gaming

Are Video Games Teaching Us To Drive Better?

Every day we come face to face with one of the world’s leading causes of death: our car. Nearly 3,287 people die each day due to car accidents. Even in non-fatal accidents, consequences can include sever injuries, extended medical treatment or surgical needs, long-term care, dealing with the insurance and medical bills, impact on employment, and – of course- the cost of repairing or replacing the car.

With this in mind, it is no wonder that scientists today are studying ways to improve driving skills. Recent studies have shown that driver’s education may not be the only way to help drivers improve their road skills. There is evidence that the virtual world helps us develop skills for the real world, like those used for safe and successful driving.

 

Thinking Quick on Your Feet

gaming

Video games help players to make the right decisions faster. One study showed that those who play fast paced video games answered questions and made accurate decisions 25% faster than those playing slower paced games. This is significant because gamers evolve to decrease their reaction times but don’t decrease in accuracy. This feat is extremely advantageous as drivers not only have to react quickly but also maintain accuracy to avoid getting in car accidents.

 

Helping Drivers Watch Out!

Various observational skills may be acquired through video games. Another study found that after hours of gaming, novice drivers developed visual search techniques that helped them to scan for hazards while driving. Playing video games leads to marked improvement between visual information and motor control. In other words, as the player sees hazards in a game, they are able to react quickly and appropriately to visual cues. For example, as a projectile rockets towards them, players are required to react quickly to avoid the hazard. This skill is easily translated to driving as motorists avoid objects in the street, pedestrians, and potential oncoming vehicles on a daily basis.

 

What about Non-Driving Games?

Interestingly, studies found that both driving related and action games invoked development of the aforementioned skills. Action games were linked specifically to the player’s ability to avoid distractions and make quick decisions. Driving games were linked to lane precision and motor control. However, each game serves a different purpose depending on the audience. Novice drivers learn better from driving games because they are able to develop skills related to maintaining control of a vehicle. Experienced drivers, however, improved in their ability to predict “input error signals” through FPS games.

 

So whether you are a pro or a noob, video games may hold the key to making you a better driver and the roads safer. Play a game, save a life.

5 Addicting Simulators You Need to Try

Have you ever wondered what it’s like doing or being something you normally wouldn’t? Well, that’s what simulators are for. A simulator is a machine that projects a virtual reality with a set of controls that lets you do anything like flying a plane, maneuvering a ship, or even driving a garbage truck. Simulators can be played anywhere from places like an arcade or even at home on your computer.

“The Sims”

If you can’t have the perfect life and family in real life, then the Sims is just the simulator for you. You’ll spend hours upon hours making your Sim do things on the game you wouldn’t or couldn’t do in real life. The Sims is a life simulator where you make a family, build or buy them a home, set career goals, have a family, etc. The Sims is a way to escape the reality you’re in and jump into one that is the exact opposite. You’ll spend hours upon hours making your Sim do things on the game you wouldn’t or couldn’t do in real life. There are four installments of the “The Sims”; “Sims 1”, “Sims 2”, “Sims 3” and the latest version, “Sims 4“.

“American Truck Simulator”

Too afraid to drive the big-rigs in real life? “American Truck Simulator” can help with that. With this highly addictive simulator, you become a truck driver in hopes of making money and buying new trucks. That’s what this game is about.

As you drive down long highways, trying to deliver packages or getting to a designated area within a given time, you get to see what an everyday truck driver experiences. The game gives you the option to listen to live radio, add your own favorite channels and import MP3 tracks. You’d never expect truck driving to be so relaxing, but “American Truck Simulator” can be downright therapeutic.

“Zoo Tycoon”

Zoo Tycoon” is a perfect game for people who are business savvy. It’s not hard to become addicted to this simulator because of the fact there are animals to interact with. It focuses on building the perfect zoo.

Players have to create or expand one of the zoos by buying various types of animals, creating their ideal habitat, and hire capable staff to help run the zoo and maintain the animals. There are three modes to choose from such as scenario, challenge, and freestyle.

“Microsoft Flight Simulator X”

Flying a plane or a jet in real life is a very difficult thing to learn and master. Thankfully, Microsoft created the ideal simulator to help you fulfill your dream of being a pilot. As the name implies, “Flight Simulator X” is the tenth version of the well-known flight simulators.

There’s a standard version and deluxe version of this game. The standard version incorporates 18 planes, 28 cities, and more than 24,000 airports. The deluxe version is still the same game except with six more planes and 10 more cities. With the easy controls and breathtaking views this game has, you’ll be addicted in no time!

“Minecraft”

Minecraft” is an open-world, sandbox type of simulator. There are three modes in “Minecraft”: Survival, Creative and Hardcore. All of which you play as a character named Steve and create almost anything you want. You can farm, build houses, have a pet wolf, trade resources with villagers, go mining for coal and iron and even fight a dragon. You’ll find yourself playing this amazing open-world simulator for hours.
You can do anything in the real world and whatever you can’t do is what the simulator is for. Not only is it a source of entertainment, it’s also educational as you experience what it’s like being a pilot, business owner or even a truck driver. Playing simulators is a way find out more about the world as they are based off real life things.

