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I'm invited to a live TV show about videogames tomorrow, there will be a psychologist talking about ludopathy and stuff, and people will be able to call and give their opinion.
My job is to give the "gamer perspective" of the subject, and I want to go as informed as I can about the good side of the videogames. I've done my homework and have some "sicence facts" about games and videogames, but I'm sure you can give me some ideas about the good things gaming has done for you, maybe your story or links and third party info about it.
Thanks in advance, and sorry for the grammar mistakes.
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If they want to know your "gamer perspective" maybe you shouldn't look so much into scientific facts, since they'll already bring professionals as you said to cover this aspect (psychologists, etc.). I guess what they actually want to hear from you is your personal experience and the points of views of gaming as a gamer and not as a scientist.
Other than that, I'd say games have helped me develop a lot of latent abilities (awareness, quick/logical thinking, reflexes, etc.) depending of course on the types of games I play.
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Give me something to do for the duration of my long, probably 80 year old life. I'm 15 years atm, so i've still got a long way to go. Hope SC2 lasts a while
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On February 12 2009 07:41 SCC-AlwaysGG wrote:Give me something to do for the duration of my long, probably 80 year old life. I'm 15 years atm, so i've still got a long way to go. Hope SC2 lasts a while  How do 15 year olds start playing sc, this really confuses me, I mean at least here in the states what attracts them to it.
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hand eye coordination, reflex.
and if you play ddr on the crazy modes, mad exercise :p
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After playing video games, I now know how to survive a zombie attack or apocalyptic disaster, and hijack cars a la grand theft auto =P
But as for personal experience: RPG's improve math by a lot. Damage formulas, critical strike percentage, damage per second, magic resistance, hit/miss ratio, ect. Some games have really complicated formulas for everything, and its gotten to the point where I can easily calculate stuff without thinking a lot. Playing fighting games competitively also raises your reflexes and creates good timing, as well as improving decision making. My friend played Initial D for a while and he started to drive better. And Starcraft is just ridiculous. I can't even go into how much its done for me.
Anyways, hope I helped. Good luck on your show!
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hmm.. overall, it defenitely helped my reading level when i was younger. Reading through all those RPGs and stuff... not to mention the basic hand eye coordination in other games...
although nowadays... its definitely helped create a social environment that me and my friends enjoy
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Tell them that video games help you the same way LSD does. I eagerly await the results.
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On February 12 2009 07:35 kemoryan wrote: If they want to know your "gamer perspective" maybe you shouldn't look so much into scientific facts, since they'll already bring professionals as you said to cover this aspect (psychologists, etc.). I guess what they actually want to hear from you is your personal experience and the points of views of gaming as a gamer and not as a scientist.
If I know my television, they won't bother looking for anyone credible, but rather they'll take the first clown with a phd they can find who'll give you the most pessimistic perspective possible.
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games help improve your english easy
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Games help at basic math skills and coordination as stated..
However, from my personal experience, if there's one MAJOR thing hours upon hours of playing Starcraft taught me, it's that with enough perseverance you can really do almost anything. What I mean to say, practicing insane amounts at a video game really infused the idea that you can obtain anything you wish if your really put your mind to it and if you work enough.
I think most gamers tend to procrastinate ALOT in real life, and I'm no exception. So starcraft really proved useful to me, providing a certain psychological mechanism that I will keep for the rest of my life
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gaming has taught me language. I basically learnt english very quickly since games are almost never translated into finnish =P
Also i have been playing lots of videogames with my brother, so it has had an impact on our relationship :D
Also better hand eye coordination, probably reflexes and who knows if understanding strategy behind starcraft for example has helped our brains to improbe? :o
Oh and i understand computers better than i would without gaming =P
Also gaming is a new artform Though many people don't consider it as such. But really really good games are real art. They have so many things to them, music, artwork, graphics, story, innovative gameplay.
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On February 12 2009 07:55 Retsukage wrote:Show nested quote +On February 12 2009 07:41 SCC-AlwaysGG wrote:Give me something to do for the duration of my long, probably 80 year old life. I'm 15 years atm, so i've still got a long way to go. Hope SC2 lasts a while  How do 15 year olds start playing sc, this really confuses me, I mean at least here in the states what attracts them to it.
