Essay Sample on Video Games Enhance Intelligence, Memory & Problem-Solving Skills

Introduction

While people associate playing video games with stigma and antisocial characters, research has shown that playing video games has positive impacts (Fatur, 2019). The main positive effect of playing video games is that they improve people's intelligence. People who often play video games develop some problem-solving skills as well as have enhanced brain functioning. Research also revealed that video games also improve memory and higher spatial reasoning (Greenfield, 2014). Children who often play video games are likely to be useful strategic planners.

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Researchers narrowed their study into the effect of video games' different categories and their impact on child intelligence. The first class of games that the research concentrated on was the puzzles and platform types (Fatur, 2019). The researchers observed the children who used to play games like angry birds and brain age. The research gave an insight that the children who played these games had acquired some mental skills. Most of the children who had played these games had improved problem-solving skills.

Puzzle Games

Playing puzzle games made the children have improved memory as they required them to remember the process of solving them. Angry birds and other puzzles also made the children develop the skill of spatial reasoning. The children were able to see the objects and manipulate them, and this improved their problem-solving ability. The puzzles also boost the brains and IQ of the players (Fatur, 2019).

The research also looked at the impacts of role-playing video games such as the mass effect and the final fantasy. In these games, the players take the character's role and focus their activities on the selected aspect (Greenfield, 2014). These types of games make the player acquire many kinds of skills. However, the primary power of RPG players is problem-solving skills because the player must overcome all the challenges. The research found that children who play these types of games emerge to be good problem solvers.

Role-Playing Video Games

Involving yourself in role-playing video games also makes you develop the ability to plan themselves. People who often play games like final fantasy are most likely to emerge as the best strategic planners. Playing the games make someone have a higher ability to plan their course of action as one has to plan how to emerge as the winner (Fatur, 2019). Involving oneself in role-playing video games also make one to have improved reasoning. To win the games require a lot of rational thinking and attention, which makes the player's mind to become open.

Research also centered on the effect of Real time strategy (RTS) video games. These games use the typical day to day experience for the player to compete with their opponents. The games require the player to think ahead of their opponent. As a player of the RTS game, one has to be a sharp thinker and think ahead of its competitors (Gunter, 1998). Consider two people playing a boxing or a shooting game. If one of the players fails to be attentive and careful, they will lose. The ability to think smart is usually crucial in these types of games. If the game is a cooperative type, players have to think together to achieve the common goal.

The Mental Skills

The mental skills that one acquires from playing real time strategy games can be beneficial in real-life situations. Players of these games tend to be as attentive in real-life situations as in the games. The RTS games also make the players have an increased ability to do more than one job. Additionally, these games make the players acquire the ability to prioritize Casey, 2014). People who play RTS games are also likely to become able to adapt to changes in daily life.

Other types of games also have a significant impact on the mental ability of the players. Horror and action games, for instance, help players to overcome anger and fear by exposing them to harsh conditions (Casey, 2014). Children who play horror videos like Alien and Amnesia are mentally healthier than those who do not. Performing an action game is also likely to make someone get more courageous (Gunter, 1998). The players are expected to live as per the influence of video games in real life. The games also result in increased attention and higher accuracy since one has to be more attentive and accurate to win the games. People who play these types of games are most vigilant and careful in their day to day activities.

Researchers argue that playing a computer game has a similar effect on reading books, attending class, or even riding your bicycle (Greenfield, 2014). Virtual games improve one's physical and mental skills every single day. For instance, playing a driving game makes one have improved short-term and long term memory. According to the New York Times, once people play racing games, they significantly develop the ability to retain information. Players of racing games also have improved ability to multitask as well as increased attention.

Most video games make people be able to make the correct decision in a period. In an action game as a player, you have to either act fast or lose; this creates a player to develop quick decision-making skills (Gunter, 1998). Scientists say that involving oneself in action videos makes them develop visual skills. Playing a video game is highly likely to influence your behavior.

Conclusion

There is a wide variety of games that one can play. Generally, playing a video game makes someone become wiser and improves one's reasoning as well as their course of action. Most of the video games make the players acquire skills of problem-solving, increased attention, and planning. Research has shown that video games are beneficial for improved mental health and improved reasoning. People who play video games more often are mostly sharper than those who play real games. It is advisable to spare some of your leisure time and engage yourself in at least one video game.

Works cited

Casey, Michael. “Could Playing Video Games Make You Smarter?” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 12 Nov. 2014, www.cbsnews.com/news/playing-video-games-could-make-you-smarter/.

Fatur, Kristian. "Braincrafting: Why Playing Video Games Is Good For You." Journal Of Intelligent Computing, vol 10, no. 2, 2019, p. 60. Digital Information Research Foundation, doi:10.6025/jic/2019/10/2/60-65.

Greenfield, Patricia Marks. Mind and Media: The Effects of Television, Video Games, and Computers. Psychology Press, 2014.

Gunter, Barrie. The Effects of Video Games on Children: the Myth Unmasked. Sheffield Academic Press, 1998.