GamesRadar has taken the time to bring us a story on those times in life where the lives of people have been saved by their video game experience. Many of them cite games that allow you to drive cars, such as GTA and Gran Turismo, as their life savers as they correctly taught them what to do in rare driving situations.
To view what others have used from games to save their lives go to the source.
Can the make-believe playgrounds of gaming really be classrooms teaching the art of self preservation? Yes they can. And the stories we've gathered here are the proof. From the slightly light-hearted to the very deadly serious, this is the evidence that videogames really can save lives.
"Grand Theft Auto saved me from a potentially serious accident"
Blogger Dan Johnson-Weinberger (pictured right) recounted how a personal near-nasty automotive mishap convinced him that Grand Theft Auto was "the best drivers education course in the World." Having played GTA III "quite a bit" Johnson-Weinberger learnt that the quickest way to stop a vehicle in game was to hit the brake and pull the emergency brake - a skill that ultimately saved his real life from a very "potentially serious accident".
This is how Johnson-Weinberger explains what happened: "So one day I'm driving back from Springfield (before I found the only civilized way to travel on Amtrak) in a winter storm. I'm driving up an entrance ramp too quickly and I start to spin out, skidding sideways up the ramp and in danger of rolling off the ramp. The foot brakes are useless, as I'm fishtailing wildly. Instinctively I reach for the emergency brake and pull it, cutting my fishtail radius in half instantly and I come to a calm stop, perpendicular to the ramp.
"Hours of playing Grand Theft Auto had trained me to pull the emergency brake when I lose control of the car."
To read Dan Johnson-Weinberger's account in its full context, visit his blog, Progressive Advocacy.
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That moose story is relating to AoT? Haha, I'm surprised that worked.
I <3 Videogames
I remember that one person at the end. The one who played America's Army and used the medical tutorial in that game and actually saved someone's life. I think that was posted on GameGrep before.
I think I've read this article before? Or at least something very similar >_>
Still yeah, for all the bad press, videogames doesn't get enough positive press to reflects how it benefits people....
http://www.gamegrep.com/news/6960-americas_army_player_uses_ingame_medic_training_to_help_save_life/
Interestingly, look at the full article there. Someone claiming to be Jack Thompson posted a comment claiming to have saved a woman from a burning SUV.
I knew it was an old story.... here is it written back in 2005. Guess its a slow day for gamesradar.
http://djwinfo.blogspot.com/2005/07/grand-theft-auto-saved-my-life-true.html
Please tell me what skills your referring to?
@Final Blade....Put it this way....Information learned in books can certainly help people. Videogames actually give you visual aides....Seeing it in action, would help you put it in practical application, even if you haven't actually physically done it.
(Yeah, I'm still trying to explain stuff to FB....Kind of futile, I suppose)
I guess this is a good thing as people wont just be saying there a waste of time.