We all like our video games… or at least I do. But after playing my fair share recently while recovering from a small operation (nothing serious, only dentistry), I pondered if I had wasted my hours on shameful fun while I could have been doing something useful with my time such as writing a novel or… writing angry letters to Japan about the current whaling problem. I asked myself the question, are video games really all that bad for you, or do angry parents all over the world simply overreact when they find their kids passed out on the couch with a Playstation controller cradled in their hands? Of course, asking myself was pointless since I clearly didn’t know the answer, so I decided I would consult with the all-knowing internet.
What would you rather do: walk two miles every hour, or stay home and play Call Of Duty? Well, I’m here to tell you that you have the option. The calories you burn through your increased heart rate and respiratory activity are actually equivalent to an average man walking two miles. Not only that, but don’t feel so guilty when playing those games, about your brain “turning to mush”. The right kind of game enhances puzzle solving skills and quick reflexes, not to mention hand-eye co-ordination.
If that’s not enough for you how about trying your hand at a realistic flight simulator. Very handy for whenever both the pilot and co-pilot of your commercial flight astoundingly have a heart attack at the same time, and a flight attendant asks if anyone knows how to fly a plane. You can proudly stand up and say, I beat Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004! (Hey, it happens in the movies). Oh, and for all you squares there’s always Wii Fit.
Enjoy.
PS. Here’s an article that details how the increasing complexity of entertainment can really be seen as an indicator of our big, big brains. Keep on playing.