How to Safely Transport Video Game Consoles

A lot of gamers worry about how to ensure it will arrive undamaged during a plane ride if the luggage is checked, and they are just as worried about damage if it is in the trunk of a car. If you are one of those game enthusiasts, it really is not a big deal, and there are additional steps to ensure your console stays snug, padded, sealed airtight and waterproof, and all of the methods involve something called a ‘rack case’. A rack case is a particular type of travel and storage case that can clip into mount racks or luggage railings so they don’t slide around and potentially damage precious electronics such as your brand-new Switch or vintage Genesis. Here are a few ideas on how to pack your console of choice:

Traveling on an Airplane

If you are traveling on an airplane, you have the choice of checking bags or bringing a reasonably sized bag on board as a carry on. The smart choice is to pack the most delicate and valuable item, which is probably the console, and opt for it to be the carry on. Place the console in the 4U size rack case. It should unless you have added crazy mods to the console because the case is only 7 inches in height and 9.5 inches in width. Finally, place rack case inside a normal looking carry-on bag barely large enough to hold it, and place items to pad and secure the rack case to make immovable. If you have to check it, you would still follow the directions above.

Traveling on the Road

Securing a console safely on the road is not going to be too much different than traveling on a plane. You want to pack it the same way using a rack case inside a slightly larger, padded bag. Depending on the amount of luggage and vehicle, securing the console bag is the most important thing. The bag needs to stay stationary. You can rope it down or use other bags to keep it in one spot.

Common sense and the durable, protective hard case are the keys to keeping whichever console you are traveling with undamaged. The combination of the case and making sure the luggage it is in barely contains it is key. It will allow you to nestle the bag to prevent jostling or any major impact on the console to ensure you can have fun gaming wherever your destination might be.

5 Pieces of Gaming Gear You Need Today

In the world of gaming, your experience is often determined by your equipment. If you’re looking for ways to stay current with gaming, then check out these 5 pieces of must-have gaming gear.

 

A Gaming Keyboard

For PC gamers, a run-of-the-mill keyboard isn’t going to cut it. Instead, look at specialized gaming keyboards with ultra-responsive and tactile keys. These will allow your character to react faster than with your average keyboard, and should easily help raise your kill count.

 

Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

Regardless of your preferred console, wireless earbuds are a must-have for any serious gamer. Things can get intense sometimes, and when you’re jerking your controller around during a fight, you shouldn’t have to worry about headphones being yanked out of your ears. As an added bonus, wireless Bluetooth headphones will usually have a remarkably clear sound quality, which can be a huge help in letting you feel immersed in your gaming experience.

 

Gaming Glasses

It’s no secret that playing hours of your favorite game can lead to eye trouble down the road, but you no longer have to choose between mastering your game or having 20/20 vision. New, specialized gaming eyewear is designed to simultaneously reduce strain on your eyes while eliminating glare. This means that you’ll be able to play at any time of day, and for as long as you want without worrying about the health of your eyes. It’s important that you keep your glasses clean and clear for optimal vision, so invest in a specialized, non-toxic, non-scratching glass cleaner. You might want to try Melaleuca Clear Power, which does a better job than store brand glass cleaners according to online Melaleuca reviews left by customers.

 

Upgraded Mouse

For PC gamers, it’s all about how quickly you can react to what’s happening on the screen. Having good reaction time is a good place to start, but that can only take you so far. If you’re looking to take your gaming to the next level, invest in a gaming mouse with programmable buttons and a high-speed scrolling wheel. Otherwise, you’ll waste precious seconds scrambling to find buttons on your keyboard, which can often mean the difference between winning and losing.

 

Footboards

Anyone who played video games in the early 2000s already knows that, historically, footboards have been underwhelming. Thanks to new technology, though, footboards can now be an excellent tool to up your game. Simply program in-game actions to your footboard, and you instantly free up your hands to perform different functions.

 

Game On

Gaming is only going to get more competitive, which means you’ll need the latest gear to keep up. Use these 5 gaming tools to make sure you’re staying at the top of your game.

The Truth About Video Games and Violence

It has long been thought that violent media exposure can lead people to commit violent acts. In fact, this it is not unheard of for a criminal defense attorney to include exposure to fictional violence – such as that seen in video games – in defense of a client. The belief that fictional violence is a corruptive force goes back to the Victorian Era when penny dreadful and explicit dime novels caused an outcry from the church, moral and government authorities, and many in the literary world.

 

The Case Against Exposure in Young Children

In the 1960’s, Stanford University psychologist Albert Bandura conducted experiments designed to test the connection between exposure to violence and aggression. In his experiments, young children were given a variety of toys to play with including non-aggressive options such as crayons and blocks and more aggressive items such as toy guns and punching bags. He found that children exposed to adults behaving aggressively with toys behaved more aggressively whether or not the aggression took place in person or via media. The shortcoming of this study, however, was that it failed to show a strong link between play violence and real-life violence.

