Department of Defense Research: Gamers Are 20% Smarter

[Yopaz]

If you play a MMORPG which is best completed with grinding and people teaming up with a team where no-one uses correct grammar, full words or real words for that sake, how does that increase knowledge?

It isn't about knowledge, the term "smarter" here is in a different context. They speak more to the "skills" used in a MMORPG when in combat to determine what abilities to use, what abilities are being used against you, how to counter them, monitoring your resources and cooldowns; and in a group setting being aware of all those, to some degree, of your whole team. They're speaking more to the idea of the time it takes a person to asses their situation, determine a course of action, and take it; as well as the accuracy of those decisions.

Edit: Also; the military doesn't use correct grammar, full words, or "real" words for that matter, in a combat situation either.

I never said knowledge made intelligence. And really, I have seen a lot of people being pretty dumb in MMORPGs, you wouldn't believe some of them if you met them. And the military doesn't use real words or full words, well, that goes for combat, but there's more to military than combat. Imagine a guy writing a report like this: we pwnt them wit lot of hs thn rtrnd bk lol. Writing reports can be useful, and really, being able to do a raid in a game isn't much compared to combat since you usually don't get surprises if you know what's waiting for you ahead. How many MMORPGs have you seen where you're supposed to secure the area and then a car bomb goes off and you get ambushed by enemies with assault rifles?
Knowing tactics also doesn't necessary make you smart.
I stick with the idea that smart people plays games rather than games making us smart.

 

[DRTJR]

This research was the best spent Government money this year

 

[Nuke_em_05]

If you play a MMORPG which is best completed with grinding and people teaming up with a team where no-one uses correct grammar, full words or real words for that sake, how does that increase knowledge?

It isn't about knowledge, the term "smarter" here is in a different context. They speak more to the "skills" used in a MMORPG when in combat to determine what abilities to use, what abilities are being used against you, how to counter them, monitoring your resources and cooldowns; and in a group setting being aware of all those, to some degree, of your whole team. They're speaking more to the idea of the time it takes a person to asses their situation, determine a course of action, and take it; as well as the accuracy of those decisions.

Edit: Also; the military doesn't use correct grammar, full words, or "real" words for that matter, in a combat situation either.

I never said knowledge made intelligence. And really, I have seen a lot of people being pretty dumb in MMORPGs, you wouldn't believe some of them if you met them. And the military doesn't use real words or full words, well, that goes for combat, but there's more to military than combat. Imagine a guy writing a report like this: we pwnt them wit lot of hs thn rtrnd bk lol. Writing reports can be useful, and really, being able to do a raid in a game isn't much compared to combat since you usually don't get surprises if you know what's waiting for you ahead. How many MMORPGs have you seen where you're supposed to secure the area and then a car bomb goes off and you get ambushed by enemies with assault rifles?
Knowing tactics also doesn't necessary make you smart.
I stick with the idea that smart people plays games rather than games making us smart.

Again, you're using the wrong context of smart; and applying the wrong aspects of gaming. You cited "grinding and lolspeak don't increase knowledge". The point is situational decision making.

Situational decision making would be in a combat situation, not writing a report.

Yes, going on a raid or playing a campaign you can learn what to expect, but you still have to account for the fact that specific attacks and situations aren't going to happen at exactly the same time every time. Or else you could theoretically finish a raid once and never wipe again any time your run it. Apply it to PvP; where the objectives are the same, but the opponents and teams constantly change, and even then how the same two teams could face each other on the same map 50 times and come to 50 different outcomes.

The same applies to a Shooter. Yes, you know the ship lands on the propane tank 15 seconds after the baddies enter the room. However, the baddies aren't always the same baddies, and they don't always move and attack the same way, and you don't always have the same weapons available. For multiplayer, see PvP above.

Tactics and reactive decisions are the type of "smart" they are referencing.

I maintain that the aricle is mislabeled because some people can only assign one meaning per word.

 

[Auric]

If that were true i would have actually passed year 11

 

[Shanecooper]

I'm not sure this would really help in an argument.

Person A "Video games turn children into killers."

