BBC Mention Total War

**Ashen** · 09-07-2009, 11:16

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...al/8241348.stm

Apparently, a good dose of Total War now and then really DOES improve your memory and mental abilities. Fancy that. GCSE Genocide and Warmongering.

**Beefy187** · 09-07-2009, 12:00

Huzzah! Now I can brag to my mum that I'm actually studying when playing EB.
It's good for history too

**KukriKhan** · 09-07-2009, 13:09

Originally Posted by BBC

Video games that involve planning and strategy, such as those from the Total War series, may also train working memory, Dr Alloway believes.

"I'm not saying they're good for your socialisation skills, but they do make you use your working memory," she said.

"You're keeping track of past actions and mapping the actions you're going to take."

Heh. Author has obviously never visited the Org Frontroom.

**pevergreen** · 09-07-2009, 23:15

Or the backroom. Heh.

**Ashen** · 09-08-2009, 11:19

Off topic a little here but Pevergreen m8 - The quote in your sig - Just moved in with my gf of a year and a half and my parents are already asking me if my mum needs a new hat. Disturbing.

Back on topic, I'm currently installing M2TW in work. Should be fun ;)

**pevergreen** · 09-08-2009, 13:05

Originally Posted by Ashen

Off topic a little here but Pevergreen m8 - The quote in your sig - Just moved in with my gf of a year and a half and my parents are already asking me if my mum needs a new hat. Disturbing

I put it in there because in Australian culture it means absolutely nothing and is hilarious.

People seen together? BETTER GET A NEW HAT!

That makes absolutely no sense to me. It was explained though, and I understand. But I still think its hilarious.

**miotas** · 09-08-2009, 13:50

What's this hat buisness all about?

I was gonna say something about total war but it's completely slipped my mind...

**Martok** · 09-08-2009, 22:22

Heh. So that's why I have such a good memory for ~~useless trivia~~ information.

**Ashen** · 09-09-2009, 18:36

I'm going to tell my parents that I (a now 26 year old man) passed my degree thanks to "That damned game with the horses and cannons" I kept playing as an 18 year old. Might throw in some of the blame on counter-strike (or "Fire in the hole" as the complaints about noise called it) for good measure.

**Aemilius Paulus** · 09-10-2009, 03:36

Originally Posted by Ashen

Apparently, a good dose of Total War now and then really DOES improve your memory and mental abilities. Fancy that. GCSE Genocide and Warmongering.

Is that not what they say about every game? If it is FPS, then it improve a crapload of reflex-related things. If it is more "intellectual" then it improves memory. This seems to be the current trend - rationalising how all the vices actually have some benefits. Which inevitably brings my mind to that "Way Gossip is Good" article in Psychology Today. Or why chocolate is good. Or alcohol. Or coffee. Or...

Games may improve our school/Uni grades by 1 point due to memory and then bring down by 20 points due to slacking and inattentiveness...