I'm 13 and my dad used to play, I've known/screwed around in game since I was 4 (when my dad played.)
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Starcraft makes my mind sharper- my multitasking better.
For me video games make life move at a boring pace. Studying is sooo easy for me now. Normally when playing a video game your thinking about 12457014389 variables, and your mind is racing at light speed. SSBM anyone? I liken playing games to school work, because i notice that i can read very very fast, comprehend well and generally i am "smart" i get the hang of things quickly and can apply my knowledge faster than most of my classmates. Perhaps this is form playing video games?
I know for a fact that during my long play time of PSO 1&2 and PSOBB that my mathematical and statistical reasoning skills have increased. Along with interpersonal relationships. Because hey lets face it- trading items and bartering in a game where money is useless, takes a bit of work.
My reaction time and strategy has increased during the time I have played SSBM, Halo, Halo2 competitively. The strategy that people have to evolve on the fly in seconds really is astounding. Also compound the fact that you are constantly shooting, aiming, communicating with team mates, and trying to think about weapon spawn times, and map control at the same time is astounding.
Then of course we have good ol SC
I can say with out a doubt that SC has helped me in many facets of life.
-Very fast decision making skills -The ability to multitask -The ability to gather, compose and comprehend multiple variables quickly and come to a difinative answer in seconds. -But most of all i think that Sc has helped me deal with people. You see i love playing people online because i can watch there playstle and come to fairly accurate conclusion about the following:
-Boy or Girl - Temperament - Age
It's cool watching a really really high risk aggressive loud mouth play a race, and then compare to my friend: The book smart, nerd quiet, intellectual type of guy. I find it fascinating that both players win the game, yet do so using such different methods.
IMO gaming has helped me to become a more intellectually sharper person.
I can think about many variables, and decide things very very quickly. Of course reaction time and hand eye coordination came along with that as well.
IMO gaming is better than real life because everything is so much more fast paced and exiting. I think that it has helped me in the real world but hey- just my oppinon.
On the other hand, scientists have shown a direct link to depression among gamers because of this exact problem.
Because we are so used to running our minds at 14598715 an hour, and having them constantly stimulated- real life, with it's slow and plodding pace can become extremely boring and will so find us dis interested. Thus we turn back to games, to get back our 'high' lol
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On February 12 2009 08:21 Jaeden wrote:games help improve your english  easy
This is so true. Well, gaming and movies for me, English was always my best class in terms of grades.
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I agree here with the language stuff. My english practice mainly came from videogames. It also helped me teach me that you can do anything should you put enough effort into your stuff. Im quite pleased with that.
Also is a healthy hobby and i've met lots of friends online that i wouldnt have met if i hadnt play videogames. I've got friends in USA, Canada, Bolivia, Australia to name a few, that im sure we could hang out and have fun. And im not saying about my friends here in Mexico; thanks to videogames i've met one of my best friends and a close friend. I have friends in another two or three states that i've visited so its quite good for social life really
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Improved english and alot of friends are the major things I've got from gaming. Most likely improved social skills too.
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Wow how could I forget about the foreign language. As a kid I had a good start with English, but I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without mass gaming and TV to help me capitalize on it and evolve.
I actually got pretty far in the National English School Olympics here, and I owe in in large proportion to playing exclusively English video games
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And I also found TL through SC
That'll make me like an instant member of the secret society we will become when TL will take over the world in the next couple of years
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Starcraft has helped me connect with other people I have never met in my entire life, on and offline. It also has given me the gift to spread this wonderful game to other people. I cannot say how many times my cousin and I have stayed up late into the night watching proleague VODs, or more specifically the epic bo5 of July vs Best... I loved watching my cousin get into it as much as I did.
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On February 12 2009 09:11 minus_human wrote: And I also found TL through SC
Yes, I must admit this is a big finding for me as well. <3 TL!!!
