Most of the advice you’ll find on games is going to be of the ‘is gaming good or bad’ type. The better question to be asking is which game and for how long.
When you think of gaming in general, especially mobile and online gaming, you see it as a complete waste of time. That’s not quite right, actually. It really depends on the type of game you’re playing and where you’re using your brain. In problem-solving games (the casual games), you are, in fact, using your brain. In other games, you’re not. In many a household, you’ll hear parents telling their kids, ‘Don’t waste your time on games, concentrate on your studies, ‘ etc. All very well, but it’s not necessarily true. If the parents can guide their kids properly and allow them to play the right type of games (sharp-mind games), then that will enhance their ability to solve problems and improve their presence of mind. It’s all about how you’re going to shape your child’s future. There are literally thousands of games on the market that can help improve your brainpower. Again, it’s all down to the right kind of control.
Here’s that idea in a version with all the hype stripped away.
Not every game that holds your attention is training you
A game will train you in whatever it asks of you. A tap-and-wait game will train you in patience and quick thumbs. A strategy game will train you in planning, in considering two or three options, and in living with the result of your choice.
Research into whether game skills transfer to school/work is pretty mixed, so be very wary of any app that’s going to give you a guaranteed memory boost. The only thing you can fairly expect from a good strategy game is that you’ll have had some practice in planning, sequencing, and staying calm as you make your decisions. That’s all very useful, it’s just not magic.
Five things to check before you install anything
- It makes you think several moves ahead.
- Progress comes from your decisions, not from waiting or from paying.
- A session can just as easily end cleanly in the space of 15 to 20 minutes.
- You can play with friends or go head-to-head and compare scores, all without any real money on the line.
- It doesn’t use countdown timers to get you to buy.
If it fails two or more of those, then it’s built to get you tapping rather than thinking.
Set the limit before you open the app
Set the window first as “one more turn” (never ends by itself).
When I start playing some casual games to build awareness and increase my knowledge, I gradually find myself getting addicted and playing for long periods (5 to 10 hours). At that point, I do come to the realization that I need to put a time limit on myself, and the time limit option is available on both Android and iPhone. I’ve set my time limit to a minimum of one hour and a maximum of one hour, as I am also a part-time developer and have other things to get on with in life. It’s not advisable to go in and play games all day while completely ignoring your family and friends who are out playing their own games. There’s a good and a bad side to every aspect of life, so you have to be very careful. Gaming is part of life; it just has to be played with control.
Whatever number you end up with, use a phone timer to enforce it. A limit that’s just in your head is going to be negotiated away.
What a bad version of this routine looks like
A bad version is three hours of play to get away from a grueling workday; meals are skipped, you sleep in, and all the spending is just to get through the time. A good version is one fairly short session in between the tasks, a clear finish line, and then back to work.
Think of it as the car’s radiator, really. It cools the engine as the car is running, but in no way at all replaces the rest stop. A short game can be a very good way of taking the edge off work tension for a while. It’s a break, not a treatment. If the low mood or anxiety is going to continue, then you need to see a doctor or a counselor.
Make it social, with an end date
Playing with friends is far more effective if you have a target in mind (e.g., a certain number of points, a certain level) and a finish line (e.g., the end of the week). You need a target to give you a reason to stop as well as a reason to play. It also ensures it’s a social game rather than a solo game.
Money-earning games: weigh the trade-off first
I recently came across DM’s first game, which was pitched as a way to make money. I’m not recommending it or any similar game. Any game where real money comes in and out has two possible outcomes: you either make a profit or you lose. The loss is the one that comes without any warning at all.
Before you put in any money, check:
- What’s the entry fee, and can you actually take it out?
- Who runs it? Can you identify a company name and address?
- What do the players say on the official site?
- Could you afford to lose the entire sum?
Real-money games are either restricted or completely banned in some jurisdictions, so check your local rules before you play. Set your loss limit prior to your first deposit and treat that money as money you’ve already spent.
My verdict
Play strategy games in short, planned sessions and keep the real money completely out of it.
I’ve played a fair number of games, actually, but I’m always looking for a strategic game that really uses your brain and makes you think about your next move. Clash of Clans from 10 years ago is a perfect example. It was a lovely village-builder type of game where you had to get your builders going, build up the village, and protect your army to protect your village. That’s just one example of the kind of casual strategy game I’m talking about. These are the games that actually use your brain, and they help sharpen your mental faculties and help you feel stress-free.
You should never be addicted to those games, and you certainly shouldn’t be playing them all day. They’re for a limited time, when you’ve got spare moments or want to get your mind off something. After I’d been playing those games to boost my brain power, I moved on to coding and now have a fully fledged business online doing a number of projects for various clients. I can honestly say, from the very bottom of my heart, that yes, I am powerful; I can do anything and achieve anything. I have the confidence, and that’s what you can easily attain.
Whatever game you choose, treat it as a tool that you pick up and put down. Don’t treat it as a place you live.
