While some may think video games are primarily useful for developing a hunched back and carpel tunnel, they've also been known to improve dexterity, eyesight, and responsiveness.
I myself am a “gamer” - although I prefer to be called a “Lieutenant Colonel'. ;) I spend a good amount of time playing video games, nowhere near as much as Matt Brett, but still an hour or so every few days.
One genre of games that is really starting to take off is self-improvement. These games aren't brought to you by Tony Robbins or Steve Pavlina. Rather, they're almost exclusively available for Nintendo platforms (the Wii and primarily the handheld DS) under the name of Touch Generation.
Unlike the games you may have played when you were a kid in school, these aren't your typical 2+2=4 on a computer from 1987 games. And they're not really aimed at children. They're made for gamers of all ages (6-60) that may be looking to improve themselves in some way and have fun while they're at it.
Now, like I said, these games are really only available for the Nintendo DS and are starting to move to the Wii. If you're a Playstation or Xbox guy or gal, you're as they say “shit out of luck”. I'd love to see them move to online marketplaces (Xbox Live and PS3's) so you can download them for a a few bucks, but don't know if we'll see that anytime soon.
Nonetheless, here are a few games that can help you better yourself.
Brain Age 2
Brain Age is the powerhouse of the self-improvement category of gaming. This second edition of this best-selling series carries on with more interactive brain exercises. These range from solving simple math problems, to memory games, to reciting piano songs. If you're interested in purchasing a Nintendo DS, a bundle is even available with Brain Age 2. That should go to show how popular and seemingly effective this game is.
My Word Coach
My Word Coach is said to help you avoid t
hose moments where you're at a “loss for words”. Through a series of challenges and games you test and improve your vocabulary. Surprisingly, this game is from Ubisoft, who's more known for violent first-person shooter type games. This looks like one of the more interesting games of the bunch and really beneficial for entrepreneurs that get tongue tied often.
Big Brain Academy
This game is pushed as more of a multi-player family activity. As so, it's designed to bring out your competitive nature. You can compete with up to 7 others with the goal of finding the solution quickest. Big Brain Academy helps improve your response time to questions and problems and overall looks like a fun educational alternative to Trivial Pursuit Thursdays.
Flash Focus
Like the rest of these games, the title is pretty self-explanatory. Flash Focus is a collection of games and puzzles presented in the format of a training regimen. The idea is to play the game for a few minutes each day and track your progress through it's “Eye Age test”. Everything is broken down into five categories: Hand-Eye Coordination, Peripheral Vision, Dynamic Visual Acuity, Momentary Vision, and Eye Movement. Couple Flash Focus with a few carrots every now and then and your eyesight should be sharp as a razor.
Wii Fit
A release date has yet to have been announced. Wii Fit originally debuted at E3 2007 and is obviously made for the Wii platform. The game comes with a balance board which is the main controller for it. Through different aerobic activities you use the core of your body to distribute your weight across the board and complete challenges while doing so. This may not have you sweating buckets, but any game like this or Rock Band that have you off the couch and active is better than nothing.
Have any of you had the opportunity to put one of these games to the test?
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