Video Gamers Are Better Business Thinkers?

from the so-they-say... dept

While the popular sentiment may be to blame video games for all sorts of problems, it appears that there's an increasing amount of evidence that video games have the potential to be quite beneficial in a variety of areas. This isn't all that new, but there's now more data suggesting video games have widespread benefits. The latest area studied is in business thinking. Apparently, video gamers "are better risk-takers, show particular confidence in their abilities, place a high value on relationships and employee input and think in terms of "winning" when pursuing objectives." Of course, you can certainly point to potential problems with the study, but there are other studies that seem to support the beneficial aspect of video games. In the past, for example, there have been reports suggesting that video games can improve your health and your visual skills. Other studies have shown that video games are good for kids by challenging them to think, often in ways more mentally stimulating than kids get at school. On top of that, certain video games can help kids get some exercise and save on their health insurance. At the professional level, not only have some suggested that playing video games at work is beneficial in helping employees to recharge, while building up teamwork skills, others have found that video gaming can be excellent training for the military or for doctors. Another study found that good gaming skills meant a person was a good stock trader. Had enough yet? It certainly seems like a lot of people are looking into the idea that video games can have some benefit in many different situations. Of course, it probably depends on the game, the person, and the situation -- but it certainly seems to counter the concept that there are no redeeming qualities to video games.