Many people enjoy playing video games as a way of relaxing or just for fun. These games not only offer entertainment value but they can also have some real life benefits to the player.

Skills

Video game players can develop some real life skills as they play games. These skills can include problem solving. Many games require you to think through puzzles or find certain items to complete a level in the game. Other games take a great deal of hand and eye coordination which can be further developed playing a game for long periods to get good at the game. Players of strategy games or game involving sets of numbers learn mathematic skills. For example, a player may have a gold reserve and need to break this reserve into smaller parts to complete research or gain additional skills. This requires them to calculate how much gold will be required and how much will be left over once the task is completed. Other skills such as keeping track of large amounts of data may be learned. An example of this would be maintaining many cities in an empire each with their own requirements. The player needs to micromanage large amounts of date to be successful in the game.

Real Life Events

Some games show a part of our history such as World War II. Games such as Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, and Brothers In Arms depict real world events. A player may learn about the armies, weapons, and battles that took place in this time period by playing these types of games. Other games may teach about ancient history, different civilizations, or events. For example the game Civilization teaches about the many wonders that have been constructed over time such as the pyramids in Egypt. Other games may simulate things in life such as learning to fly which can be learned in Microsoft's Flight Simulator games.

Leadership

Game players who play multiplayer games may form groups or clans to play the game. A clan leader learns many valuable skills such as organization, defining roles for players, and good communication. A clan leader needs to make such each team member knows the rules, and how to conduct themselves properly in the game environment. These types of leadership skills can be applied to the real world in areas such as business. A player who plays multiplayer games over time and leads many clans may develop very good leadership skills as a results of having to manage these games and players.

Friendship

Another benefit to playing games that are multiplayer is the ability to meet new people and establish online friendships. This could help people who are very shy and unable to interact with people in the real world develop friends. Many games have a thriving game community where players can feel apart of the experience.

Games can be fun and teaching aids too. Skills can be learned, a player can take part in history, players can make friends and learn about leadership through clans.

Learn more about this author, Brian Lamacraft.
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