The Heroic Gaming Moment

[Che Musashi]

Just maybe, hypothetically all those games we play are all training us for that great heroic moment. Someday an Earthquake will hit LA and I'll be called on to use my Mr. Driller skills to free trapped people. Or maybe those hours spent playing Metal Gear will help you to become stealthy when the Russians(?) invade your home.

The reason I pose this question is last night I was playing Drill Land and the thought crossed my mind, what if I really had to save somebody this way. What if all hope was lost and the only person that could save the day was one of us gamers? Just think of all those years of gaming experience being put to good use. Of course the odds of me suiting up in a blue and pink suit and sporting a drill are slim to none, but haven't you ever wondered.

[Dache]

I remember reading an article once a few months ago about two rival Counterstrike clans in the US. They got into a fight in an internet cafe, and they'd brought along guns. Someone recalled a few of them strafing. These included the ones that died.

In conclusion: no.

[JRMacumber]

Greetings Starfighter. You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the frontier from Xur and the Ko-Dan Armada.

[Zed]

I've been practicing with Microsoft's Flightsim flying 747's around the world's major cities and buildings so i can^H^H^H... aww crap, does this website log IPs?

[Olympichero]

I think something like that is feasible, gaming skills do transfer into real life (As shown by those tests done, reflex etc, quite recently).

Personally I do think a gamer will be better in a gun situation then a non-gamer with no previous experience, a gamer will learn to look for places they could hide, they would be more alert to their enemies and would be able to react faster. However I dont think these skills will transfer to real life from a driving game with a wheel.

Simulators DO help you learn to react in real life situations, however they cant create the same atmosphere (One mistake and your dead) or encapsulate the fear element that the real life situations have.

So to answer your question: Maybe but leaning towards probably not.

[vic_viper]

Greetings Starfighter. You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the frontier from Xur and the Ko-Dan Armada.

A quote from one of my favorite films when i was a youngster. I remember being bought the VHS tape when it came out at Christmas and watching it at least 4 or 5 times over Christmas and boxing day. I'm gonna have a look now and see if i can pick it up on DVD.

EDIT - Its The Last Starfighter for anyone who doesn't already know.

[SharkAttack]

Someone recalled a few of them strafing. These included the ones that died.
.

That shouldn't be funny but it is!

[ZeroRisk]

I definitely think that some games are purely based on reflexes and that they would help you a bit if you had to transfer the skills learned in the game to real life.

Ghost recon would help you be sneaky and getting into good hiding places to take out the enemy. It also includes the '1 shot and your dead' feeling so you learn to be more stealthy and get in the best spot to take out multiple enemies without being seen.

House of the Dead 2 has to improve your abilities at firing a gun. Sure, in real situations you don't get un-dead zombies running at you in a linear fashion, but you still have to have good reflexes and eye to hand co-ordination.

Ace Combat 4, now I'm not going to say that by playing the game you really could fly an F16 tomcat, but the principle is the same. Doing a barrel roll to shake an enemy off your tail whilst targeting and destroying the enemy in front is something that some people can't do. When I first got the game a few of my mates came over. Some couldn't watch as it made them feel ill, (I remember a topic in this forum about motion-sickness in some games.), and some played it and didn't know which way up they were.

Dunno about Gran Turismo though. If I drove like I did in that game, I wouldn't have much of a car left!

Good topic! Keep em coming!

[Popo]

What if some punk challenges you to a dance-off in the disco one night? All those weeks spent on DDR suddenly come to use - now there's a situation where you'd be heralded as some sort of heroic figure

[Spacecowboy]

With regard to racing games, like GT and F355, they are able to atleast teach you the basic principles of racing lines, and overtaking moves etc But probably not much else.

[Wools]

What if some punk challenges you to a dance-off in the disco one night? All those weeks spent on DDR suddenly come to use - now there's a situation where you'd be heralded as some sort of heroic figure

If only I would be challanged to a real life maracca dance off.

Who needs fancy be-boping dance moves? I'll maracca their ass.