What Gamers Have In Common With Top Athletes

nk497 writes "It's no surprise that professional gamers aren't quite as fit as elite athletes, but they do have something in common. According to a British academic, top-level players show similar psychological attributes as top athletes, such as the ability to manage anxiety, and have reaction times on par with fighter pilots. Dr. Micklewright said, 'When I first got asked to do [the study], my initial reaction was "don't be ridiculous, gaming is nothing like sport." But the more I thought about it, the more similarities [became clear], and I became more and more convinced that it was close in many ways to sport.' While sitting in front of a screen might not have the same physical demands as running a marathon, neither do playing snooker or darts. Still, while gamers show good reflexes, their health was worse than expected, with one 20-something professional player showing the same aerobic health as a 60-year-old smoker." This story is based on a BBC radio report which you can currently hear, although that link seems to say that it won't last.

Comments

Unpopular answer

[DaveV1.0]

They both get overpaid to play a game.

Re:Unpopular answer

[geekoid]

define overpaid.

They get what they can get. They bring in a lot of money to the owners, why not charge that much?

Re:Unpopular answer

[geekoid]

Seriously? Football players aren't real athletes? Let see you take a hit from a 280 pound person that moves like a gazelle.

You comments is stupid.

All simple one syllable words, lots of grunting.

SO your argument build down to a poorly worded ad hom attack. You might want o rethink criticizing other peoples intellect until you've sharpened your ability to have a discussion.

You sound like someone who insults mathematicians because you don't understand the subject.

.

Gaming+exercise=???

[ndogg]

Since it's been shown that aerobic exercise can improve reaction time, I can't help but wonder how much better of gamers they would be if they also exercised a bit as well. They wouldn't need to go to a gym. Just some running, or crunches, or something on a regular basis would help, I would bet.

Sports injuries...

[PPalmgren]

Sports typically have one or two major common injuries associated with them, like knee damage for cross country skiing. I wonder if this will show on gamers in 20 or 30 years.

I'm specifically interested if mental problems occur later in life from over-use of the brain. Some gamers typically work a mental job, then come home and engage in 5-6 hours of very mentally intensive activity. Your brain gets hammered pretty heavily over the course of a day.

Another possibility is eye damage. During intense gaming sessions I notice that I dry my eyes out repeatedly focusing by not blinking during specific events. I wonder if this will effect me in 20 years. On another note, most gamers I've met have the same vision as me and we can wear each other's glasses without issue.

Cause or Result

[icebike]

Is the 20 year old "Professional gamer" with the "aerobic health as a 60-year-old smoker" in that condition due to gaming, or is he gaming because that's all he can do, because of some pre-existing limitation?

I ask, because it takes longer for a sedentary life style to put you in THAT bad shape than your typical 20 year old would have in the interval between highschool and their 20th birthday.

Where does one get a job being a "professional gamer" other than working for a game developer?