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they gave me a very tangible example of "practice = improve"
seems obvious but most people tend to take it for granted.
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I just wrote an essay on this subject. If you want to talk to me about it, my AIM is TSRupbar and my MSN is rubert89 at hotmail.com.
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On February 12 2009 09:18 travis wrote: they gave me a very tangible example of "practice = improve"
seems obvious but most people tend to take it for granted.
yeah that was exactly my point Games in general, and especially video-games also stimulate creativity by a fuckton
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Give them the reverse of what they expect you to say. Just recite everything Jack Thompson says with conviction.
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IT'S FUN!!!! Really! This is how games have most helped me, when I get home from school there is nothing better than booting up a game and playing. Ya, I'm sure it's mentally stimulating (a lot more so than TV) but that isn't it for me. Gaming for me isn't an obsession, or an addiction- it's a passion. When ever I have a bad day or whatever, I can come home and kill zombies with friends on Left 4 Dead or something.
So how have games effected my life? Well there is relaxation, and the part where it keeps me away from other forms of entertainment (drugs, vandalism, ect.). What else can I say, I know that most of the previous generation frowns on gaming, but they are just so much fun.
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Hey minus_human isn't your iccup id niifantasy? If it is you just owned me in a TvT like 2 days ago 
Oh and what do you mean attracts? Is it abnormal for a 15 year person to play SC?
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They helped me pass away time :D
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On February 12 2009 09:39 SCC-AlwaysGG wrote:Hey minus_human isn't your iccup id niifantasy? If it is you just owned me in a TvT like 2 days ago  Oh and what do you mean attracts? Is it abnormal for a 15 year person to play SC?
Yeah it was me
Can I ask you a question though
does your name have anything to do with NeverGG, the photographer? She's the girl posting tons of quality progamer photos all over the place
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Just say that like wine, it is good in moderation.
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On February 12 2009 08:26 Pokebunny wrote:Show nested quote +On February 12 2009 07:55 Retsukage wrote:On February 12 2009 07:41 SCC-AlwaysGG wrote:Give me something to do for the duration of my long, probably 80 year old life. I'm 15 years atm, so i've still got a long way to go. Hope SC2 lasts a while  How do 15 year olds start playing sc, this really confuses me, I mean at least here in the states what attracts them to it. I'm 13 and my dad used to play, I've known/screwed around in game since I was 4 (when my dad played.) heh. i liked the game from like ages 10-12 and started playing it heavily from 13-15. i quit playing pretty much when i was 16
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Math, reading, focus, language, social dynamics, complex thinking, deciphering/understanding complex systems.
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Starcraft provides me an opportunity to socialize with other online people from around the world (through teamliquid, servers, etc).
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Osaka27148 Posts
On February 12 2009 10:34 meegrean wrote: Starcraft provides me an opportunity to socialize with other online people from around the world (through teamliquid, servers, etc).
I really think pushing the social aspect is important. Cultural understanding, language skills, connections aronud the world... these are tangible benifits that are more easily understood and more highly valued than things like reflexs or multitasking.
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On February 12 2009 07:55 Retsukage wrote:Show nested quote +On February 12 2009 07:41 SCC-AlwaysGG wrote:Give me something to do for the duration of my long, probably 80 year old life. I'm 15 years atm, so i've still got a long way to go. Hope SC2 lasts a while  How do 15 year olds start playing sc, this really confuses me, I mean at least here in the states what attracts them to it. Um i got interested in Starcraft about a year ago believe it or not. And at what a good time to get interested.
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I play games with my wife and it has brought us closer together (in case you want some touchy feely stuff...that stuff is hard to argue against because it is pathos).
We got rid of our television service because games are more interactive between a couple than just sitting on the same couch watching TV and not even talking to eachother.
