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As if you needed another reason to turn Grandma off those sissy crosswords and onto mutalisk micro, Newsweek just relased the article "Can You Build a Better Brain?" The link the the full article follows, but I've condensed it and highlighted the relevant section from the end.
[After debunking many common "brain boosters," the article states that the brain grows only when it is paying attention to the activity: thus skills we have already mastered, that we do almost automatically, do not enhance growth. In other words "taking up a new, cognitively demanding activity -ballroom dancing, a foreign language- is more likely to boost [performance]." Unfortunately, this growth is usually exclusive to the activity in question, except in 3 cases where growth can be seen across a broad range of skills. The first is physical exercise, the second is meditation, and...]
Finally, some videogames might improve general mental agility. Stern has trained older adults to play a complex computer-based action game called Space Fortress, which requires players to shoot missiles and destroy the fortress while protecting their spaceship against missiles and mines. “It requires motor control, visual search, working memory, long-term memory, and decision making,” he says. It also requires that elixir of neuroplasticity: attention, specifically the ability to control and switch attention among different tasks. “People get better on tests of memory, motor speed, visual-spatial skills, and tasks requiring cognitive flexibility,” says Stern. Kramer, too, finds that the strategy-heavy videogame Rise of Nations improves executive-control functions such as task switching, working memory, visual short-term memory, and reasoning in older adults.
Few games or training programs have been tested to this extent, and many of those that have been come up short. Those with increasing levels of difficulty and intense demands on attentional capacity—focus as well as switching—probably do the most good … as does taking a brisk walk in between levels.
For those who haven't played it, Rise of Nations is an RTS of the Starcraft varietal, so I'm sure what goes for that game only goes for SC in triplicate. Sure, we all knew it was fun, but now it seems playing Starcraft is essential to our mental well-being. Will we see team community service trips to retirement homes: setting up Starcraft hubs, helping to "promote metal wellness in our community?" Will we see the day when senior citizens rise at 4am not to relieve themselves, but to tune-in to the GSL? Will Day9 become the health-guru of our time: showing you how to be a better gamer through healthy living?
Such questions strain the mind with possibilities, but are they that far-fetched? Would you make sure your kids practiced their Starcraft after-school? Could you see yourself playing in a Champions (i.e. seniors) League as a "retired" pro-gamer (as they do in golf)? Could video-games really gain acceptance as an important part of healthy living/aging?
(As an interesting aside, the article seems to scientifically prove; between the ballroom dancing, copious exercise, and starcraft chops; that incontrol is, despite perception to the contrary, one of the smartest people in existence...is his mind be so far beyond our own that his arguments only seem poor to the simpleton mind?)
Oh, and the link to the original article
http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/03/can-you-build-a-better-brain.html
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I will be sure to forward the article to everyone who tells me SC2 is no good for me.
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IMO video games are only productive if they are not repetitive. Playing new games with new controls and challenges promotes shock which provides growth. If you play starcraft everyday for many years dont expect any alot of growth. Similar thing happens to muscles in gym. you need to shock ur body and give it something unexpected to adapt to. Even Einstein said - if you always do what you have always done, nothing will change so video games = problem solving new games/environments = new problems to solve
personally, i stop playing multilayer extensively since i realized if i stop playing for a bit my life drastically gets better. too non-productive
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Damn straight! Grahma gonna muta kill you all now, prepare your self.
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starcraft is the only game that i know in and out (as in every game mechanic, unit, structure, unit ability, energy cost, resource cost, etc etc), yet still catch myself scratching my head in the middle of the game wondering "what the fuck do i do now?"
most other games, less puzzle games, fail to leave me pondering the optimal move in a given situation. most other games are cookie cutter, and almost offer one or two "right" answers, unlike starcraft where... THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!!!1~`1@!!
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Hell, if Rise of Nations can be endorsed as a demanding RTS, imagine the benefits to the brain they'll find for Starcraft.
What I'm saying is that Rise of Nations is nothing compared to Starcraft (btw I've always wanted to play with more people, anyone here everappreciate Rise of Nations +- expansion?)
But then again, they WON'T find benefits to Starcraft, because all the P.C. , accepted knowledge points to "Playing too much computer gamessss is bad for you, OMG some wierdo in the Koreas died because he was playing too much of that ~Starcwaft~ game." Yep, it's a bias we need to live with, though I'd love to see it lifted
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On January 08 2011 06:47 bITt.mAN wrote: Hell, if Rise of Nations can be endorsed as a demanding RTS, imagine the benefits to the brain they'll find for Starcraft.
What I'm saying is that Rise of Nations is nothing compared to Starcraft (btw I've always wanted to play with more people, anyone here everappreciate Rise of Nations +- expansion?)
But then again, they WON'T find benefits to Starcraft, because all the P.C. , accepted knowledge points to "Playing too much computer gamessss is bad for you, OMG some wierdo in the Koreas died because he was playing too much of that ~Starcwaft~ game." Yep, it's a bias we need to live with, though I'd love to see it lifted
Rise of nations was definitely a demanding RTS...
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Rise of nation in my opinion is way more strategic RTS and more demanding then Starcraft, part of the reason i think alot of people never played it. I think RON is much better then Starcraft and definity more fun as well, but sadly its kinda dead now.
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^ I'm quite interested in your opinion of RoN v BW (especially on a SC:BW fourm but I think that'd be better placed NOT in the "Playing Starcraft Improves Brain Functions" thread :S
I'll see if there's anywhere where we can discuss (I'm considering staying up untill 5AM to watch WL SKT v KT, 0.o my team tag)
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Hurray, a legit article about yet another benefit of video games! (especially vs TV, as many parents let kids watch TV but limit their gaming time, haha)
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I don't think all video games have benefits, but ones that actually challenge your thought processes, not just twitch reactions probably do carry some benefit, or at least are better for you than others.
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We are the smartest brains of the pack! But yeah compared to other video games Starcraft really excercises me. Not a lot of games that do that these days.
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Going to force my dad to read this. haha
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Yes, but what about the players who play SC2 without really learned or improving their play. I know in other genres, not just Sc2, that some players reach a wall where they do not improve past a certain point in skill level.If they are just doing the same mistakes over and over and chilling on gold division then they are not really learning anything.
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A perfect reason to practice multiple BOs, not just master one!
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Give work to your brain and he will work better. Makes sense.
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Iit's better for older people to be doing than playing a computer game for brain function.... that helps them the most
It was a good thought though.
If SC increases ability to play other complex games like poker and such there's no doubt it does improve mental status and decision making, etc
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i played Rise of Nations...
you literally could get 600 food armies (cuz they spawn in 1 pack of 3 or 4 per 1 or 2 supply)
although, the maps were WAAAY bigger than BW (but not as big as Supreme Commander) and the games were just mass based, not so much economy based like Starcraft
however this awesome find is probably THE BEST reason to play Starcraft. literally.
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Starcraft is like chess with physical dexterity added into it.
I think pure chess would be better since it doesn't need as much motor control and thus would be purely stimulating the mind.
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