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From: moviebob
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  • Videogames are how I got good at reading at a young age

  • Creepypasta ref at 7:16

  • I had a 12.9 reading level (the highest you can get) in elementary school, and it was wholly the product of video games.

  • God i remember my little cousin had the VTECH system i had to play it with him it sucked balls.

  • @sananz

    YES! Why did no one else see that!?

  • A lot of this is true. My friend didn't read ever but loved Assassin's Creed. Then they released Assassin's Creed books and he reads books properly now.

  • Ghostbusters: The Video Game. 'Nuff Said.

  • @carnyzzle plus, I don't even think parents KNOW what the ESRB is for, there are too damn many 12 yr old kids playing Call of Duty on Xbox Live -.-

  • Just like video games, music, food, drinks, sports, etc. are good in moderation and some are made for specific age groups!

  • @U9B it's an EXTREME example to proove his point. He's not saying it's a good game for kids, he's just saying that you need a certain level of intelligence to play ANY video game.

  • loved it. I improved my reading because of Zelda. It was a lot easier for my mom to get me to read by playing Zelda rather them have me read a book. She would tell me to read the text to learn the game rather then read it to me.

  • @Wilber7

    You are aware that I did see the whole video right? It's still a shitty prospective and stance to defend, let alone dubious. Try not assuming or taking people literally next time before disputing it.

  • The minute you tried to justify grand theft auto as educational is the minute I stopped the video. Don't quit your day job, please.

  • @U9B this and film reviews on the escapist are his day job

  • @KammikazeLemming

    Damn, that's sad. He should just quit.

  • well bob. you are pretty pudgy yourself

  • Did anybody show this to any parents?

  • my cousin litterally sits in the basement playing call of duty 12 hours a day

  • Man, I wish this video was around when I was younger. Maybe my mom wouldn't have tried to keep me from playing Final Fantasy VII so much.

  • @Megido

    Your mom tried to keep you from playing FF VII? what kind of parent is she!?

  • @ChimeraTheChimera Apparently the worst kind! D8

  • Did anyone else watch this and imagine the fire to be talking the whole time?

  • @SinanZee Yes

  • I enjoyed cars, it was weakest pixar film but it wasn't bad

  • Great ep. Would love to see this revisited in the future with more attention to the recent boom of gimmicky and less-gimmicky peripherals.

  • yeeeaaass finely u can put my thoughts into words!!!! at last we have someone who might be able to translate for us

  • I know of one "educational" game which I enjoyed as a kid, Crystal Rainforest on the Acorn Archimedes.

  • Where was Moviebob when I was a growing young gamer? My parents needed to see this video, but it didn't come out until after I turned 18 and my parents began to trust my judgment or I could just buy whatever I wanted on my own.

  • I never thought that GTA could teach me...all this time I was honing some skills...now that I think about it my map reading skills have improved....^_^

  • a starman?!!!? best tree topper ever

  • Something I've wanted to get off my mind:

    YOUR TASTE IN MOVIES/SHOWS SUCKS.

    Cars is a decent movie, Transformers the 1980's animated series SUCKS. Batman The Dark Knight SUCKS, SatAM Sonic SUCKS

    JESUS.

  • @erik4727 Congratulations on divining the cosmic nature of the universe to such a degree as to make your opinions into fact. Remind me to check if any perception I come up with in the near future is not in line with yours so I can change it to reflect the correct viewpoint.

    IMO, Cars was total fail and G1 Transformers was so bad it was awesome.

  • @TheEvilCheesecake ok. Cars was decent, get your head out of your ass. G1 Transformers blew. my. left. nut.

  • @erik4727 You're still doing it.

  • Comment removed

  • very good job in this video.Video games are educational especially those that take you to different parts of our world like different continents or different periods in history.

  • @phillyman26 And also, Pokemon RULES....well at least DID at one point

  • @erik4727 yea pokemon was kool at one point lol

  • So awesome...immediately showing to my non gaming friends. Atleast the one's who have children.

