Poll: Gaming: Intellectually Engaging or Mindless Entertainment?

[Tears of Blood]

I think I already know the answer I'm going to get here generally, but I just want to start up a discussion. Do we gamers have a hobby which develops our intellect? Do we, perhaps, learn things or at least engage our minds enough to say we aren't "rotting our brains?"

A lot of non-gamers, especially older ones, think of our hobby as unintelligent. That we sit slack-jawed and stupid in front of our TVs and PCs while we play them, but I think that's a load of crap. Games engange your mind, they force you to pay attention and are like a sort of mental gymnastics, just like mathematics and science. Perhaps they aren't quite on the level of more acdemical endeavors, but...

Furthermore, most people will say that reading makes you smarter. While that's probably true, you can have a game that has books in it. Oblivion is a good example. Lots of games require reading.

So, what do you think?

EDIT: Just as a quick aside, I mean in general. I know there are games that are not intellectual, but in general, do you think the hobby itself is intellectually engaging?

 

[L33tsauce_Marty]

It may work for some people, but it doesn't make me any smarter.

 

[Mertruve]

It's what you make it. Think about Assassin's Creed - you can sleep through the cutscenes and just slash people* or piece together the amazing story and sleep through the fights. MINDLESS? YOU DECIDE!!1

*) and then ***** that the game is repetitive

 

[Tears of Blood]

It's both, and that's why I love it so.

Can you elaborate?

I mean, certainly, some games are mindless, but I would say even an FPS has aspects to it that are intellectual. Strategy and tactics can easily come into play.

It may work for some people, but it doesn't make me any smarter.

And why not?

It's what you make it. Think about Assassin's Creed - you can sleep through the cutscenes and just slash people* or piece together the amazing story and sleep through the fights. MINDLESS? YOU DECIDE!!1

*) and then ***** that the game is repetitive

The story in AC is what made it intellectual. (And I quite loved AC's combat. Jerk. >

 

[Dr Pussymagnet]

Well it all just depends on the game.

I mean, I wouldn't exactly call something like Painkiller intellectually engaging but on the other hand I wouldn't consider a game like Half Life 2 to be mindless entertainment.

 

[Jdopus]

As has been said above. It's all down to the game. It's a fairly bad question. It's like asking whether Television is intellectually engaging or mindless entertainment. There's an incredibly broad spectrum and it's a bad idea to generalize.

 

[Volstag9]

it depends on the game. an advanced strategy game will have you think more while others not so much.

although there are more intellectual games than mindless ones these days.

 

[MisterM2402]

There's no denying that Portal stretches the old gray matter, but then it's a totally different scenario if you look at games like CoD.

 

[Tears of Blood]

As has been said above. It's all down to the game. It's a fairly bad question. It's like asking whether Television is intellectually engaging or mindless entertainment. There's an incredibly broad spectrum and it's a bad idea to generalize.

And why is that a bad idea?

Well, it's exactly the same as films for example. I equally enjoy thought fests like 2001 that require you to think intensely and stupid fests like Evil Dead, where you can just shut down your brain for 2 hours.

Same with games, I like the fact that both ends of the spectrum are played to. I enjoy the thoughtful and slow gameplay and story of games like The Longest Journey, but can also shut brain down, play Super Smash bros and surrender to gleeful button mashing.

Okay, I guess I see what you mean. But, I meant in general.

 

[Simalacrum]

not only does it depend on the game itself, it also depends on how you view the game.

For example, Flower: arguably, its not intellectual at all, its more of a emotional experience... but at the same time, its also arguable that it has a lot of metaphorical meanings in it, which could be considered intellectually engaging.

 

[Tears of Blood]

-

Didn't mean to post...

 

[Thaius]

Well I said intellectual simply because I firmly believe that they are, but it is more true that it depends on the game. I mean when I want to relax and do nothing I play Castle Crashers. Coordination and skill are required, but not really thought. On the other hand, when I want engaging and intellectual literature, I play Bioshock, Mass Effect, Indigo Prophecy, Final Fantasy... I love games that tell stories in ways that movies and books just simply cannot. Good freaking stuff.

 

[Spitfire175]

Shooters online are mindless.

RPGs and RTSs require thinking. Just clicknig fast won't work with them.

 

[sirdanrhodes]

Why can't it be a hybrid. Plenty of games are.

 

[L33tsauce_Marty]

It's both, and that's why I love it so.

Can you elaborate?

It doesn't make me think enough and it feels like it's dumbing down my brain. It feels like I'm not thinking at all.

 

[thiosk]

Both.

I hate repetitive activity, yet can sit in front of Evil Genius and design airlock systems all day.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Both, like every other entertainment medium.

 

[TheDoctor455]

It really does depend on the game.
With a game like Halo or Gears of War, you're looking at "Mindless Entertainment", if you're into that sort of thing.

With a game like Portal or Silent Hill 2 or Dragon Age: Origins, you're looking at "Intellectually Engaging".

 

[Johnn Johnston]

It depends on which game you play. It's clear if one knows a game whether or not it counts as cerebral or if it is designed with mindless fun in mind.

 

[Erja_Perttu]

A game like Professor Layton is definitely something that'll make your brain hurt on the right puzzle (or the ones with multiple answers whe it only accepts one)

A game like Gears Of War isn't asking for much more than KILL!!1! Duck!

Both are good though.