What are the benefits of playing video games?

[juschep]

Hey fellow gamers!

As you may all know, video games are often discussed in terms of their negative effects on players. However, I belief that games also have many benefits and can be truly amazing. In a scientific project at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media (Germany) we are currently investigating the positive effects of gaming. And we need your help!

Have you ever played a video game and felt like what was happening on screen was truly awe-inspiring? Have you ever been amazed by something vast while playing a video game, something that stood out of your typical gaming experience?
Then please help us with our scientific mission and take 15 minutes of your time to fill out this questionnaire. You even have the chance of winning one of 20 Amazon vouchers worth $20 each!

ww3.unipark.de/uc/awe/

The survey is part of a non-commercial, scientific project at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media (Germany) and we take our research seriously: All of your details will be treated anonymously as well as confidentially and are used for scientific purposes only.

Thank you for participating!
Jule

[Exhuminator]

One of the most interesting gaming surveys I have taken in a long time. Thanks for bringing it to our forum. I hope you share the results here when they are aggregated.

[Anapan]

Jhonen wouldn't lie - he tells it like it is.
I'm in - I'll do the thing.

[Erik_Twice]

Ok, I've done the test, hope it's useful.

It seems to me, though, that the questionare lead the answers a bit too much, as if it wanted a certain kind of results. I felt it presumed I have to feel awe on a regular basis, but I think that's a pretty rare sentiment no matter the media.

I also had to compensate a bit by the end, when it asked about how much time I spent playing video games during weekends. Strictly speaking, yes, I do play less video games during the weekend but the main reason is that I play boardgames with my friends intead Hence I felt that saying I played less was misleading.

[Anapan]

No response means it should be buried, but I'm curious as to which board games are better than awe-inspiring video games for weekend get togethers.
Do we have a topic for this in the general gaming forum already?

[ElkinFencer10]

I just took the survey majiger.

[akeley]

I did it out of curiosity, but wouldn`t call it really scientific. It`s an okay-level school project, but as mentioned above, bit too leading and concentrating on one aspect - "awe". It`s also biased from the get-go, never a good thing in science.

To be honest I love videogames to bits but don`t feel "awed" by them too often (even when I was younger) - at least not on an earth-shattering, nigh-on religious level as the questionnaire implies.

I also don`t think we`ll see any proper scientific study regarding effects this hobby has on people any time soon. We`re just not ready to test such uber-complex subjects that affect mind and psyche properly.

[Metal Jesus]

I think the answer to this question could be similar to the benefits of reading books... or watching a good movie... It's entertainment that can be anything you want it to be: knowledgable... thought provoking... or just plain escapism from the real world. The difference being the ability to actually contribute to the story and onscreen action. That's what makes video games so powerful.