  • I agree/disagree about the movie games thing. I've had a childhood of being disapointed by movie games but after seeing Toy Story 3 I felt the need to thank Pixar by whoring out more money on their products so I got the Toy Story 3 Video Game and while the story mode only has a few levels with replay value the "Toy Box Mode" which is basicly a Sims type game with a lot of exploration, customisation, platforming and combat has had me hooked for hours.

  • @JacobTails123 he did say there was exceptions

  • look at the legend of zelda series for educational value, the entire game is narrative where some of the conversations last quite a few minutes and some of the puzzles get very diffuclt i.e. the water temple from ocarina of time, I remember that one temple took me 3 days to complete

  • @smitty1231 Your right about Zelda. A Link To The Past helped me learn to read in a small way. Some of the Pokemon games helped too. And Turok 2 (of all games) made me think outside of the box (unintentionally), rather than run and gun (like I was supposed to do) I would try to sneak through levels in order to get the jump on my enemies.

  • The reason I'm a drummer is because I played sonic the hedgehog on dreamcast every time I got. Amusing and developmental, which is not an ordinary combination before gaming. Hats off to you sir

  • fighting games: competitive social play ie. social skills, FPS: tactical thinking, convservation of resources (ammo), often narrative, RTS: tactical and strategic thinking, resource management, maths regarding unit stats, RPG: narrative, maths based battle, puzzle solving, map reading Platform: puzzle solving, fine motor skills, Stealth Games: tactical thinking, puzzle solving, patience (seriously!), risk assessment

  • The "every game is educational" quote is EPIC TRUTH!

    I've learned english (i'm brazilian so i''m naturally portuguese-speaking) and improved my reading skills greatly by playing pokemon as a kid! Also i've improved my problem solving skills with zelda and my reflexes and eye-hand coordination with sonic!

  • Not all educational games are bad. The Oregon Trail was awesome.

  • @RadRetro

    i know, but it's like goldeneye 007 to movie games. it's rare

  • @PlaystationMasterPS3 In more ways then one... ZING!

    (RAREWARE if you didn't catch the reference)

  • If other parents are like mine they would've gotten confused after the word "pokemon".

  • @nintendofanboy31 Will you stop with the fucking trolling?

  • I have absolutely no doubt that a large portion of my reading abilities were derived from playing Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy IV. Would reading a book have been something better for my reading skills? Yes, but good luck getting most kids to read two or three hours a day. I read quite a bit, as well as playing video games, and Chrono Trigger wasn't worthless.

  • educational games: dwarf fortress, minecraft, myst, any RTS, most puzzle games

  • that was beautiful man

  • I kinda agree with the rating of Twilight Princess

    Ganon's got a pretty horrific scream when you run him through with your sword, and doesn't Zant, like pop?

  • i freakin love pokemon

  • I agree

    my math skills, reading, vocabulary and problem solving skills were all improved by games

  • Why did he put a picture of Quantum of solace on the screen that game was excelent

  • ...I'm never going to look at GTA the same way ever again.

  • I think the ESRB is too strict, but at least we don't ban games like Europe, Australia, and New Zealand do.

  • I had an experience like that when I got a GBA and 4 poor-quality games because the people giving them to me didn't know what a good video game was, though I didn't know of the good ones either. (Except for Pokemon.) But years later, I got Super Mario Advanced 4, Sonic Advance 3, and Pokemon Sapphire, and I just ordered Drill Dozer, and I'm having a lot more fun now. I love my Game Boy Advance. I would get a DS, but I'm cheap.

  • Scorpio R.I.P.

  • This video is truth. Video games, specifically RPGs and platformers, taught me a LOT. I basically learned to read almost entirely from reading Dr. Seuss and watching my brother play video games.

    Seriously, contrary to popular belief, slapping a loved character/silly gimmick onto an educational game is hardly going to make your kid learn much. It will just make them dread playing games, which is a very unfortunate thing indeed.

  • I'm from Brazil I learned English from Video Games.But that's another thing....

  • That's the best thing I've ever heard.

  • I love how you describe pokemon being maths

  • I'm proof that all games are educational. They're how i learned to read. Screw school.

