Who would have ever thought that top video games  - a form of entertainment - could improve the minds of those that play them! Amid all the amazing graphis, wonderful music, and the addictive plots in video games, educational opportunities are present, and to locate them you only need to pay close attention and look a bit closer.

1. Video games can help improve strategic thinking. Rare is the video game that doesn’t require its player to make a decision two or three steps ahead of a current situation. With constant play, players quickly learn the advantage of strategic thinking and they start to apply it to actual world opportunities.

2. Video games improve problem solving. Even though many other games could make the same claim, video games have proven in many studies that they actually improve problem-solving skills. This is due to most games being centered on a problem and the challenge it presents a play to solve it. In onlyone game, a gamer can be required to solve up to a hundred different problems.

3. Video games improve hand and eye coordination. If you are skepitical about this, simply pick up a video game controller and attempt to move around the game. Maneuvering the game controller requires the same or better skills then it requires to manipulate a mouse around a computer screen.

4. Video games facilitate quick decision-making. One aspect of video games which leads to fast decision making is its impromptu situations. With the element of surprise just around the corner that makes the games extremely exciting to play. However, to win players are required to make good decisions in a short period of time.

5. Video games feed the imagination. We don’t really understand the argument against things like television, videos, and gaming where people use the lack of imagination to support their part of the debate. Some people claim that video games take away from the imagination because games supply the mind with things instead of encouraging the mind to come up with these things on their own. Keep in mind these are the people wo say playing with a stack of blocks in not sufficient to help grow a child’s imagination. Of course we couldn’t disagree more. The image graphic in a video game inspires the imagination and provides a spring board from which to contemplate new ideas that may not have happened otherwise.

6. Video games encourage exploration. In role-playing games, players must venture off the beaten path and explore the unknown. Players must open doors never knowing what lies behind them. They have to enter areas of the game without knowing the consequence. Also they must interact with other characters which they have not met before. Inside certain types of games, the opportunity to get the courage to explore new territory is required.

7. Video games enforce memorization. Another feature of video games is its strong influence on memorization. The terraine represented in some video games is extremely large, however accessing the maps can be disruptive to the game. To make up for this, gamers will memorize a portion of terrain and the tasks required to get to certain areas.

8. Video gams will teach consequence. All computer and video games operate off of an “action - reaction” principle. Do something, and the game will react. This is a great opportunity to learn about consequence - whether this opportunity is experienced from a gamer’s point of view or a programmer’s point of view.

9. Video games teach endurance, patience, and dedication. No really challenging game can be completed in just a day. Some of the top video games can take weeks or months to complete.

These are just a few of the eductional opportunities hidden away inside computer and top video games. After closer investigation, we’re sure you can find more in addition to hours of fun and amazement.

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