 

Research Continues

This shortcoming, however, did nothing to dispel the belief that video game violence can cause real world violence, and several high-profile cases – including Columbine in 1999 – renewed the debate. In 2015, The American Psychological Association released a study noting that routine exposure to video game violence affects behavior and the ability to empathize with others to varying degrees. This, of course, depends on the child and his or her coping abilities in different situations.

That is not to say, however, that everyone who plays violent video games will commit criminal acts. It should also be noted that those who do not commit criminal acts may still suffer ill effects from violent video games. In fact, the effects of exposure may be seen in relationships instead. A child may exhibit verbal aggression or inability to cope well with frustration. In fact, emerging research suggests that whatever tenuous link exists between violence and video games might have nothing at all to do with how violent or non-violent the content is, but more to do with how frustrated the player becomes during gameplay. Who hasn’t thrown a controller after losing to M. Bison or the Water Temple for the umpteenth time? These findings would be more consistent with anecdotal evidence such as the nation of Japan, which has one of the lowest crime rates among developed nations despite being the undisputed epicenter of violent, pornographic media.

 

In response to the long-standing belief that exposure to fictional violence has a negative impact on children, many states now have laws on the books requiring someone over the age of 18 to buy violent video games, and parents are encouraged by lawmakers and psychologists to consider long-term effects when approving video games for kids.

 

References

Scientific American

Psychology Today

Houston Criminal Defense Attorney

University of Rochester

Civitas Crime

Internet Stardom: How Do You Know When You’re Famous?

There is a major shift going on in the culture of the entire world right now. Kids do not watch TV – they watch Youtube. Many like to watch people play video games rather than play the games themselves.

If you might be, or you want to be internet famous, how do you know? One of the most popular people on Youtube is Pewdiepie. He gets flow in in to America to appear on Jimmy Kimmel and other mainstream TV shows. Increasingly, the internet is creating celebrities and pushing TV and movie stars aside.

How do you know if you are internet famous?

 

1. You Have a Lot of Subscribers

pewdiepie

Whether streaming on Twitch, making videos on Youtube or chronicling your life on Instagram, once you have a certain number of loyal viewers, you’re in. You will know you are a big deal if Youtube starts featuring you on the front page or if they invite you to use their facility in California to make videos and hone your craft. With Twitch, once you are featured on the front page, you’re big. The donations will fly in and your chat room will explode.

 

2. You Will be Invited to Conventions

All year long there are conventions for video games, streams, you name it. TwitchCon gets bigger every year. League of Legends finals are shown in a stadium. Stars like ProJared go to a few cons each month. Commander Holly has appeared at cons in Australia. Your travel and hotel expenses are paid for and you can sell merchandise while meeting fans.

 

3. You will be Invited to do Crossovers

When other internet celebrities contact you to team up on a project, you are big time. This has happened from the early days of Youtube with the Angry Video Game Nerd and the Nostalgia Critic. It happens regularly today and is part of reaching thousands of new viewers who will probably like you. Remember to return the favor when you find an up and comer that you like.

 

4. You are Mentioned on “Drama Shows”

There are shows run by personalities that actually focus on internet celebrities and keep up with what they are doing. Some of these shows are quite toxic and off-putting, like Keemstar. Others are more measured and mature. If you are mentioned on these shows, you are on the radar.

 

5. Someone Made a Wikipedia Page of You

wikipedia

In this day and age, having someone you don’t know take the time to research and create your wikipedia page is quite an honor. You have fans who care enough that they are helping to promote you unsolicited. Remember that wikipedia reputation management is very important. Trolls like to leave a little comment in them if they can. Some wikipedia entries are inaccurate or incomplete. You can touch it up when you like and there is a system in place to handle 4chan and other trolls.

 

6. You are a Meme

meme

Memes come and go, sometimes in the span of a few days. If you see people on the internet reference you in some way as a touchstone in a conversation, you are internet famous. When people online can refer to you as a reference point that everyone instantly recognizes and understands, you have broken through. When people use your catchphrases or sayings as their signature or to make someone else laugh, that means you are a part of someone’s life. They identify with you.

 

Internet stardom isn’t for everyone. Achieving this kind of fame requires a weird combination of tenacity, ingenuity, and charisma. But the internet age has made it possible to reach a wider audience with even less of a start. If you aspire to digital greatness, begin by creating high-quality, valuable content and putting yourself out here. These benchmarks can be yours with enough time, effort, and luck.

GODSANDHEROES

Rome Rising is a mature, full-scale, action-adventure, massively multiplayer online role-playing game that immerses the audience in Roman mythology.

Players strap on gladiator armor, lay waste to monsters and command minions while seeking favor from the gods.

Contact

2991 Sandy Avenue,
Costa Mesa
CA 92626.

Gallery