  • Yeah i remember how the english language was forced to get into my brain thanks to things like the 3 ff games in the ps1, and later helping me to understand the overly complicated plots of games like the metal gear series or silent hill, and thanks to this achieving almost always an A+ in english class xD, BTW i`m from colombia and we use NTSC tvs so we can`t play spanish translated games because that ones just work on PAL tvs

  • the old tony hawk games actually some what tought me how to skate board. see video games brought a fat kid exercise.

  • amen!

  • send this shit to jack thompson and hillary clinton!

  • if you think about it, GTA4 can also teach you some russian, (or italian, cant remember which) if you willing to read the subtitles while they're speaking it

  • RPGs taught me to read excessively and improved my reading skills a lot more than most kids that didn't play games. = ]

  • LBP is a good educational game as it teaches patience, problem solving, and physics while encouraging imagination and creativity

  • Pokémon taught me a lot of English when I was a 7 year old Swedish boy :P

    Great episode, would have shown it to my parents if they wouldn't already have accepted video games. Hell, my step dad have played Battlefield 2 pretty much every day since 2005 xD

  • Another year, another happy holiday season, another lengthy period of time where I send this video to parents who need them

  • Yes!!! Some parents..like my Uncle and Aunt are soooo uninformed about video games.They basicly banned my 13 yr. old cousin from gaming his whole life for fear of him getting addicted and neglecting his school work.That is a load of crap. Meanwhile he is relegated to just vegetating in front of the Disney Channel in his free time.I feel sorry for the kid.

  • Aww, I feel bad for that kid. My Mom wouldn't let me have a gaming console when I was a kid (mostly due to the addictiveness and violence, according to her), and I've had to compensate over the past few years.

    Luckily, we did play adventure games. Not sure how many new adventure games are any good, but parents, they're problem-solving games, often with a non-violent narrative that you as a family can get through. Myst, King's Quest VI, Monkey Island, Syberia, etc. Just look for online reviews.

  • Hey Cars was awesome >=(

  • While the appropriate language caught me off guard, another excellent video!

  • The flames are talkin' to me maaaann!

  • Heh, and all us non-native English speakers have an obvious HUGE advantage in playing games. ^^ In fact, I pretty much resented English untill I happend to pick up Final Fantasy X.

  • @Ashadow700 advantage? hmm... I don't think so

  • No... that the game teaches us english... i thought that was, well, obvious

  • @Ashadow700 yeah, but it's not really an advantage

  • the fire is creepy...

  • wow, bob just stumbled apon your reviwews and i CANT STOP. theyre brill.

    its like the AVGN meets the Movie Preview Critic.

    very very very very wel thoughtout and well spoken. as well as entertaining.

    keep it upppppp FOREVER!?

  • Ocarina of Time taught me how to solve complex problems (damn water temple)

  • Ocarina of Time also increases your ability to tolerate something annoying that after saying "Hey!" "Hey!" *presses button* "Listen!" gives completely obvious/useless information: Navi

  • yea ive played it a few times and i always managed to get stuck in that temple

  • you are NOT ALONE.

  • @ hoptop77: both Sonic and Street Fighter solely rely on the percision and reaction time of the players. Wether its educational or not is your perception, but they do teach gamers of young ages how to use right attacks correctly.

  • AY. MEN. (amen) XD

  • Excellent Vid. Problem is most game devs these days eliminate the problem solving from games with their BS handholding...

  • 0:15!!! FunSpot again!!!!!!!!!

  • I agree to a point. However, although I may have learned a bit from problem solving games like Mario 64 back in the day, I would have learned much more if I would have spent the time reading, or solving harder problems. And on top of that, "problems" or "puzzles" in games today are nothing compared to those of the earlier games. Mario Galaxy was so much easier than Mario 64.

  • That depends. Parts of Mario Galaxy are harder than anything in Mario 64.

    Then again, parts are easier.

    On balance, getting to bowser is easier, but getting 121 stars... (yes, SMG has 121) Quite a lot harder...

  • And if you really want to get technical, SMG has 242 stars.

