Video Games Can Make You Smarter

The image above is a screenshot of gameplay in Starcraft 2 — a fast paced real-time Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) that fully tests the mettle of a gamer. Starcraft 2 incorporates an insane amount of thinking, dexterous hand movement, and micro and macro management.

Like many games out there, they’re all viewed as a waste of time, an addictive, antisocial, life draining hobby. But who said gaming only has a negative side? Steven Johnson, a famous writer argues otherwise in his national bestseller Everything Bad Is Good For You. One of the many arguments that he makes is that playing video games can make you cognitively sharper. And to some extent, video games can be educational. Educational video games are another effective alternative, or addition to educating the youth.

A scientific study showed that an average gamer has better visual performance compared to a non-gamer. The study tested the ability of the participants to rapidly distinguish one set of black and white lines from another. It concluded with the gamer participants outperforming the non-gamers.