EPTThe only draw back that I feel has a real impact on gamers is the chemicals that get pumped into your system with no real outlet. I feel that once e-sports takes off there is gonna be some heavy research invested into the best way to utilize said adrenaline or at least try and throttle it's effects.
Starcraft 2: A Complete Waste of Time or Good For - Page 2
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vileChAnCe
Canada525 Posts
The only draw back that I feel has a real impact on gamers is the chemicals that get pumped into your system with no real outlet. I feel that once e-sports takes off there is gonna be some heavy research invested into the best way to utilize said adrenaline or at least try and throttle it's effects. | ||
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Subversion
South Africa3627 Posts
awesome 1st post | ||
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tok
United States691 Posts
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Skyze
Canada2324 Posts
So while I wish I could quit gaming completely, and I pretty much have except for SC2.. I still think if you are going to play ANY games at all, SC2 is the one to play. | ||
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LittLeD
Sweden7973 Posts
On December 23 2010 08:39 Sakarabu wrote: While this is a pretty nice article and is well written, I can't help but think you have an utterly terrible attitude to life. The fact that you thought you had to take 4 years away from playing games just to attend college makes me pity you a little bit (I'm not flaming you, that was my honest reaction). What ever happened to time management? There is more than enough time in the day for you to enjoy videogames while still socializing and studying for college. Moreover this whole post just strikes me as you trying to convince yourself that you arn't wasting time playing SC2. I think the more important questions are: 1) What is your definition of "wasted time"? 2) Does it matter if you "waste time" playing games? Personally, my answer to question 1 ( what is your definition of wasted time?). Would be time where you arn't doing anything AT ALL (including sitting back and relaxing). A clearer definition would be doing something you personally don't enjoy which has no benefit to you in the short or long term (including the benefit of seeing people around you happy). Using this as my definition there are very few things which I would consider a waste of a persons time as long as they are gaining some type of fun or reward for doing it. Now, as regards to question two, I would think my stance is pretty clear. Why exactly would you even consider something which you derive so much joy from playing a waste of time? That boggles my mind. Do you also class sex (for the sake of pleasure, not procreation) as a "waste of time"? I mean... You arn't gaining anything but happiness from it right? What this all boils down to (beware: cliche wishywashy philosophy incoming, but it's true nonetheless), is the fact that noone can tell you how to live life, or what is a "waste of time". Having fun is an important part of it though, and if you have FUN playing games, there is no reason to dismiss that as wasted time. As you stated near the bottom of the article "But I guess in the end, everything is okay in moderation.", which basically just disregards everything else you wrote. Moderation is the key to anything in life. You have to find the time to work and the time to play, and if you think something you find immensely fun is "wasted time", like I said, I pity you. I stand baffled. You summed up a response that I would've not been able to accomplish nor even arrange half as good but that I yet agree to 110 %. The original poster combined with your response really gave me some to think about. Thanks to both of you | ||
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Nerski
United States1095 Posts
In my opinion the only way video games hurt people, is typically people who are prone to distraction...ADD, ODD, ADHD...and people who just got some tough breaks and are at the point they'd rather lose themself in a game then face real life. I oddly enough had a friend growing up who was the later. Lost himself in games constantly neglecting friends, school work, his job...all because he was self concious about the fact he looked down right fugly. Granted he eventually grew out of it, foudnd a nice girl who liked him for him, and became more social and better at work...but it's easy to see how someone who gets delt some bad cards can run to things like games for comfort. | ||
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Commodore
United States97 Posts
On December 23 2010 08:11 ekizz wrote: Nevertheless I was intrigued, so I decided to start reading the book. I was quite surprised to see that one of the first chapters in the book had an entire section devoted to video games. He then presents a pretty convincing question to the reader: what is the difference between a kid solving a puzzle in Zelda versus solving a math equation on a standardized test? That is to say—is there any real cognitive benefit of learning how to solve math equations over solving challenging puzzles in video games? This is a rather poor comparison. Nobody takes standardized math tests for fun. The math problems on these tests are routine and boring (for those who like math). For fun, people (if they haven't yet graduated from college) practice for and compete in math contests, where the exams consist of problems that are much less routine. The puzzles that you find on these exams are much harder and deeper than those that you find in video games. The puzzles that you find in video games are designed by the game developers so that anyone can solve them in a few minutes. They're so simple that you don't have to write anything down to solve them. Game developers don't want to frustrate or "work" their customers. Math puzzles are designed to be challenging so that only a small portion of contestants can solve them. I don't really feel like I've accomplished anything when I solve a puzzle in a video game because I know that it was designed so that anyone can solve it easily. It was when I came to this realization that I stopped playing single player video games. | ||
