Mark Twain defined work as that which a person is obliged to do, and play as that which a person is not obliged to do. But two UW-Madison researchers suggest that with job-specific video games, work and play don’t have to be at odds.
Jim Gee, a professor of education, and Kurt Squire, an assistant professor of education, argue that video games can teach players an array of important skills, such as how to think strategically, make quick decisions, cooperate and learn from their mistakes – all skills that employers demand.