Many have come to believe that video games are bad for a person’s health, but I don’t think that is an accurate assertion. According to The New York Times, war games potentially cause violent or aggressive behavior. However, I believe that they can also provide insight into what it is really like to be in combat.

To me, war history is tedious and repetitive because it is basically the same situation told over and over again, but with different details, such as opponents and locations. I personally do not like reading the same things about wars multiple times because I think it’s boring and, frankly, I just don’t understand why I’m learning about the particular war.

Unlike reading a textbook, I can visually see the actions that took place in history when I play certain video games like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six or any of the games in the Call of Duty series. This captivates my attention.

Due to the desire for story ideas, game makers base the video games on past events, concentrating especially on important historical events, such as World War II and socioeconomic issues in other countries.

I appreciate those who serve our country, but I don’t think everyone is personally fit to take part in a war. I’m sure many enjoy the thought of taking on the task of defending our country, but not everyone is mentally and physically able. So, for those who aren’t able to participate in wars, video games provide another somewhat similar compromise.

Also, not everyone likes to read about wars, like me, so by participating in a simulation audiences are able to understand and feel a personal connection. It’s a happy medium between being in an actual war and just reading it out of a textbook.

Through video games, individuals get to feel the rush of charging into a room filled with enemies, a sense of pride for defending your side and the suspense of waiting for the perfect moment to take down the opponent’s leader. Video games provide you the experience of being in a war without actually any physical threat.

One example would be Nazi Zombies, which is a mini game featured in two other games: World at War and Black Ops. Yes, there is no way this can actually happen, since zombies do not exist and Adolph Hitler died many years ago. However, it taught me around what year World War II took place, which I did not know prior to playing.

Although there is not much to the game besides killing zombies, in each game map there is a bit of information on the screen explaining “where” you are, “who” you are, and what “time period” the scene is in. Also, if you really analyze the game, it can provide a solution for sticky situations.

Let’s say some day you are at home alone, and someone starts to break in. The immediate reaction is to panic and by then nothing will be able to be accomplished. Video games are all about quick thinking, and you never know if there will be a zombie or not when you turn around. Although you most likely won’t encounter a zombie in real life, the quick thinking skills you acquire while playing the game may be able to help you in situations throughout your life.

I’m definitely not suggesting that everyone should give up the textbook to play video games, but for people like me, I get more out of video games than I do reading a book. There is the crowd that takes gaming way too seriously, which is not the crowd I’m referring to in this article, and those are the people who end up being violent.

I believe if you play in moderation, video games can be beneficial to the individual, allowing them to learn about wars through media instead of a textbook. I really enjoy video games because they are super fun and are a great way to pass free time; also, they can teach you a thing or two about history.

For more columns, read the March 21 article, Recounting the classics: A night at the opera.