  • i have to agree, some video games do let u learn something, i.e. i was not aware that a fire extinguisher had the possibility to explode, learned this by killing myself via the fire extinguisher in f.e.a.r 2

  • The ending is very true - Any time I'm in a store and happen to have a gaming-related shirt on, I always get asked at least one question while in the electronics section. Hell, I've made more sells at the Wal-Mart here than probably most of the Electronics section staff overall. Gamers DO like helping people. We really do.

  • I know this is kind of irrelevant, but when I was younger I actually liked Math (A kid who actually liked math and was good at it too? Yeah, I'm surprised too.), My point is, I found after playing a Final Fantasy game, that I actually really enjoy Rpgs, I kind of liked the problem solving and the idea of getting "Exp. Points" to level up to get more Hit points/become stronger/etc. Of course I didn't play -just- rpgs obviously, but RPGs are now one of my many favourite Game Genres.

  • is street fighter educational?

    or sonic?

  • Probably. Sonic makes the players learn how to advoid from obstacles, and how to learn how to make the percise attack and jump. Sonic's all about the player watching the levels, and using the speed rightly to get through a stage. Play a Sonic game again, and you'll see.

    Street Fighter, probably not educational, but Street Fighter is about using the right attack at the right moments. When to land the perfect punch, or the perfect Hadouken.

  • @MaxlovesCartoons001 uhmm... sure...

  • yes, I've just re-read my comment lol, its a pretty nonsencial comment lol.

  • the cars movie rocks

  • this made me all cuddly inside

  • gta taught me not to take shit from hoes

  • mog1

  • I weep inside every time I'm in a game store and a kid begs their mother to buy them the latest shitty movie/cartoon tie-in game.

  • Take THAT Thomson.

  • way to sell out.

    na it was fine

  • I remember around the holdidays me and my cousin were in a gamestop just looking around and some body asked us what we thought of two movie liscensed game that she thought her kids would enjoy and we kindly pointed her ti a far better game i believe it was galaxy

  • From all the games I've played, I've learned how to solve puzzles, solve problems faster, improved my reflexes, improved my problem solving ability, teamwork, my ability to navigate through anything, my ability to drive pretty much every form of vehicles imaginable, my accuracy with various weapons, guns, & swords, my sense of rhythym, & my ability to focus.

    Did I mention my last IQ test I scored a 135?

  • I met a young mother at Blockbuster last week who thought ratings were about skill.

    I set her straight and it reminded me of this video.

  • I don't care what anyone says, video games are much more intuitive and require you to use your brain than Tv shows or movies. Honestly, I hate TV and movies because you just sit in front of a TV and listen to your mind scream for something to stimulate it. At least in games there's no commercials or advertisements unless the game is an advertisement, like the wall-e game.

  • Games taught me reading, writing and grammar. Now I know that "All your base are belong to us". Seriously though, believe it or not, games taught me general knowledge and math (to some extent). I started playing at three years of age, then as soon as I got to school, I was in the top class for everything. What does that tell you anti-gamers?

  • He's speaks the truth!

  • amazing. Bravo!

    I always wondered why video games are the poster child for laziness and decadence since they involved you a lot more than TV and movies.

  • finally a reviewer that doesnt have to scream or cuss (but can) that has a very intellectual flow in his videos.. keep it up :-D

  • Sending to parents.

  • Great video and very true.

    The same principal applies with books. Books are an educational experience which you learn from, even if they're not meant to, but school maths books just plain suck.

  • I'M SENDING THIS TO MY FAMILY!

  • back off, bitch! he's mine!

  • In the "Educational" thing, what about Professor Layton. Quite a fun puzzle game.

  • Miyamoto's best quote ever. "Video games are bad for you? That's what they said about rock and roll. There is undeniable proof that he is GOD!

  • @joshrochanroolzutoob I wont spend that around to much. If someone started a movement around him being god then. What would that do to Nintendo game sells?

  • Happy holidays. Ugh. It's CHRISTMAS goddammit!

  • Pokemon, Mario Party, and Paper Mario taught me to read

  • and dont forget how to spell some big words for the odd spelling tests

  • Quantum of Solace is really good game for a movie game,

    and even though the Cars movie may not be one of the best Pixar movies, it was still alot better than alot of the stuff Dreamworks put out there.