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Cayman Islands24199 Posts
didn't help anything at all
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Video games have refined my analyticity skills 
and by video games I mean broodwar, counter-strike, and dota
rest is garbage o_O
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SC has helped me do a lot of things at the same time, helped me learn to plan ahead, and it has improve my timing IRL (seriously, like i'll go microwave something, and go do something else, then i'll suddenly just *know* that my nachos are almost done and the microwave will ring right as i get back to the kitchen o_o)
CoD4 has definitely helped me deal with stress and frustration (I still can't get the airborne challenge >_<
CoD5 on the other hand, Nazi Zombies specifically, has helped me work better w/ friends.
Gunbound has taught me to take games less seriously; having fun esp. with buddies is much more worth it than winning.
Guitar Hero broke my fingers. oh wait, that'd bad. Guitar Hero taught me how to deal with pain ;]
*Actually, now that I really think about it, I played Math Blasters in 2nd grade. It literally taught me Math. Damn, I loved that game >_> Also taught me to budget my time accordingly.
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Gaming provides you the ability to create, craft, and modify your own virtual "you" to the point of perfection as you see fit.
Games give an opportunity to raise your self-esteem, boost (not so sure...) confidence and improve intelligence (somewhat) to some degree.
Video games can take you places that would cost thousands of dollars for free. You can meet new people in games just like in real life, travel to places in a game just like in real life, and experience a whole new world that lies before you with all the thrill and adventure of a real life exploration.
Video games, simply put, offer no limit.
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Are you supposed to talk about how it has improved certain skills? or just why you like videogames?
Generally, I think games are just a way for people to enjoy themselves, get away from the "real world" for a while. The same reason novels have existed for centuries.
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On February 12 2009 10:39 Manifesto7 wrote:Show nested quote +On February 12 2009 10:34 meegrean wrote: Starcraft provides me an opportunity to socialize with other online people from around the world (through teamliquid, servers, etc). I really think pushing the social aspect is important. Cultural understanding, language skills, connections aronud the world... these are tangible benifits that are more easily understood and more highly valued than things like reflexs or multitasking.
this is a very good point
starcraft has been huge in shaping who i am today. i have friends from all over the world now. all the points you made are valid
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OMG YOUR QUESTION MARK IS UPSIDE DOWN
HOW DID YOU DO THAT¿¿¿
(things like typing random symbols for no apparent reason but to look cool in a nerdy way)
edit: duh of course you use it in spanish, it's proper grammar to have an upside down question mark at the beginning of a question with a right side up question mark at the end. same with exclamation marks. good job detecting sarcasm. i bet you'd be like, "omg, chinese punctuation have a big circle after a sentence? what is that, a period?!" 6-_- the point is that since i'm not fluent in spanish, i would never have a need to type a ¿, and thus because of video games and seeing spanish people type ¿ i would also be interested in typing ¿ as well.
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From Street Fighter 2, I learned to be competitive and more humble since you'll never know when you'll get your ass beat down by someone a lot better.
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On February 12 2009 12:53 Not_Computer wrote: OMG YOUR QUESTION MARK IS UPSIDE DOWN
HOW DID YOU DO THAT¿¿¿
(things like typing random symbols for no apparent reason but to look cool in a nerdy way) uh if you took spanish you would know how much of an ignorant ass you look right now, you place a upside down question mark for correct grammer..lol he even said "sorry if my english is bad" or something along those lines.
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Korea (South)17174 Posts
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Yeah as lots of people have said, it really forces you to read if you play games that are more involved than casual bejeweled and stuff. I think games probably keep a lot of kids from getting into trouble and doing drugs. Much worse ways to be spending time.
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the only thing i have gotten out of video games is that you HAVE TO be repetative if you want to learn something.. It has helped me with math because i know i have to repeat each problem 4 times to really learn it.
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I learned a lot of English thx to videogames.
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I would try not to point out specific examples of where game a has helped with aspect b. But focus on saying more general things such as, gaming requires logical thinking, improves coordination, teaches leadership and teamwork (in online environments).
If you start naming games, youll get stuck in a situation where your the only person who knows what your talking about. Chances are your going to be representing gaming against a very biased argument so you want to explain it to them as though theyve never played a game in their life.
Also, make sure you agree with they say that games are no substitute for real life senarios. Your not trying to represent the 70 hour per week WoW gamer. Your trying to represent the gamers who are still part of the real world.
