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Top 7... ways games can transform you into a superior human being

Play games and become truly awesome

Words: GamesRadar UK

If there was ever a greater feeling in the world than that of levelling up, we are yet to experience it. From the chorus that chimes in World of Warcraft to the heavy rock riff of Modern Warfare 2, you know that for all your hard work you just got a little more badass.

Whilst this is true of your in-game avatars, it’s also true of you and your own abilities themselves. Increasing with each and every game, your own attributes are advancing as gaming teaches you to ‘level-up’ yourself in ways that make you almost super-human. Look below to see just what abilities video games enhance to transform you into a superior human being.


7. Games give you heightened concentration

So, the end credits roll, 30gs or another trophy pops up on the screen, you sit back and smile as you have another blockbuster title under your belt. Placing the controller down, you see four cups of cold tea on the side, your dinner in the bin and an angry note from your significant other stuck to your head.  When the hell did all this happen? Feel some pride my friend, as you have been in ‘The Zone.’

The zone, reserved for only the mightiest of brains is a zen-like state entered into when you are able to completely block off the world around you, become utterly absorbed in your mission and focus entirely on the task at hand.

Only through years of training can you learn this art that allows you to transcend what was previously thought humanly possible and reach the ultimate state of concentration. Through gaming you learn to do this on a daily basis, for several consecutive hours, sometimes whilst drunk.


6. Games make you more intelligent

If you lack a basic level of intelligence that makes going about your daily business confusing and overwhelming, fear not, playing games can and will increase your brain power to that of a veritable Einstein. With games specifically designed to give your brain a workout to games that teach the importance of tactics, prioritising and economics, gaming makes you smarter, fact!

Ploughing hundreds of hours of gaming into your beloved medium of choice keeps your brain working overtime when other folk, non-gaming folk, use this time to sleep or...  stare at things? Sleeping and staring at things does nothing to work the little guys upstairs and wastes valuable time you could be expanding your mind gaming. Much like a muscle, the more you work your brain the stronger it becomes and the more brain power you have, the more intelligent you are. It’s just simple science people.  


Top 7
 
52 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
vogler1604  - 6 months 20 hours ago 
Good Article, wasn't great but I enjoyed it.
FreekinIdiot  - 6 months 19 hours ago 
The zone frightens me...many a time I have spent lost in a gaming haze. Seriously, the house could be burning down and I wouldn't notice.
bamb0o-stick  - 6 months 19 hours ago 
There are times when I would have conversations with people while gaming, but when I'm no longer playing I have no recollection to what I talked about. I'm talking about real conversations, not just "uh-huh" "okay" responses. Its as if some part of my brain decided to go to "away" mode and talk for me while I was gaming. Kinda scary.
OnyxOblivion  - 6 months 19 hours ago 
It's not going to be a very exciting Top 7 section of Tdar this week.

*sigh*
allthegoodnameswheretaken  - 6 months 18 hours ago 
Did the navy conduct a study that said gamers have faster reflexes?
Yaro  - 6 months 18 hours ago 
Yeah, awesome article, but where are the reflexes? I used to thought that games affect that as well. XD
rxb  - 6 months 17 hours ago 
Good article and all pretty much true. Non gamers just dont understand.
elchetos  - 6 months 14 hours ago 
Great article. I wrote my undergrad thesis about the potential role games can have in education, and I can say I was one who benefited from them. I learned English playing FF VIII and MGS, among others. While the negative effects sell more and give higher ratings to the media, the positive are definitely worth studying and applying.
Xplosive59  - 6 months 14 hours ago 
i agree with the endurance thingy, i cn go twelve hours or more wihout eating if im playing a good game or reading a good website, such as this one
ventanger  - 6 months 14 hours ago 
Hahah... I'm surprised you didn't mention Trauma Center or Phoenix Wright. Games teach you the basics of two of the highest payed professions in America, albeit in a very vague unrealistic, comically inaccurate sense.
Fiirestorm21  - 6 months 13 hours ago 
#2 is pretty true. It's an approximation of how those who really do that stuff adapt in part by become more observant. (Even more so in real life, because then your life often literally depends on it.) Necessity is often the best motivator you can have.
oryandymackie  - 6 months 13 hours ago 
Why is there a knife on Fat WoW Guy's desk?
Samael  - 6 months 12 hours ago 
Huh. I guess this is kinda interesting? I think I'll wait for next week's top 7.
Unoriginal  - 6 months 12 hours ago 
Agree with ventager.
I think my reasoning skills were increased by playing Phoenix Wright.

Good List.
matt588  - 6 months 11 hours ago 
good article, you got to be careful when in the zone, you can start playing after dinner, and the next time you look around you wonder what that strange light outside is.... oh, the dawn.
recaptcha: 30-yard splendid
a reference to #2 if I ever saw one
JackSkellingtonsSkin  - 6 months 11 hours ago 
These are the same arguments I bring up repeatedly to my parents and they insult my intelligence for believing them.
MrDuracraft  - 6 months 11 hours ago 
Wow, cracked (another list-heavy site) had something like this before and at least 4/7 were in their list of six.

And I think I have gotten the hand-eye, determination, and awareness as "transformations".
bonerachieved  - 6 months 10 hours ago 
I love how the one thing in focus on #2 is a tree. So true.
Alcibiades  - 6 months 10 hours ago 
lol i love the prestige doctor, and the WoW part is so true...
JizzyB  - 6 months 9 hours ago 
lol, I like the Einstein picture
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