Posted on Dec 27, 2013
How valuable is playing commercial video games to increasing strategic, operational and tactical decision making skills?
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When I completed my service in 2003, commercial video games were just becoming realistic enough to be considered a training tool. At my last duty station in Air Force ROTC, we purchased the latest flight sim games for ROTC detachments to not only use as recruiting tools but also to acclimate potential pilot candidates. I've even heard from some active duty AF folks that cadets would rather fly drones than real aircraft now.
Over the last year I've enjoyed playing first person shooter games like Battlefied and have been surprised to find that my understanding of natural environments and decision making skills have been sharpened at bit. Other video games provide strategic decision making practice. And we all know that training and practice makes for a better performance. I often think it would have helped me during my military service if I had these types of games to play. There are not any such games in the business world that I'm aware of.
What are your thoughts on the role of video games in honing decision making skills?
Over the last year I've enjoyed playing first person shooter games like Battlefied and have been surprised to find that my understanding of natural environments and decision making skills have been sharpened at bit. Other video games provide strategic decision making practice. And we all know that training and practice makes for a better performance. I often think it would have helped me during my military service if I had these types of games to play. There are not any such games in the business world that I'm aware of.
What are your thoughts on the role of video games in honing decision making skills?
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Video Games
Video Games
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 13
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I think games develop reaction and attentiveness well. Have you seen the esports players? there are just some monsters there. I play World of Warcraft usually in PvP, you need to follow a lot and keep in mind the CD'S of your enemies, etc. The guys from https://expcarry.com/wow taught me this. They told me and showed me all the subtleties of my character's class, and explained my rotation. I am very grateful to them because I was able to increase my arena rating.
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I think multiplayer games would build teamwork and camaraderie. Nothing like a head shot with a Gauss rifle for building camaraderie! Depending on the game, it could also be used as a tool for tactical and strategic planning, resource management, squad communications, and maneuvers, and more.
I'll use for an example my current favorite: MechWarrior Online (MWO)
MWO is a team based, first person shooter where the players are piloting 30-100 ton walking machines of death and mayhem called BattleMechs (what's not to love?). It's based on the tabletop game "BattleTech" which first appeared in the mid-80s.
In MWO you have a team of fellow MechWarriors, each are piloting BattleMechs with their own mission profiles. Light 'Mechs (under 45 tons) are fast but are fragile and don't do a lot of damage. They make excellent scouts and quick strike harassers.
Assault 'Mechs (75-100 tons) are as advertised on the tin: for assaults. Loaded with weapons and armor, these behemoths wade in and do a crap-ton of damage while able to soak up a lot. But they are really slow, and like all 'Mechs, tend to have light armor in their backs.
Medium and Large 'Mechs (45-75 tons) are frequently multi-purpose, or had a specialized purpose, such as sniping, artillery, defense, etc.
In any case, it really depends on the loadout of the 'Mechs.
In MWO, you can drop with a group of up to 12 'Mech. In BattleTech parlance, that's a Company of three Lances. Each is piloted by a human player. You're going up against another Company of 'Mechs. Sometimes you know what you're going up against, but not often.
As the Company commander, you probably organized your company, assigned Lance commanders and assignments. Depending on those assignments, each MechWarrior (player) selected their 'Mech (or vice versa depending on what they may have available). You might have players who can't shoot worth toffee, but they can steer anything on two legs. You'd assign them to the Scout/Light Lance to go out, find the enemy, paint them, and then harass.
You might have someone with a steady hand and a keep eye and can pick off a 'Mech cockpit at long range with a Gauss rifle in a windstorm. You might have them ride their Shadow Hawk and be a sniper role.
Once Lance assignments are done, roles designated, It's time to drop.
Company commanders have to allocate their lances to mission specs, and Lance commanders have to fulfill those mission specs. So, communication is key. Everyone has to work together to scrap your opponents before they do to you.
There are a lot of lessons that can be learned through such games and have fun doing it. It can build up the unit morale, increase camaraderie, and be used to practice multiple skills without getting dirty.
I'll use for an example my current favorite: MechWarrior Online (MWO)
MWO is a team based, first person shooter where the players are piloting 30-100 ton walking machines of death and mayhem called BattleMechs (what's not to love?). It's based on the tabletop game "BattleTech" which first appeared in the mid-80s.
In MWO you have a team of fellow MechWarriors, each are piloting BattleMechs with their own mission profiles. Light 'Mechs (under 45 tons) are fast but are fragile and don't do a lot of damage. They make excellent scouts and quick strike harassers.
Assault 'Mechs (75-100 tons) are as advertised on the tin: for assaults. Loaded with weapons and armor, these behemoths wade in and do a crap-ton of damage while able to soak up a lot. But they are really slow, and like all 'Mechs, tend to have light armor in their backs.
Medium and Large 'Mechs (45-75 tons) are frequently multi-purpose, or had a specialized purpose, such as sniping, artillery, defense, etc.
In any case, it really depends on the loadout of the 'Mechs.
In MWO, you can drop with a group of up to 12 'Mech. In BattleTech parlance, that's a Company of three Lances. Each is piloted by a human player. You're going up against another Company of 'Mechs. Sometimes you know what you're going up against, but not often.
As the Company commander, you probably organized your company, assigned Lance commanders and assignments. Depending on those assignments, each MechWarrior (player) selected their 'Mech (or vice versa depending on what they may have available). You might have players who can't shoot worth toffee, but they can steer anything on two legs. You'd assign them to the Scout/Light Lance to go out, find the enemy, paint them, and then harass.
You might have someone with a steady hand and a keep eye and can pick off a 'Mech cockpit at long range with a Gauss rifle in a windstorm. You might have them ride their Shadow Hawk and be a sniper role.
Once Lance assignments are done, roles designated, It's time to drop.
Company commanders have to allocate their lances to mission specs, and Lance commanders have to fulfill those mission specs. So, communication is key. Everyone has to work together to scrap your opponents before they do to you.
There are a lot of lessons that can be learned through such games and have fun doing it. It can build up the unit morale, increase camaraderie, and be used to practice multiple skills without getting dirty.
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While I am a fan of the Battlefield series, there are a lot of video games that can improve your thinking (mostly tactical ones, anyway) like the XCOM series or most RPG games (which I am a fan of). I often play video games to keep my mind sharp, despite the claims that it turns to mush (which it did not).
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