Published 2013-02-04T18:15:00Z”/>
Thomas Martinez
College semesters can be brutally difficult to handle. It seems that once the second week starts, all hell breaks loose as you drag yourself out of bed for those 8 a.m. classes that you thought would be a good idea to take.
Teachers are teaching, students are studying and freshman are, well, freshman.
Video games could help get you through those tough study sessions this semester, which is why I am giving you my top five reasons why gaming is beneficial for students.
Warning: Gaming may cause serious procrastination.
<strong>Break from Reality</strong>
Video games can take you into a world of imagination and art. By playing as Mario and saving Princess Peach in the level eight castle of “Super Mario Brothers,” one is lost in a land of “1-UPs” and “power-ups”. Maybe Princess’ aren’t your thing; you might want to shoot up Nazi zombies at a bus depot in “Call of Duty.”
Whatever your gaming preference, a break from reality is a great thing during study sessions. Playing a game for 30 minutes or beating a mission can really help to recharge your mind, then you’ll find it easier to focus once you hit the books again.
<strong>Lose the anger</strong>
First-person shooter games come into play when you are angry. When you have just failed a test or quiz, your blood is boiling with frustration and you want to blow off some steam.
You could get a drink or hit the gym, but with a game like “Halo” you can shoot that anger away by sniping someone from across the map.
Get all your frustration out on the Covenant or The Flood, the alien enemies of “Halo.”
<strong>Learn Dexterity</strong>
In certain games, speed is everything. The quicker your reaction time is in a video game, the better.
Hand and eye coordination has improved when playing “Call of Duty” and other fast reaction games, according to the “The Five Dimensions of Video Game Effects” by Iowa State University professors Douglas A. Gentile and William Stone.
While playing these games, your reaction speed means life or death for your character.
You start continuously anticipating what is coming up around the corner.
<strong>Work on Problem Solving Skills</strong>
Video games are made up of choices and you have to figure out those choices in order to progress in the game.
Choices range from which direction is better, all the way to how figuring out a puzzle to receive a key.
Problem solving games help you learn to keep a calm mind, figure out the problem, get the key, open the door and beat the boss.
<strong>Game With Friends</strong>
Video games can be a great social tool. In the past five years,
massively multiplayer online role-playing games and online multiplayer modes for many games have become increasingly popular.
Games like “World of Warcraft,” “Call of Duty” and “Halo” allow gamers from all corners of the world to play together all at once.
When you’re bored and don’t want to join the bar scene, invite a couple of friends over to play games. The next thing you know you will have assembled troops for a major gaming party.
When times get tough in school, remember to take a break and game on.
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