Games and ways to grow

There was a debate recently on how do games influence learning and development. My thoughts, below.

I think there are games and games. It’s not the same set of skills you train on a football (soccer) game, or in a strategy game, or in an MMORPG, and so on.

Two key things in a game: competitiveness and attention. You wish to win, you train for this, and you are focused on the process. Generally, you also get pleasure out of playing, but it might get to addiction, so I don’t put this as a plus.

Other than that, things get complicated.

  • For one, what you learn in a game might not be applicable to other games. For example, in chess, yes, you need to focus on the next move of your adversary, but is it the same process you will apply in other areas of life? I doubt it. Another example – StarCraft – you learn to handle memory, attention, and move fast. Will you also use this in other aspects of life? I doubt it is so.
  • For another, there is a better way to learn, if this is what you want to do. If you wish to learn, books. Or teach (for example, by writing on a blog). Movies require less involvement from your part, they’re not as interactive as games.
  • Also, a lot of games have a lot of repetitive patterns. In a lot of strategy games, there is a repetitiveness factor.
  • Finally, generally, if you’re not a top player, you don’t earn money out of it. Money is a form of liberty. (Nicolae Steinhardt wrote this, once)

I don’t consider a good game better than others. Sure, if you play Solitaire, you generally develop a pattern, and all you get by playing it might be rehearsing your pattern. Some of the luck-based games have limited things you learn from them. But for a game like StarCraft, even if the strategy part is less intense than chess, you need to remember a lot of things.

I do play a game or two, once, in a while, I follow free games promotions, but generally don’t put much emphasis on it.

You can play chess if it gives you pleasure and you consider it harmless, but I wouldn’t do it for practical advantages.

Tamas Garam - chess
Tamas Garam – chess, https://flic.kr/p/4wtLYH

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