Video games: Maligned by parents across the globe as a major cause of obesity, falling grades and brain-rot. Whoever thought they could actually have a positive impact.
Does Madden help real-life quarterbacks find the end-zone?
There was a fantastic piece in this month’s Wired focusing on how American Footballers were using tactics learned on John Madden, one of the world’s best–selling console titles, to win games (specifically citing the example of the Denver Bronco’s Brandon Stokley and this clock draining run). The piece also examined how high school coaches were encouraging their offensive line to program their playbooks into the game to learn the plays, and how professional players are actually maturing faster because they know how to read NFL defenses…all because of a computer console. What next? Troops practicing combat maneuvers using Call of Duty? Criminals honing their car-jacking skills using Grand Theft Auto?
Video games have come a long way since Pong made its debut in the 70’s however the last five years have seen more innovation than the previous 20. Today’s console entertainment couldn’t be further from the stereotyped spotty teenager sat playing in a darkened room. Take the Wii Fit as a classic example. Despite some debate over whether or not it actually helps you get in shape there are examples out there of people using it for marathon training and to treat kids with high cholesterol. And people are doing this for fun.
Launching around the 2010 holiday season, Microsoft’s Project Natal is set to be the real game changer taking the Wii concept one step further – YOU are the controller. The video below drew gasps of awe when it was posted around E3 last year and details dramatically the ridiculously advanced player engagement and artificial intelligence promised on the Xbox within the year.
This is also worth a glance, another video showing that stunning AI in action and alluding to the educational potential of what Microsoft is referring to as ‘controller free entertainment’. Project Natal is expected to add billions to Microsoft’s revenue and it’s easy to see why, revolutionizing the gaming experienced. As for the aforementioned football players, will something like Natal take our competitive athletes video game training and intuition to the next level? Imagine being able to see – and influence - how things play out first hand from pitch level, instead of the TV camera angle often favored on video games…surely that could have an even greater impact on how quickly players develop?
Does this mean the death of gaming as we know it? Not really. There will always’ be the old fashioned recreational console players who want to sit on their sofa with controller in hand and not move (and, as much as I love the Wii, I probably fall into this category). But, that’s not to say the non-physical approach isn’t without its benefits. Video gaming has been shown to improve cognitive health, hand eye coordination and reaction times (as well as being a distraction from smoking and overeating?) If you’re looking for a response the next time you’re nagged to turn your PlayStation off, then there it is.
(Photo credit: EA Sports)