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LanTAs
United States1091 Posts
anyways, i was playing blizzard games( especialy sc) since i was about 3-4 years old, and actually i think starcraft and starcraft 2 is beneficial to me or you. i play the bass (the double bass, not bass guitar) and the thing is that you have to have agility and strength in your left had (cause the strings are FREAKING CABLES! CABLES I TELL YOU!) and you need to always control your bow with your right hand( thats for rightys lol). A few years back in middle school i started to notice that after a while of playing the bass and getting to know it, i started being able to play some insane stuff, jump between strings almost instantaneously and being able to control my bow much better as i got better in sc2. Also, playing music while playing sc2 really helps me focus, as it gives me a bit of calm of what strat im going to do like a 2 void push or double robo (all the way!). | ||
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elkram
United States221 Posts
As for my personal thoughts, I feel that a lot of people have been bashing on you saying that you thought doing something you like to do is a waste of time and I don't quite understand it. I, personally, will sometimes have the same reaction to doing things, but your write up makes me think completely differently about video games. I never thought abuot the cognitive benefits to playing video games, but it seems to be obvious now. As for modern games, I feel that video games are less about puzzle solving (unless you consider a 1v1 an abstract puzzle), and more about quick decision making. This, I feel, is very beneficial to real life applications. Although you wont have situations in life where it is an obvious answer like "Oh he's going muta-ling, well if I go dual-stargate pheonix, I'll be able to counter it and spend minerals into zealots and gas into sentries and pheonixes" you will have more abstract problems that need to be solved quickly. I feel that SC2 provides a nice practice for these real life quick and abstract problem-solving scenairios. | ||
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IPA
United States3206 Posts
Existence is empty -- fill it with what you like to do. For me, that includes a large amount of SC2. I wouldn't change a second of all that time "wasted". | ||
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CASLsoju
Canada253 Posts
:3 | ||
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PatouPower
Canada1119 Posts
On December 23 2010 08:18 2GRe-Play- wrote: im first one ^^, i like your story, i think playing to much if u are not going to be competitive its a waste of time, but it depends, because u should spend your time in what makes u happy, ppl said that games take your social life away, while this is 50/50 truth, ppl that just go out to drink and going to partys every weekend are wasting time too. nice write. This. Plus, I think Starcraft 2 in general add more aspects to social discussion. For example, I am always talking about Starcraft 2 and other games such as DotA with my friends, either on skype the evening or in real-life daily talks. I don't think devoting that much time to a passion, even if you are not going to go in Korea and win lots of money, it's not a waste of time. I rather do it than going out in bars every night and burn my money on alcohol when there are no special events. | ||
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Kelsin
United States253 Posts
Too much of anything is bad, but I see nothing wrong with working on Starcraft being my entertainment  | ||
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Ridiculisk
Australia191 Posts
I agree that video games (in moderation) can actually be good for us. He then presents a pretty convincing question to the reader: what is the difference between a kid solving a puzzle in Zelda versus solving a math equation on a standardized test? That is to say—is there any real cognitive benefit of learning how to solve math equations over solving challenging puzzles in video games? Thats a good point! Lets start teaching SC2 in school haha! | ||
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Eminent Rising
United States174 Posts
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Onlinejaguar
Australia2823 Posts
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Solaris.playgu
Sweden480 Posts
Also, it is a question of perspective. You have to ask yourself wheather or not the happiness you gain from playing outweigh the loss in efficiency you experience in work and or personal life, and once again you will find yourself balancing on a scale, trying to optimize both =) So in the end you will have to find the optimal solution for you personally, since there is no mathematical "correct" answer (unless you disregard life quality from the equation, which makes it rather simple). I like the way you handle it though, cranking a beer open and saying "screw it, I'll do what I feel like" tends to be a good answer, regardless of the question :D:D Edit: Oh and also, on the lost sleep note, just don't ladder at late times :p Find a buddy or two to play with if the time draws late. It might be even more adrenaline-pumping than ladder to begin with, but eventually (this is true for me, at least) you will feel more relaxed playing it and stop caring particularly about the results. Other good things to do in later hours (related to sc2 that is) is listening to podcasts or watching streams or replays, I find it very relaxing. Hope that helps ^ | ||
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ReketSomething
United States6012 Posts
 Loved the story ^^ and welcome to TL! You will be diamond soon sir! | ||
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CrazyF1r3f0x
United States2120 Posts
I think I might look into the two books you mentioned. | ||
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SoL[9]
Portugal1370 Posts
Well what you need is positive balance. Ying Yang my friend. Games hurt you only if you let Welcome | ||
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