Much of my life, I've been a hard core gamer. Not just any type though: ever since I've had internet, games have had to be online, and have a strategy/team effort involved. These are the types of games I'm talking about.
Back in 2009 I was a semi professional MLG Halo 3 player and ranked top 32 with my team at an event in Meadowlands, New Jersey where hundreds of the best competed. More recently I was a top tier League of Legends player. I'm here to tell you what I think all of that means once you reach the top of it all.
Halo was a game of 4v4 where information has to be processed fast, decisions made, teamwork perfect, and leadership perfect. In a way it is like chess, or a swordfight. But people take those two activities much more seriously. For example, look at how the Book of Five Rings is so highly thought of in todays business world...Halo, not so much.
But, underneath all of the gunfire, graphics, and noises, its something else: its a ...
(Pause here - I know what I am now going to write an eBook on! - OK resume)
Underneath all of that, its the most level playing field in existence of a human duel of mentalities. The best part is immediate feedback.
Once you reach a certain level of understanding a game, and your hand eye coordination level is optimal, the rest is fast paced chess. Strategy, communication, and team work are essentials to success. You immediately learn what works and what doesn't through immediate feedback, such as dying, putting your team behind and creating success.
There is so much to be learned from video games of such a nature. I am not advocating only the games I've played, but all games which are a competitive nature with a limited amount of variables. Not candy crush, racing games, etc - I mean games of war, real time strategy.
Before you think I have a limited scope of life, I played varsity rugby in college, captain of my water polo team, and tons of other sports growing up. Everything has its place, but I think people underestimate the power of online competitive gaming.
Like anything in life, it can make you or break you. If you exercise for 6 hours a day your body will breakdown. Do the right exercises for one hour or two and it will strengthen you in ways you never thought possible. Play the right videogame for a set amount of time and you will find yourself more competent in mental capability, understanding others, making split second decisions under pressure, team communication, etc etc. Play video games wrecklessly without care and you will find yourself on the sidewalk, an outcast with no real friends and unable to use your newfound skills anywhere else.
Halo was great because its 4v4, you have 3 other people on your team with unique styles and skill sets you have to mesh together for a team dynamic to be successful. Chemistry is definitely a thing. Reaction times, decision making, communication is key. You must understand your environment and resources available to beat your opponents. Sounds a bit like entrepreneurship, eh?
In League, it gets more complicated having to know thousands of variables and outcomes of certain actions. More strategy, team dynamic, slower paced for more thought out actions. Almost like a different industry of business.
I could go on but I think my point is self evident: subject yourself consciously to various types of video games. They provide a highly controlled environment where key decision making problems are always evident and waiting for you to make a choice, then immediately giving feedback as to whether it was the right choice or not. Do this, and I think you will find increased confidence and cognitive functions pertaining to other areas of life, such as your fast lane ventures.
Back in 2009 I was a semi professional MLG Halo 3 player and ranked top 32 with my team at an event in Meadowlands, New Jersey where hundreds of the best competed. More recently I was a top tier League of Legends player. I'm here to tell you what I think all of that means once you reach the top of it all.
Halo was a game of 4v4 where information has to be processed fast, decisions made, teamwork perfect, and leadership perfect. In a way it is like chess, or a swordfight. But people take those two activities much more seriously. For example, look at how the Book of Five Rings is so highly thought of in todays business world...Halo, not so much.
But, underneath all of the gunfire, graphics, and noises, its something else: its a ...
(Pause here - I know what I am now going to write an eBook on! - OK resume)
Underneath all of that, its the most level playing field in existence of a human duel of mentalities. The best part is immediate feedback.
Once you reach a certain level of understanding a game, and your hand eye coordination level is optimal, the rest is fast paced chess. Strategy, communication, and team work are essentials to success. You immediately learn what works and what doesn't through immediate feedback, such as dying, putting your team behind and creating success.
There is so much to be learned from video games of such a nature. I am not advocating only the games I've played, but all games which are a competitive nature with a limited amount of variables. Not candy crush, racing games, etc - I mean games of war, real time strategy.
Before you think I have a limited scope of life, I played varsity rugby in college, captain of my water polo team, and tons of other sports growing up. Everything has its place, but I think people underestimate the power of online competitive gaming.
Like anything in life, it can make you or break you. If you exercise for 6 hours a day your body will breakdown. Do the right exercises for one hour or two and it will strengthen you in ways you never thought possible. Play the right videogame for a set amount of time and you will find yourself more competent in mental capability, understanding others, making split second decisions under pressure, team communication, etc etc. Play video games wrecklessly without care and you will find yourself on the sidewalk, an outcast with no real friends and unable to use your newfound skills anywhere else.
Halo was great because its 4v4, you have 3 other people on your team with unique styles and skill sets you have to mesh together for a team dynamic to be successful. Chemistry is definitely a thing. Reaction times, decision making, communication is key. You must understand your environment and resources available to beat your opponents. Sounds a bit like entrepreneurship, eh?
In League, it gets more complicated having to know thousands of variables and outcomes of certain actions. More strategy, team dynamic, slower paced for more thought out actions. Almost like a different industry of business.
I could go on but I think my point is self evident: subject yourself consciously to various types of video games. They provide a highly controlled environment where key decision making problems are always evident and waiting for you to make a choice, then immediately giving feedback as to whether it was the right choice or not. Do this, and I think you will find increased confidence and cognitive functions pertaining to other areas of life, such as your fast lane ventures.
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