (talking about high master 1v1) at a fast pace and be able to substain focus for a long time, and forcing urself to divide that focus when needed, which can be argued would enhance some mental skills.

and as a lot of ppl have said, ull probably do a lot better at sc2 if ur smart strategicly/very good at forward thinking or critical thinking, but playing sc2 wont give u those skills, real life will^^

that said, i difinitely feel like i am more critical thinkingly now than before i started to play sc2 competitively.

Stereotype

United States136 Posts

April 09 2011 16:08 GMT

#110

Well, I don't know about starcraft, but Rise of Nations can help stave off dementia in people over 60. I can't find a link to the actual scientific article, but here's the telegraph's article reporting the results.

The Telegraph Article

I'd imagine that starcraft uses several of the same higher brain functions. "Executive Control Functions" seem to be stimulated in the elderly. These findings probably don't actually apply to people in their teens-30s, though. There usually hasn't been any kind of deterioration in brain function by the age of the average TLer, I'd imagine, so the benefit any of us would gain from these games as far as straight up "intelligence" would probably be minimal at best.

Zoler

Sweden6339 Posts

April 09 2011 16:10 GMT

#111

I'm stupid in some ways, but good at RTS. I don't think it does make you smarter.

Zealotdriver

United States1557 Posts

April 09 2011 16:16 GMT

#112

aupstar

Australia912 Posts

April 09 2011 16:35 GMT

#113

Short answer: no

Long answer: No..they really don't.

+ Show Spoiler +

More seriously, it makes you stupid. You are continuously practising the same actions and thought processes over and over that have no merit in real life. You will not win in debates, you will not become a great mathematician, you will not become president of the united states of america. You will simply become an above average gamer. There is no merits to playing rts games as opposed to any other game. They all make you do mind numbing repetitive tasks that have no physical or intellectual merit. You would gain more from your time if you simply sat down and read a good book.

GQz

Australia168 Posts

April 09 2011 16:48 GMT

#114

I don't think it's playing RTS that makes you 'smart', but rather smart people play RTS? It's the same for Basketball and tall people. Tall people are good at basketball so they tend to play it more. Doesn't mean playing basketball makes you taller.
That being said, however, I find myself typing faster, learning and using shortcut commands for all the various software I need for getting work done, multitasking and all round speed-driven about most things I do about my day. I guess you could say that makes me 'smarter', but 'more efficient' seems to sound more accurate in this sense.

Maxwell3

United States88 Posts

April 09 2011 17:17 GMT

#115

The way I see it is the community you are involved with make you "smarter." SC wont make you smarter, but the smart people will make you smarter.