What real life applications have you learned from games?

[Torrasque]

I'm not talking about improved reflexes from quick time events, or a fear of dark areas from horror games.
I mean stuff like:
- Gaining an appreciation for Tennis, and learning all the technical aspects for Tennis, from Mario Tennis
- Becoming a better driver from Project Gotham Racing (or any other driving game)
- Learning a fighting style from a fighting game

For me:
I know how to play real Tennis and am even pretty good at it, simply from playing Mario Tennis on GBA. In high school, my teacher was surprised and thought I was taking real lessons when I was serving properly in the first class, when everyone else was "how I hold racket?"
I have played Liars Dice with my friends for actual money, and played it at parties several times. I am $30 richer from this past weekend's winnings

If you cannot think of any skills a game has taught you, go ahead and post something that a game has given you appreciation for (like an appreciation for Tennis)

 

[SovietSecrets]

Better reaction time/reflexes and an appreciation for history is all I can think of right now.

 

[MasterOfWorlds]

I've learned that explosions in small places are awesome, no scoping is hard to do unless either A) really lucky or B) tons of practice, avoid the red/green mist, pitfalls, spike traps, and anything that might otherwise look like it'll kill you, never shoot the red containers, and always, ALWAYS have a backup weapon.

...I'm actually being serious. XD

In more seriousness though, I've learned a lot about battles and whatnot in WWII that I didn't know before, and that sometimes sniping in games can be as much of a pain in the ass as sniping IRL if the game makes the scope wobble on you.

 

[Souplex]

How to make thermite.

 

[PatSilverFox]

I learned that you can resell the same damn thing (game) 10,000 times over as long as you have a fan base.
I'm watching you nintendo...

 

[kane.malakos]

Poker Night at the Inventory taught me a lot about poker, and made me appreciate it a lot more.

 

[Lectori Salutem]

English, I think games really helped me in learning it.
(As well as good education and the internet, but let's not mind those for a minute)

 

[Dr. Pepper Unlimited]

Computers - I grew up with a Packard Bell relic, back in the days of Mario Teaches Typing and classy games like Oregon Trail for entertainment. As technology got more sophisticated and I learned more about computers, I began to teach myself how it all worked. As I encountered errors, or needed to upgrade components to run more complex and resource-dependent games, I taught myself about all the pieces and components that make computers tick. Any PC gamer will tell you that we run into a whole slue of errors and they always seem to be something new. Knowing what those errors are and how to fix them on your own is a handy tool to have.

To this day, I have PC games to thank for the fact that I can fix, build and understand computer technology, hook up networking systems and set up most any household entertainment systems. I've learned a great deal just from playing video games and the real world knowledge from those experiences have been utterly invaluable. It still astonishes me when I hear people complain about how video games aren't beneficial. With the right applications, they can teach a wealth of knowledge.

 

[SomethingUnrelated]

Red Dead Redemption taught me how to play Poker. Beyond that, I can't think of anything, other than the classic 'better reflexes' answer.

EDIT: The guy above me actually reminded me; buying Oblivion for PC taught me a hell of a lot about how to properly use a computer. Before that, I wasn't really computer-literate, but the research and stuff I did leading up to and after the purchase taught me a lot.

 

[Link XL1]

basically i learned all the video game cliches (red barrels explode, etc)

more seriously though, i learned how to play darts from GTA4. as well as some of the finer points to various gambling games that appeared as mini games in many video games.

sort of different from your question, years after playing Wind Waker, i learned how to sail (for a reason completely unrelated to the game). obviously, sailing in the game is nowhere near sailing in real life, but i makes me if the dev team even tried to learn the skill in real life

 

[GroovyV]

Thanks to Persona 3 (all 3 versions), I've learned different facts related to several different subjects, (since going to school there, you're guaranteed to get asked questions).
And thanks to Persona 4, (and the trial and error system) how to prepare several Japanese dishes.

 

[PowerC]

When someone punches me, I can eat food I found on the ground and feel much better!

 

[drbarno]

faster typing thanks to MMORPG's like Runescape (the only one I've played for more than a week)

 

[Arqus_Zed]

Shadow Hearts: Covenant learned me all the 72 demons of the Goetia of the Lesser Key Of Solomon, which I used as a basis for a card game I made as an entry exam for a Digital Arts & Entertainment school I am now attending. I also picked up some stuff about WW I, the Russian alphabet and geography.

And I just know rhythm games like Frequency and Amplitude help me train my reactionary skills.

And not from a particular game, but... All the awesome artwork you see in games got me grabbing for a pencil myself.

Also, I once floored someone way back in high school with a move I'd picked up in Tekken. Which sounds INCREDIBLY nerdy now that I think about it.

 

[Torrasque]

faster typing thanks to MMORPG's like Runescape (the only one I've played for more than a week)

Oh man, I remember thinking I was a pretty fast typer back in Runescape days, but my speed then is NOTHING like it is now, which is thanks to WoW. And not even the "c u l8r" kind of crap, but real grammatical correct (mostly) typing.

And not from a particular game, but... All the awesome artwork you see in games got me grabbing for a pencil myself.

Also, I once floored someone way back in high school with a move I'd picked up in Tekken. Which sounds INCREDIBLY nerdy now that I think about it.

Yeah, I've found myself itching for a pencil too.
lol, Street Fighter has helped me in dodge ball and other games...
I accidentally Shoryuken'd a dodge ball.

 

[SlyRsz]

I learnt how to run because of QWOP

 

[Zaverexus]

I learned that you can resell the same @#!*% thing (game) 10,000 times over as long as you have a fan base.
I'm watching you nintendo...

I would say the same thing for all those stupid war games

 

[Dags90]

Playing WoW for several years seriously upgraded my ability to do math, particularly fractions and decimals in my head. I also learned a fair amount of obscure nouns.

I also did the find-and-peck style of typing before I started playing PC games.

 

[BioHazardMan]

Bioshock introduced me to philosophy, I have now found my undiscovered passion!

 

[Flac00]

Well, the Civilopedia in Civilization 4 has taught me a whole lot of history. And a lot of orchestral music I am now familiar with because of that game. I can "surprise" people on how "well mannered" I am by knowing the exact notes to Bach's cello suite no.1.