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The Impacts of Video Games on Cognition (2015) [pdf]

greenlab.psych.wisc.edu

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Re: The Impacts of Video Games on Cognition (2015) [pdf]

#41

Post by Pandabob »

WA wrote: post #2

Having only read the abstract and key points: The question is if video games have a better positive impact on cognitive abilities than other things you could do in the meantime that may also improve other abilities as well. I write this because I quit video games almost entirely a year ago. I played probably 500-700 hours of video games in 2015. I played occasionally simple games on my phone in 2016. The major downsi…

I stopped playing computer games in 2014 after getting a mac, with the exception of some mobile games here and there.

I am however looking forward to the Nintendo Switch. I feel like Nintendo games are good fun and challenging, and at their best like works of art.

Often multiplayer pc games get really competitive, and demand a lot of time if one wants to feel like they're continuously improving in them.

Re: The Impacts of Video Games on Cognition (2015) [pdf]

#42

Post by webkike »

notheguyouthink wrote: post #32
rublev wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>If you cannot play games just for fun, then I definitely see how it can feel like a stressful affair and an unhealthy addiction. The stress is in the losing.

Hell, it's in the winning too. MOBAs are a great example of a game i hate to win or lose, but (not currently) play purely for the rush, teamfights, depth in meta, etc. No game has made me hate winning more than DoTA. It's quite astounding, really. I can fully not-enjoy a match and turn right around and want to play another to hopefully get a good match. Not one i win, specifically, but one that is enjoyable, even if…

I've found that the shorter the game (or rather the "faster" the game) the more likely I am to not find it inherently stressful for that reason. For example, when I played smash brothers it always felt way worse when you lost compared to street fighter because in smash games can take four minutes to finish. In street fighter it's not uncommon to finish a game in 45 seconds. I've also migrated to Tetris the grandmaster because I feel that Tetris helps my brain in particular more than other games. And if I'm not having a good game, or a game is stressing me out too much, I can just quit. And since the games are short, at MOST ten minutes (depending on how fast you are) I can still will myself to go to bed reasonably after "just one good one"

Re: The Impacts of Video Games on Cognition (2015) [pdf]

#43

Post by RUG3Y »

WA wrote: post #2

Having only read the abstract and key points: The question is if video games have a better positive impact on cognitive abilities than other things you could do in the meantime that may also improve other abilities as well. I write this because I quit video games almost entirely a year ago. I played probably 500-700 hours of video games in 2015. I played occasionally simple games on my phone in 2016. The major downsi…

I'm in the same boat as you, video games are a competitive thing for me. I've been a CounterStrike junkie since CS became a thing in the 90's? I don't remember the year but I've probably spent more than a thousand hours playing that game. I have to win, and I can't stop until I've destroyed my competition. I'm finally at a point in life where I can just let the computer sit and not play, though I haven't quit entirely. I can honestly say that if I'd spent a thousand hours playing guitar instead of CS I'm sure I'd be a lot better off.

Re: The Impacts of Video Games on Cognition (2015) [pdf]

#44

Post by Cephlin »

WA wrote: post #2

Having only read the abstract and key points: The question is if video games have a better positive impact on cognitive abilities than other things you could do in the meantime that may also improve other abilities as well. I write this because I quit video games almost entirely a year ago. I played probably 500-700 hours of video games in 2015. I played occasionally simple games on my phone in 2016. The major downsi…

I think it's worth reading the "Declaration of Conflicting Interests" as that gives you a good insight into the angle this article is coming from and the message of which they want to purvey/push. Based on the abstract, the key points, the conclusion and the Declaration of Conflicting Interests, I feel I have read enough to discard this as some kind of propaganda.

They seem to think that gaming is pervasive without going into hardly any detail about why they feel it is pervasive. I mean I'm from Britain and I don't feel video gaming is pervasive in any considerable degree. Maybe the US has a different take on this...

Re: The Impacts of Video Games on Cognition (2015) [pdf]

#45

Post by WA »

warcode wrote: post #18
WA wrote: post #2

Having only read the abstract and key points: The question is if video games have a better positive impact on cognitive abilities than other things you could do in the meantime that may also improve other abilities as well. I write this because I quit video games almost entirely a year ago. I played probably 500-700 hours of video games in 2015. I played occasionally simple games on my phone in 2016. The major downsi…

Competitive video games also make me better at rapid decision making under pressure, prediction, (clear) communication and teamwork. In the same way I could say that drawing and painting only makes you better at drawing and painting.

> In the same way I could say that drawing and painting only makes you better at drawing and painting.

Absolutely and it's highly subjective. For years, I prefered playing video games to everything else. But now I'd rather see myself as a painter than a gamer.

This is not a question of things being better or worse generally speaking. It's a question what's good for oneself.

Re: The Impacts of Video Games on Cognition (2015) [pdf]

#46

Post by skizm »

WA wrote: post #2

Having only read the abstract and key points: The question is if video games have a better positive impact on cognitive abilities than other things you could do in the meantime that may also improve other abilities as well. I write this because I quit video games almost entirely a year ago. I played probably 500-700 hours of video games in 2015. I played occasionally simple games on my phone in 2016. The major downsi…

1) I don't understand why improving your drawing and painting ability is intrinsically more valuable than improving your video game playing ability.

2) At the beginning of learning any skill, you will make great strides at first before diminishing returns come into play. "Noob gains" (as it is called in the fitness world) are what you experienced in those 120 hours of practicing drawing / painting. Slowly but surely your improvements will grind to a crawl, some days it will even feel as if you are going backwards. It is like this for pretty much all skills.