Person B "But the U.S. Department of Defense, researchers claim that gamers are 20% better at cognitive functions than non-gamers, and believe that games should be used more to train and educate the soldiers of tomorrow. "

Person A "My bad. Video games turn children into highly efficient killers."

I don't want to sound prejudice towards the American people, but it seems that most people in that country think that solders are some kind of heroes and not just hired killers. So, you know, most people will assume that this is a good thing.

 

[brodie21]

duh!

hooray!! post count +1

You'd think that with this style of posting you'd have a much higher post count. Just saying

i was going to put a snarky comment, but i was thinking and accidentally hit the post button with the touchpad of my laptop.

post count +2!

 

[antipunt]

Video games -increasing- fluid intelligence and 'cognitive abilities'.

Wow...really? It's not like I don't -want- this to be true, but it sounds sketchy

 

[Wolfram23]

This article makes sense. I'm sure it doesn't only apply to gamers, but virtual worlds (ie: games) offer a very good medium to expand the mind. Overcoming puzzling challenges in adventure games could increase your logical thinking skills while developing RTS strategies could develop other quick thinking and organizational skills. But these things can be learned in other mediums as well - like playing chess is good for logic, reasoning, and visualization. But then, chess doesn't help you learn about interactive digital mediums which are becoming rampant in all forms of our lives so I guess they like that about games, too.

 

[DayDark]

Makes perfect sense.

Adventure puzzle games = Problem solving trainers

RPGs = Detective and moral trainers.

shooters = reaction time, fast-decision-making trainers.

Tactical FPS = trains Team building.

RTS = strategy and resource efficiency trainers.

 

[Zer_]

I've played FPS games for a little over a decade now, and I can pretty much attest to their findings. Games may not teach you arithmatic, but playing games can help your brain develop the ability to make decisions on the fly, increase situational awareness and a slew of other perks that most definitely benefit soldiers.

 

[khaimera]

duh!

hooray!! post count +1

You'd think that with this style of posting you'd have a much higher post count. Just saying

i was going to put a snarky comment, but i was thinking and accidentally hit the post button with the touchpad of my laptop.

post count +2!

Oh, well then I apologize for being an ass. I'm not a huge fan of one word posts.

+1 for me. Alright I'll stop with that stupid joke.

 

[Dedtoo]

Hang on a second......research.....accurate research......actually proved something GOOD regarding video games?

[small]...I think hell just froze over...[/small]

I had the same in my mind

 

[ImprovizoR]

You just can't argue with Uncle Sam

 

[malestrithe]

Jes. I's a genyus. Da Guv'ment seys so!

 

[I'mANinja]

I do love the D.O.D, though I do have problems with idiots who suck at video games and still have no hand eye coordination try to state that their smarter because they play them.

 

[Death on Trapezoids]

Ha obscure dissaproving obscure relative, IN YOUR FACE!!
I'm not "participating in a life suck"

 

[TheDrunkNinja]

Well, considering we already worship the devil, I don't think anybody will care.

 

[DoW Lowen]

Although this is undoubtedly good news, I'm afraid I must somewhat spoil the celebrations by saying this does not support our argument against the Atkinson's and Thompsons of the world much. They tend to look at violence in video games and denounce it for that reason. Even Atkinson acknowledges gaming is good for development (this research simply adds a more solid number to it) and stated that one "can be challenged without impaling someone". So unfortunately this is a small victory against censorship and dumb ass political figures, but a pretty substantial victory for giving our kids a reason to play games.

 

[Retardinator]

Hang on a second......research.....accurate research......actually proved something GOOD regarding video games?

[small]...I think hell just froze over...[/small]

Well, there has been plenty of that to be honest, but how many politicians are out defending our cause, and waving around every little bit of info they find?

None.

That's because they're politicians. They're paid to talk shit about their beliefs and ideals.(They aren't supposed to be, but they are) It's all goddamn conservatives on their religious vendetta bull-oh wait, Atkinson is in a liberal party...
Learn something implausible every day...

OT: I don't think it's that gamers are smarter, it's just that they're developing a different set of psychological skills.