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I learned HARD WORK AND PRACTICE. I cannot restate that enough. Intelligently chosen practice pays off. Always build on your basics. This is something I learned from starcraft and I have taken and applied to every other subject I know and have greatly benefited.
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starcraft, and video games in general have developed my thinking skills, and with thinking skill develops logic and math.
it also increases your vocabulary a LOT
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BW forced me to learn to type really fast.
/obligatory joke about digital skill
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MrHoon
10183 Posts
Diablo 2 helped my vocabulary
I learned so much during my early age!
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On February 12 2009 14:53 ZergZoul wrote: I learned a lot of English thx to videogames.
Same here. Talking in vent while playing cs/css has really helped my englishtalking alot. And all the reading that has to be done on games like PS:T, BG, the FF games O.o
I love games :o
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I was once in an Italian Diablo2 clan, which helped my Italian skills immensely. English too, but "normal" Internet use trains your English too, so... Hand-eye-coordination Strategical/analytical thinking General knowledge about computers
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thanks to CS my hand eye reflex is now nuts
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my english is top notch for a foreigner thanks to the interaction with other people through online games.
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It has helped my English.
Other than that, I think it has been pretty useless. But it's been good fun while it lasted.
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Netherlands6142 Posts
I practically learned English by plying Final Fantasies and Might n Magics
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english, if it wasnt for games i would never access internet and use it the same way i use today
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it really helped my english. i think it is very good for a foreigner. i can read books, watch movies without subtitles, listen to the great tasteless lol , and in july im flying to florida so im gonna see if i can speak properly
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VGs helped me pick up a shitload of cool words.
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Video games have not helped me at all in life, but thats okay.
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videogames is the reason why my english is so good.
'nuff said
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Exposure, culture, history, science, philosophy, technology, math, english, literature, and competitiveness are just a few things.
Exposure to the massive variety of creative thought of people out there in the professional world who are attempting to tell a story, create excitement, influence the user, etc etc etc.
Culture from games like Age of Empires, Civilization, and even Starcraft give insight into historical cultures, self-taught cultures, future cultures, alien cultures.. learning about how life works. Heroes of Might and Magic introduced so many "fantastical" creatures and mythology.
Science and scientific logic are prevalent in most games these days. It's like reading sci-fi interactively.
Philosophy in making decisions, understanding consequences, weighing values of things.
Technology from games like Command and conquer, Advance Wars, Starcraft. Diablo taught me more about weaponry than any book I've ever read or any show I've ever watched.
As has been mentioned, RPGs and especially sRPG/jRPG teach you so much about math if you have the curiosity to learn.
Every good game has a story to tell, which is the basis for all of language. There are so many useless "SAT" words that I know from video games and nowhere else.
Above all I want to win. Soul Calibur II probably made me 10x more a cut-throat corporate asshole than any internship at Goldmann Sachs could have done. I do what it takes to succeed.
Games are fun, and I'm a gamer. I'm work at a big publishing studio now, and I have to say I'm loving it. The hours are long and I don't have time for anything else. What else could I want? 
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Russian Federation1381 Posts
They did not help in any way. It's just the fun i had playing. Maybe a little bit english though, i just had to understand what the hell is going on in metal gear solid.
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On February 12 2009 09:52 minus_human wrote: does your name have anything to do with NeverGG, the photographer? She's the girl posting tons of quality progamer photos all over the place Haha actually I made a ICCup named nevergg cuz she was really cool and I like her FBH fan site, but then alot of people confused me for her, and i'm a noob so it only makes sense I alwaysgg lol.
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Err.. nothing really, if anything it has fucked up with my studies, i could say i have met a lot of people i wouldnt be able to meet otherwise but meh im not really that kind of guy.
I guess just being fun is help enough though.
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is awesome32274 Posts
Language, setting goals (in competitive games), side thinking in some of them, entertaining, ways of knowing people in online games too.
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I learned english from games
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i used to suck at typing in elementary school
UMS in bw solved that in like 6th grade
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Before i played SC i had pretty bad typing habits. Having to type and use hotkeys in the game changed that fast. 