I do agree if you feel your time is being wasted while playing video games, then by all means stop. It is your free time and you shouldn't waste it. On the other hand, don't feel bad that you're "wasting time" because someone else things painting is more valuable than playing video games.

Re: The Impacts of Video Games on Cognition (2015) [pdf]

#47

Post by WA »

falcolas wrote: post #36
WA wrote: post #2

Having only read the abstract and key points: The question is if video games have a better positive impact on cognitive abilities than other things you could do in the meantime that may also improve other abilities as well. I write this because I quit video games almost entirely a year ago. I played probably 500-700 hours of video games in 2015. I played occasionally simple games on my phone in 2016. The major downsi…

It does raise the question: what are you doing in the remaining 380-580 hours a year? If the answer is TV (or similar), has anything really changed? > I want to be good and that costs time. This applies to everything in life. > I can't play video games "for fun". Probably not a bad choice to change your form of entertainment, then.

That's a good question.

TV/Netflix: Occasionally, but I'm not much of a movie watcher anymore. I think most shows are quite bad and predictable. I can see how they're designed to hit the same dopamine triggers. I binge-watched a few things on Netflix recently, but then I go weeks without watching anything.

I spend more time with my son. I spend time in the evening to code or write. I also waste more time on HN. It's certainly not that I put all 380-580 hours into something "better". At least half of that time is similar to video games and I could play video games as well instead.

But for me, this isn't about optimizing my time to squeeze out more productivity. It's a subjective impression that games were unhealthy for me, because they require too much attention.

Re: The Impacts of Video Games on Cognition (2015) [pdf]

#48

Post by WA »

skizm wrote: post #46
WA wrote: post #2

Having only read the abstract and key points: The question is if video games have a better positive impact on cognitive abilities than other things you could do in the meantime that may also improve other abilities as well. I write this because I quit video games almost entirely a year ago. I played probably 500-700 hours of video games in 2015. I played occasionally simple games on my phone in 2016. The major downsi…

1) I don't understand why improving your drawing and painting ability is intrinsically more valuable than improving your video game playing ability. 2) At the beginning of learning any skill, you will make great strides at first before diminishing returns come into play. "Noob gains" (as it is called in the fitness world) are what you experienced in those 120 hours of practicing drawing / painting. Slowly but surely…

1) It's not more valuable generally speaking. For me personally, drawing and painting were things I always wanted to get better at, but didn't want to put too much time into it. I actually never made time for these activities. Now I have more time.

Painting seems to be healthier for me, because it requires me to concentrate. Gratification is slow. I get a flow feeling from it but without the addictiveness of games.

2) Right, but once I'm better, I can decide whether to learn a new skill or to keep going with painting.

My point isn't about one activity being superior over another one. My point is: Gaming is highly addictive for me and other activities aren't that addictive. Overall, I feel more balanced with no gaming. But is the same true for you? Maybe, maybe not.

Re: The Impacts of Video Games on Cognition (2015) [pdf]

#49

Post by justinator »

TulliusCicero wrote: post #14
WA wrote: post #2

Having only read the abstract and key points: The question is if video games have a better positive impact on cognitive abilities than other things you could do in the meantime that may also improve other abilities as well. I write this because I quit video games almost entirely a year ago. I played probably 500-700 hours of video games in 2015. I played occasionally simple games on my phone in 2016. The major downsi…

> Having only read the abstract and key points: The question is if video games have a better positive impact on cognitive abilities than other things you could do in the meantime that may also improve other abilities as well. You're right that this is a good question. My guess is that compared to other common activities and hobbies, the answer is yes. Most people aren't spending the bulk of their free time solving ma…

I would def. disagree with your analysis on the mental challenges involved with free time activities, other than video games.

There's a huge mental part of sports in re: to strategy and team playing. Even solitary sports requires a huge mental effort under duress. Think about a rock climb - or trying to PR in a foot race - your brain is firing nonstop to analysis your surroundings to not fall/go as fast as possible.

Other people like to take things apart and put them together again, like a car, or a motorcycle.

Other people write fiction - are you saying that weaving a complicated plot isn't a mental challenge?

Re: The Impacts of Video Games on Cognition (2015) [pdf]

#50

Post by Globz »

ismail wrote: post #24

I wonder what the impact of pay to win type games? Had an interesting discussion with my bro who is into gaming he says most of his peers are playing "pay to win" the games are only superficially based on skill and the only way to progress, compete and win is buying upgrades. I stopped playing games seriously a while back so a bit out of the loop. The games are rewarding $$$ over putting in the effort/time to learn.…

F2P is a different approach to gaming where you play the game for Free so no monthly fees and most of the time no need to buy the game, this way you can attract even more player.

Here's a quick example for an F2P MMO with PVP and the difference between both models :

You can have F2P (free to play) games where there's no P2W, meaning the progression is EQUAL for paying and non paying players, the only difference is that you can buy aesthetic items which change how you look, buy extra storage space,etc but give no real advantage other than looking cool or giving you very small benefits.

In P2W model, the way to progress through the game is that you can purchase in-game currency with real money and unlock special items , stronger powers, blessed items (if you die in PVP you won't lose everything), experience booster while leveling your character,etc these items give you an edge over non paying players, so if you stack all the paying items you basically win every fights against non paying players. Therefore no matter what you do in this game you MUST pay to compete.

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