Teamwork Wins Championships

When thinking about MMORPG’s the typical person would probably describe a video gamer as someone who has no life and socially cannot hold a conversation in public. This is where the general public is wrong. One of T.L. Taylor’s main arguments in his reading is the fact that these MMO’s such as Everquest actually do promote team work and social skills. T.L. Taylor is wrote, “One of the biggest thing about games like EQ is that they are deeply social. While much of what we hear about gaming in popular press evokes images of alienation and isolation, it is a misunderstanding of the nature of these games. The sociality of the space is not simply a matter of players talking to each other but a web of networks and relationships-sometimes weaving between on and offline life, in-game and out-game-developing, and disintegrating over time.” Videogame’s are not people who just play on there computer in the complete dark only coming out when they have to go to the bathroom. Gamers develop relationships which may last a life time or just for that raid which proves that they are just as capable to do anything a non gamer can do out in the real world.

In my experience on LOTRO I have gotten help multiple times with other players. A perfect example of this is when I could not pass a quest given to me by a NPC and I needed help. So I called up my partner and asked him for some help. He came into the game we strategized about how to attack these bears which I had to kill. Then went into battle and came out victorious. The team work that each of us showed was something that can be used out in the real world.

This experience that I had within LOTRO is exactly what T.L. Taylor is trying to argue to the non gamer. Video gamers have team work skills that some people do not have and this should be considered when applying for jobs out in the real world. You can have one applicant who went through college just studying by themselves and getting excellent grades but really has no social or leadership qualities. Or on the other hand you have a person who might not have as good of grades but plays these MMORPG’s and has learned about being a leader and how to successfully lead a team to the finish. I’m sure 90% of people will want the gamer who has leadership skills and can socially talk to another person in there business.