I started playing video games in the late 1970s, when one of my elementary school friends had an early version of Pong at his house. From there I evolved to text-based computer games and simple games of skill, to the arcade to consoles to even a brief (multi-year) flirtation with next-generation desktop gaming. These days my game playing usually happens on the iPad, or, when I have the time to invest, in something far more complicated on the XBox. Yes. I’m 50, and I own an XBox, and I make no apologies about this. Nobody who has ever played Bejeweled or Words with Friends or Candy Crush or any kind of casino slot game on their phone gets to look down on me.
Video games of today involve problem solving, math, and have evolved to the degree that they’ve enabled the publication of thousand-page strategy guides. Sure, some are needlessly violent and yes, there are a lot of them kids are playing that kids shouldn’t even need to know about. But not to acknowledge them as legitimate is just wrong.
As the games I’ve played have become more intricately plotted and complicated, I’ve learned some things from them, both about myself based on my strategic choices and reactions to certain situations, and how to apply certain skills used in the games to daily life. Before anyone dismisses all of this as a trite defense of a time-wasting pursuit, allow me to share some truths about life I’ve learned from gaming, in one way or another:
*Take the time to develop fundamental skills for something you want to do well. The time you invest will eventually pay off.
*Don’t foolishly charge into problems well beyond your skill set and expect to succeed.
*When faced with a seemingly overwhelming challenge, isolate the weak spots and approach it from unexpected directions.
*Think divergently when what seem like obvious solutions aren’t working.
*Manage your inventory, in whatever context this might mean. Only carry the things you’ll need and use.
*Choose your allies carefully. Find people who will compensate for your deficiencies and value what you have to offer.
*Don’t throw your money around. It’s a lot better to have enough when you really need it.
*Save your strongest arguments for when you’ll need them the most.
*Don’t let a pretty face make up your mind for you.
*Sometimes the quiet and subtle approach is the best way to get things done.
See? Not a complete waste of time. (Also, if anyone reading this has any recommendations for must-play console games I could tackle — and learn from? — this summer, I’m all ears.)
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