I've also picked up some korean.
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playing improves social skill? i cant even tell how ridiculous that is.
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well like for the most people: improving english
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On February 12 2009 07:55 Retsukage wrote:Show nested quote +On February 12 2009 07:41 SCC-AlwaysGG wrote:Give me something to do for the duration of my long, probably 80 year old life. I'm 15 years atm, so i've still got a long way to go. Hope SC2 lasts a while  How do 15 year olds start playing sc, this really confuses me, I mean at least here in the states what attracts them to it. Personally I cheat thru the game when I was 6 or 7 and had good memories
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Lateral thinking =)
rpgs, strategy and games like Monkey island taught me how to look at things differently
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English...(I never study english but i have a more than regular one... Actually good talking, good understanding, shitty gramma U,U) Math...(Atac-armor-range-atac delay-tipes of atac-etc...) Meet ppl...(This site) Spend quality time with family an friends that also play...(I play my cousins and many friends from school) Reflex...(Save marins from lurkers, D-matrix some shit before it gets own, irradiate delfiers before DS, etc..) Strategy..(Game understanding) Hands speed...(APM?) Memory...(i Can tell you HP armor damage names skills and more from every units in SC) Social...(Talk about the game, new games etc.. man i meet ppl i had never talk before because i heard they play SC and come near to talk about it or ask if they want to play some day) Descision making...(you can take desicions in just a few seconds or less... for the sake of your game) Internet/gamers leanguaje..(Lmao, Rofl, LOL, FTW, WTF, STFU, RTFM, OMG, OMFG, BO, etc..) Humble on the win/humble on the losse...( we learn to accept defeat and to be nice at our wins) Good/Bad...(Noob... Lame... assholes... Nice ppl how healp and teach) Culture... (Age of empires, age of mitology, Games about WWs, tips and names of weapons Etc...) Schedule...(organice time and activities so we can play 1-3hrs a day)
Just to name a few =D
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taught me to get out of a car that's crashed and flipped upside down: It WILL catch on fire.
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On February 12 2009 16:15 rpf wrote: BW forced me to learn to type really fast.
/obligatory joke about digital skill
Same. Sad thing though is I type almost entirely with my left hand for the same reason :s
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I met my wife at a LAN Center in 2007 and we got married early 2008, and now have been married for 1.5 yrs and have a baby girl thats almost 4 months old.
When I was younged, I moved to a small town after living in Phoenix, so I was used to city life and not a small town where everyones in everyone elses business. I picked up Starcraft then, made alot of friends and met quite a few of them who I keep in contact today after 9 years and still get together every once in awhile and reminisce .
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they haven't helped me at all only ddr, in that it got me in shape a bit my sophomore year of college
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I have learned a lot of English playing different kind of games.
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Typing speed. That's about it. It's just a different way to pass the time, tis all.
But I can definitely see the language thing being awesome for dudes who don't speak english first. A lot of people learn by games, tv, etc when they come here.
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SC: multitasking. Also, I've learned a few vocabulary words from video games (Shako a.k.a. Harlequin's Crest anyone?)
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gaming doesnt help in life, it warps the mind, distorts the body, and damages health. without gaming civilisation would be 100x better off.
Il still game till i die tho
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Actually back in high-school I lead a pretty large guild in an MMORPG which forced me to mature extremely quickly. People who don't play video games would assume that being a leader in a game wouldn't develop leadership skills but it's actually a great exercise. Obviously an upside of MMORPGs is that you interact with people way more than in FPSs and RTSs. You have to learn to understand your guilds needs and somehow create cohesion between people who don't physically know each other. It was really an interesting experience, and quite enriching for the kid i was back then.
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On February 20 2009 00:41 redtooth wrote: SC: multitasking. Also, I've learned a few vocabulary words from video games (Shako a.k.a. Harlequin's Crest anyone?)
gotta love diablo 2 :D
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Korea (South)17174 Posts
sc taught me that sc players are normal and everyone else in the world is a nerd
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