I wish video game characters had GPS devices.

August 9, 2007 3:12 PM

How do I improve my spatial ability with fun short video games?

I am not bad at video games. I play 2D platformers, rhythm games, 2D fighters the new brain games and puzzle games all without a problem. I get totally lost in large worlds. I wish I could enjoy games like Zelda. Also: in platformers like Sonic I often have no idea of all the different ways I can take.

I am looking for simple games like Big Brain Academy and Brain Age to improve my spatial ability. In fact, I thought of this question because I noticed that in Big Brain Academy my worst category is the one where I have to draw lines to complete a picture when the direction is different than the original picture. I thought that that is probably related to why I suck at RPG's. I also thought that maybe playing Big Brain Academy would improve my spatial ability, but maybe there are other games that would be even better? I am also open to non game approaches, btw. I also realize, like was suggested in some previous threads about this problem, that just playing those large games will probably help, and I do do that sometimes. I also think that almost all video games will help with this somewhat, but I am mostly looking for games that are especially good at this.

I am not very good in finding my way in real life as well, so that is probably related. As soon as I have seen (or occasionally drawn) a map of where I am, the problem is gone though, so this is not a big problem for me.

(I saw these two somewhat related questions)

posted by davar to education (7 comments total)

I'm not sure looking for "simple" games is the right approach, the problem is inherently about assimilating complexity. I think it lends itself more to exercise, maybe just put in some extra time with your favorite RPG and Big Brain. In meatspace, try hiking or biking, something you can literally get lost in. But don't get in trouble, hike with a buddy and/or GPS. If you have the cash, learn how to fly.
posted by maniabug at 4:34 PM on August 9, 2007

I am also open to non game approaches, btw

I've made hand-drawn maps of the environment while playing some video games.

You can also search around for resources like this, a map of Liberty City from GTA III.

GTA is probably the best resource for improving spatial orientation, because it's an open-ended, "sandbox" world that you can just run around in forever.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:22 PM on August 9, 2007

Thanks! I do ride my bicycle everywhere and I never really get lost. Video game worlds just seem more difficult.
I am not necessarily looking for simple games, but I so like the fact that I can pick up and put away Big Brain academy so easily. It are not just the huge games that I have troubles with, but also the relatively simple "draw a picture turned 90 degrees" things. So, I thought, if there were a video game or a website with flash games or something with only games like these, it would be both fun and maybe useful.

I may put in the effort to draw a map for a game I really like some time, but I am not even sure I am able to do that.
posted by davar at 6:13 PM on August 9, 2007

Many places on the net have maps of levels.. gamefaqs.com is the one I use most, as its free and most stuff is clearly labeled.

If you want to try in game stuff, get a RPG with mapping feature, or play deathmatch games. Those maps always confuse me.
posted by Jacen at 9:27 PM on August 9, 2007

Super Paper Mario for the Wii might be helpful in that you can flip from the 2D view to the 3D view. And no doubt you can google up a bunch of level maps if you need to.

You can try something like Katamari Damacy as well which is interesting because as you progress on each level you grow larger and your perspective of the space changes. You can use the North Star level as an open-ended "sandbox" effect as mentioned above, since it has no time limit. One professor believes it is one of the most beneficial games when it comes to brain development.
posted by mikepop at 6:50 AM on August 10, 2007

Luminosity via Projects. This is really cool, not just for spatial abilities, but for a wide variety of cognitive tasks. I can't recommend it highly enough.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 11:38 AM on August 10, 2007

(I thought I wrote an a response this morning but I must have forgotten to Post it...)
Thanks again! I heard there will be a Katamari for the Wii and I would love to check that out. Paper Mario will be released in Europe shortly, that sounds interesting indeed. Also thanks for the link to the study.

I remember Lumosity (I guess I also found it through Projects), but I had totally forgotten about it. I dismissed it because I do not know many bird's names in English, but perhaps I dismissed it too soon because now it does not seem that necessary and it is an interesting concept. The price is a big drawback though. I don't want to pay a monthly fee for my software and I am unconvinced that this offers that much more than other video games that are much less expensive and have resale value. (I am unconvinced by their scientific backup. Of course it improves your visual attention if you have a control group that does nothing. Show me a control group that practices Brain Age or even Tetris or Mario and show me how well it compares then).

When I first played Big Brain Academy I thought that this was such a simple concept and I was sure it would be copied everywhere. I am surprised that there don't seem to be many flash games that do this.
posted by davar at 9:51 AM on August 11, 2007