  • Ocarina of Time taught me how to read.

  • AWESOME!!

  • hahaha

  • Exact same thing here :D

  • O.o....DAMN...point made

  • There are NOT enough views on this. It's brilliant and so true.

  • This is one of the greatest most truthful vidoes I've ever seen. Hopefully people not really accustomed to games sees it.

  • GTA taught me how to drive...

  • ZELDA taught me to read

  • lol. "You have these fears because you are ill informed."

  • I used to play paper Mario as reading Homework XD

  • My favorite Guy in Youtube when it comes with videogames

  • When you said ''all video games are educational'' I loved you.

  • You are great man..but your physique attests to non-gaming as a better choice.

  • playing Video games is the biggest reason I learned english.

  • I learned what the word "Synthesize" means by playing KHII.

  • You obviously know nothing of the inner workings of the game. Search You Tube for a guide to EVs or IVs and you will be over-whelmed. Better yet search "catch rate" on google, and you will find a very complex mathematical formula that the game runs on.

  • spuluke, you are absolutely right- however, playing devil's advocate, the bigger problem wouldn't be that the kids aren't learning anything, but that since pokemon is so much more FUN than math class, they never think to apply this knowledge to real life (until they're much older)

    in the end, every kid's gonna be different

  • You're right most kids won't apply it, or won't even use EVs or IVs, but with the growing popularity of You Tube, many kids are being exposed to these mathematical parts of the game, and are using them every day. Even if they don't apply what they have learned, they might learn other mathematics faster and easier. Bottom line even if they never benefit from it, at least they were forced to use their mind, and weren't sitting there completely un-stimulated.

  • I 100% agree!

  • lol throught this vid i saw it as the fire sprite that was talking the whole time , its fun XD

  • I learned how to read when I played dragonquest games for the gba color.

  • bout time some one made something like this your a credit to the gaming community

  • I did too but I heard what he said in the video.

  • great lecture

    would be nice if some parents actually saw this

  • you too? All I could do was sit there and watch the eyes flicker left and right.

  • i was just waiting for the hand to come in and poke the fire. that's my favorite part!

  • I know you noted educational games as mainly poorly-made, but what about the so-called "serious game" genre? (Serious games are games that have an agenda to educate, but on topics such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict rather than world history.) I heard some of them are pretty good, and I think making games to educate people on crises and conflicts could help people to make a difference if the games are made well. I would like to see more progressive ideas in games.

  • Just like with novels, if the point of the game is to TEACH something, it doesn't sound very interesting.

    A book is read and a game is played to get conflict, character, tension and then climax.

    So, what is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ABOUT that's interesting enough to play a game about it?

  • It's basically a simulation, a game where you pretend to be either the Israeli Prime Minister or the Palestinian President and try through trial and error to make sure both sides don't end up killing each other. I guess it's kind of a "Sim Middle East". And this game actually exists. (An Israel-Palestine conflict game, not Sim Middle East.) And I think there are two or more too. I first heard of it from the documentary "Rise of the Video Game".

  • Well, that sounds mildly interesting. <_<

    Granted, people love to kill their Sims, but the point of non-violence resolution can still be had by all. XD

  • Wow! Very good lecture my good man.

  • I hate that the blue guy killed the yellow guy. The yellow guy is my favorite.

  • Green guy for me

  • Very well developed moviebob. Good job :)

  • An excellent lecture! Keep at it!

  • Bob, you forgot to mention the differences of the consoles and games. They might be confused by that.

  • Myeh, if they can't read, that's their problem. XD

    Srsly. DS games are for the DS. Etc, etc...

  • That and the parents who aren't familiar.

  • you forgot about oregon trail, thats a good edicational game

  • it's pathetically sad that parents need something like this to show them stuff they should be finding out themselves. I think it's part of taking care of a child; becoming familiar with what your kid enjoys. Few parents are doing this and I think it's criminal. And people wonder what's wrong with kids nowadays. Parents, get your heads out of your asses before your kids kill you for not understanding them. Talk to your child about what they like, and have fun with them, it's your fucking job.

  • nice presentation there.