Video games are more than justan entertaining time sink.
Take them online and they can even teach us a few things about how to interact with other people.
Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned from online games about dealing with people in real life.
Dozens, in fact.
Or at leasthow to find out.
Occasionally, there aresecondary objectives, but for the most part, it’s very straightforward.
Despite being an exercise in rote key stroking, it’s still possible to fail.
Not because people can’t push buttons fast enough or because they need to practice their aim.
Of course, we don’t always know exactly what that goal is.
Some people spend years or decades trying to figure outwhat to do with their lives.
Unfortunately, that’s an entirely separate problem.
you might do great work with an average team if you’re all on the same page.
That’s not to say the people you surround yourself with don’t matterfar from it.
I’ve been on a lot of teams before.
The best ones are where we all have a goal in mind and know exactly what it is.
The worst ones are where we’re best friends with no idea what to pursue.
Put them in a room together and tell them they have to complete a time-sensitive objective.
Would you expect this to go very well?
Most people wouldn’t.
Except that’s exactly what games like Team Fortress 2 demand.
Of course, everyone knows what the trick is.
Team Fortress 2 hasclearly defined rolesfor each character.
If you’re a Heavy, you’re going to shoot stuff and take damage.
If you’re a Medic, you’re going to heal people and backup Heavies.
If you’re a Pyro, you’re going to burn the crap out of stuff and laugh maniacally.
Paralysis grips the room and no one has any idea how to go forward.
It’s the reason we have such a hard time having meetings thataren’t a complete waste of time.
If your group isn’t seeing movement towards your goal, start giving people specific things to do.
Break down the goal intoits smallest parts.
Assign each task to a specific person and let them know what’s expected of them.
You Don’t Always Have to Ask Permission to Help Out
“Excuse me, sir.
It seems that someone is pointing a sniper rifle at your head.
Would you like me to return fire?”
When decisions are being made in split-second increments, there’s no time left to ask for permission.
The terrible irony is, in real life we feel like we’ve got loads of time.
Time to wait for someone to ask us to help.
Time to wait for someone to come along and give us the step-by-step instructions to follow for success.
(And in the meantime, why not play video games and goof off?)
When you’re in a group, it’s natural to feel hesitant about stepping up and doing something.
Video games often don’t give that luxury.
If you’re waiting for something to happen at your job, take the initiative and start asking questions.
Don’t worry about wasting effort.
And in the meantime, you’re practicingand living your own life.
So, why not take the time to teach them?
Timing is everything when you’re flinging yourself into space.
While some other games may simply say “Go!”
and throw you into a war zone, Portal 2 demands that you plan things out.
Don’t expect someone to know what you plan to do.
Don’t barrel through with a plan hoping people will keep up.
Talk about it first.
Assumptions like this can ruin an otherwise smoothly functioning group.
Ask the people you’re working with if they understand what they’re doing.
If you’re arguing with someone, establish asteel man argumentto clear up miscommunication before proceeding.
The best time to deal with communication problems is sooner rather than later.
So many hours were spent playing the original and Brood War levels over and over again.
How could everything I knew be so wrong?
It’s natural to want to bethe best person in the room.
The trouble is, if you stay in that room, you’ll never really challenge yourself.
I was just good at single-player games on a difficult level that matched my skill.
This is a cycle that never ends, but it can’t ever mean defeat.
From then on, you’ll be 111th (or whatever) and never climb higher.
What we don’t say as often, though, is that even success is only partial.
Even when you win, there’s still someone else who has won even more than you.
Their success, however, doesn’t mean anything about your current situation.
