I have to admit that I'm more content with the current situation than I was before, when working as a programmer to finance my studies. But on the other side, I don't dedicate the rest of my time to absorb computer oriented knowledge (at least I don't spend it actively that way :) ), as I'm still a mathematics student and there is enough knowledge to be absorbed in that field as well ...
On the other side, I don't think that strategic games make people smarter - strategic games may be more complex than other pattern-recognition games like Tetris, but once you have worked out one functioning pattern, you can win always against the computer. Playing against humans is a bit different, but I don't see much to be learned / trained either... Of course, I'm only talking about the influence of these games on me and people in my social group ...
On the other side, I've never really liked games like Sim City, trade games, etc. - the "best thing" there was, was Age of Empires, and even that always quickly devolved into gigantic mass-wars between all players :). This may also be a result of me only playing in a local network with a limited supply of adversaries of course ...
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Excellent thoughts!
...but once you have worked out one functioning pattern, you can win always against the computer.
I grew up playing games like Aklabeth by Lord British, and the Sierra games on my 16-color Tandy. I agree that once you figure out a strategic pattern it can be reused. However, this is not unlike programming (ie CPAN). In most games, there are clear goals, journeys, and rewards. In programming, you can more often define your own goals, journeys, and rewards. But getting there is still a game! Ref: The warm fuzzy feeling when you concoct the perfect regex.
The last game I really got into was Diablo, but I haven't yet bought DII for fear of becoming a hermit.
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