There are many ways to improve your skills, from taking courses to doing mental exercises and puzzles. However, people often overlook the fun ways we can achieve that goal on Online Gaming.
According to Kevin Cochran, an expert with industry credentials you can view here, online games are a fantastic way to hone several life skills. Whether you prefer to play the latest MMO or choose online gambling at one of the popular Canadian casinos online, there are endless ways to get a mental boost.
Let’s look at the different attributes you can improve by playing a game on your computer, console, or smartphone.
Content Summary
Skills You Can Hone With Online Gaming
The benefits of online gaming are varied and often depend on the types of things you prefer to play. Some will help develop practical skills that you can use every day, while others focus on enhancing specific traits.
Problem Solving and Strategic Thinking for Online Gaming
Many online games are built on the premise of having to solve problems. Whether it’s running a quick errand for the local shopkeep or completing brain-busting maze missions, it’s the player’s job to work around obstacles to achieve a goal.
There are various educational strategy games online. Some focus specifically on improving problem-solving skills, while others include it as a gameplay element.
How do you defeat this enemy? Is there a specific way to complete that mission? An online game rarely lets you walk up to the bad guy with your giant sword and kill him instantly. Instead, you’ll have to find the right combination of running, attacking, and dodging, as your in-game life depends on it.
Impossible situations that require you to think strategically to problem-solve are common features in several genres.
Communication and Teamwork
Many online games involve an element of teamwork. As a group, you’ll have to complete missions, find enemies or simply survive.
In first-person shooter (FPS) games, communication within a unit is critical. Not only is the action fast-paced, but it’s important to note where your allies are, what they’re doing and where you’re needed. One mistake can cost the entire team its victory.
Even fun apps can teach these skills. This popular game forces players to work together, emphasizing the importance of communication and deductive reasoning. If the group doesn’t work together, everyone loses.
Stress Management and Perseverance
We’ve all seen viral videos of gamers losing their control, breaking everything from screens and keyboards to thousand-dollar consoles. Many online games involve a near-insane amount of stress and the pressure is on most of the time.
One particularly well-known title uses this to excellent effect. Death comes swiftly, regardless of your experience.
Unfortunately, unlike most games that allow you to save frequently and respawn relatively unscathed, Dark Souls leaves you bare-boned and penniless after death. If you’re not careful, you’ll die before you get all your treasures back, and they’ll be lost for good.
If that doesn’t teach you to deal with stress and develop perseverance, nothing will. Sometimes, the only thing you can do is die, try again.
Financial and Entrepreneurial Skills
Today, many MMORPGs or Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games have markets. You can use your avatar to gather materials or craft items and then sell these on the system for the in-game currency.
However, as in reality, the prices often fluctuate depending on supply and demand. What was worth several thousands last week might have no value today.
Some players dedicate so much time and effort to understand the game’s market that they develop reputations as sellers. Not only are others more inclined to buy from them, but they also know to trust the prices and quality of items on offer.
Understanding how to make money inside an MMO translates very well to real life. It takes time, effort and dedication to learn how prices work and where to find value. If you are interested in becoming an entrepreneur, you’ll learn a lot from these in-game markets.
Pros and Cons of Online Gaming
When you’re playing a single-player game or exploring the wide world of an MMORPG, there’s always advantages and disadvantages. However, there are a few things all of them have in common. Here are a few general pros and cons of online gaming you should note:
Pros
- Brilliant way to socialize with distant friends
- Hone various life and management skills
- Can improve concentration
- Access to free-to-play games
- Competitive tournaments available
Cons
- Can become addictive
- In-game purchases can be expensive
- Some games have high internet usage
- Cyber-bullying and verbal abuse is common
- Malicious software can be downloaded
Final Word
There are several fun ways to hone your skills, from problem-solving to communication and teamwork. If you enjoy playing online games, consider trying a few that’ll push you to improve the way you work and think.
