Gaming is good for you!

Wow, who would have thought this?

We subscribe to Discover magazine. When the July issue arrived with the headline Your Brain on Video Games, I was looking forward to some sort of article that talked about how video games are detrimental to your well-being.

What I read was something completely different. Quoting research from at least three different studies, the article put forward the argument that video games are actually beneficial to brain function (when taken in moderation, of course).

The article challenges the stereotypes that gamers are:

• attention-deficit crazed stimulus junkies
• out for immediate gratification
• easily distracted
• looking for on-screen carnage

The studies have found that unlike TV and movies, video games get harder as you progress, they have distinct levels and you must pass the requirements of those levels to move on, and stimulate things like pattern recognition, system thinking and patience.

In fact, most good games require a lot of patience and attention to progress. The goals for games may take a long time to achieve and require solving puzzles of different types and complexities. So many different parts of the brain have to work together that gamers tend to think in more creative ways when it comes to problem solving in the real world. So much for the easily distracted, attention deficit crazed, distractable gamer.

As for the carnage, most of the best selling games do not involve a lot of bloodshed and rely only on manual dexterity. The games that stand the test of time and garner a wide audience are the ones that tax your mental agility as well as your dexterity.

The best selling game of all time is The Sims. There is no bloodshed in that game. Instead you have to manage the life of your "Sims" as they try to find a job, raise their children, put food on the table and run a household. Even in the FPS category (first person shooter), the best and most successful games require you to think and solve problems to progress through the game - sometimes shooting the enemy is not what you need to do to progress.

So, what is my point? Do I even have one? Why did I just sit here and type all this out?

Beats me. I'm going to go play....

Nintendo DS vs. Sony PSP

If any other gamer finds this blog and actually starts to read it, they may wonder why I chose the Nintendo DS over the Sony PSP. I mean, if you read the trade mags, the PSP is a lot better right? They usually mention the following:

• Large widescreen format
• Lots of games at launch
• Plays movies and MP3s
• WiFi built in

Those are all good points. However the "large" screen is really too small for me to want to watch a movie on it. I'd rather have a smaller MP3 player or a purpose-built MP3 like an iPod. The games are not unique and can be found on other platforms (ok, maybe not the exact game, but a good replica).

The reason I chose the DS was that Nintendo is always trying to redefine how people play games and tries to do something unique with each platform. Games like Wario Ware Touched, Polarium, Pac-Pix, and Yoshi Touch&Go all show the power of the platform and that is just within the first 6 months of launch.

For those not familiar with the DS, it has two screens and the lower screen is a touch screen. It also has a microphone and WiFi built in. When I first saw reviews of the DS, a lot of reviewers thought of the touch screen as a gimmick and, to be honest, most of the launch games used the touch screen as an afterthought. But now really creative developers who have had time to understand the versatility of this platform are really coming up with great ideas.

Take for example Nintendogs. Now, I am not a dog person, but the idea of raising your own puppy and training it by using the touch pad is really unique. You can also use the microphone to teach your virtual puppy voice commands. And, if you put the DS in battery saver mode (i.e. close the lid without turning the power off) your puppy/dog will bark when another Nintendogs owner comes within wireless range and the two will play with each other. Not my cup of tea, but very creative and original.

So, while PSP owners get to play the same type of games they can play on their PS2s, I'm looking forward to games like Lost in Blue which will provide me with a portable gaming experience that is different from everything else.

Platform Choices

As my last post stated, we have three distinct gaming platforms in the house - PC, Xbox and Nintendo DS. Let me explain why:

1. PC - The PC is the most versatile platform out there. It is an awesome gaming platform and I still think with some exceptions the best games come out for the PC. Of course I do use it for other things like email, blogging, and work.
2. Xbox - Why did I get an Xbox? Simple - it was free. I got it as a "gift" for a course I took. That being said, I really do like the games I have and I find sitting in front of the widescreen TV playing games with the home theatre system pumping out 5.1 sound helps as well. There are some games that are only available on Xbox and I may actually review some in later posts.
3. Nintendo DS - I have to travel for my job sometimes. A portable gaming platform really helps since I don't want to install games on my work-issued notebook. Besides, Nintendo really came up with a well-thought platform that we won't really see exploited for another year. Why did I choose the DS over the PSP? That will be the subject of another post.

What is my favourite platform? I would have to say the PC, but each of the platforms we have has its good points and its challenges.

I am a gamer

There, I said it.

I love computer/video games. I always have. Ever since my brother bought the original Atari 2600 I've been hooked. When I was a teenager, playing games on my Apple II (anyone remember "Choplifter"?) was my favourite pastime and I marveled about how good the technology was getting.

For a while I thought I had grown out of gaming. I was out of University, had a great career and games were for kids, right?

I forget which games drew me back in. It may have been the Jedi Knight series and Tie Fighter. Now I am an avid gamer and so are my wife and son. We play PC games (we like different genres but RPGs seem to appeal to all three of us) so much that we each have our own PC. We also have an Xbox, and two Nintendo DS.

We are a gaming family and we love it!!!