We talked to players online about games where they went offline wiser than when they first logged on.
Video games are being increasingly used to teach real-life lessons to its audience in a fun and engaging way.
We asked gaming forums on reddit for some examples of how video games are being used for educational purposes.
Trivia knowledge and puzzle solving
The increasingly popular online trivia game ‘GeoGuesser’ utilises google maps to help improve player knowledge of geography, countries, and cultures.
Players are learning to use common sense and clues from the environment to ascertain where exactly in the world they are located, providing opportunities for players to expand their geography knowledge and improve their problem-solving skills.
Other games, including older titles released in the past, can help improve cognitive function and problem solving.
User Inglonias on Reddit said: “Journeyman 2, Buried in Time.
“It’s available on GOG, and it’s a point-and-click adventure game with time travel and slightly fictionalized historical settings.
“... Because it’s a point-and-click adventure, there's also puzzle solving.”
Science and Technological Skills
Video games are being used to teach science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in a fun and interactive way. For example, "Minecraft" is a highly recognisable game to the younger generations, which makes things much easier to put into context in a format they are familiar with.
User Nickolaiproblem on Reddit said: “Minecraft can actually be very useful for understanding certain principles of physics and science.”
But there are also other games that are introducing players to the world of programming.
User Projectdystopia on Reddit said: “I also played While True:Learn (). Which can teach you some basics on AI (Artificial Intelligence) and how it works.
"It's still nowhere close to real computer engineering or something, but I found some interesting details and information while playing it.”
History and Culture
Additionally, video games are being used to teach history and culture by allowing players to experience historical events and cultural traditions in an immersive way. The strategy game Sid Meier's Civilisation VI features a range of historical figureheads and immerses the player in a variety of cultures.
User Exxygt on Reddit says: “Pentiment. This game is almost a book, albeit interactive one, which draws heavily from [the] art style of that period [in] Early-mid 1500’s.
“I recently finished it, and I can’t think of anything that would represent the medieval history of Europe and, most importantly, lives of the people of that period better.”
Gaming platforms are being utilised to educate people on a variety of real-life concepts in an entertaining and participatory manner.
Whilst playing videogames has mostly been considered a hobby to escape real-life, developers have strived to make their fictionalised world to impart important values and skills to online users.
People can learn and gain new things whilst spending time in this virtual world and leave their computer desk slightly wiser too.
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