Games are Good for You

4. They can help you understand classic literature.

It's no secret that games draw inspiration from books, but one enterprising teacher has turned the tables by using Halo to help his students understand the complexities of Homeric epics.

Roger Travis, associate professor of modern and classical languages at the University of Connecticut, claims that the trials and tribulations of Trojan hero Aeneas chronicled in Virgil's Aeneid mirror those of Halo's Master Chief.

Travis elucidates, "Both Halo and the Aeneid tell a story about a more-than-human hero defeating enemies who would be too much for ordinary people like us - enemies who nevertheless bear an important resemblance to the ones we and the Romans face in our respective presents."

He likens the interactivity found in contemporary gaming to the oral tradition that prompted ancient audiences to connect with their plays, going so far as to actually haul an Xbox to class to help prove his point.

Best...homeroom...ever.

Watch Halo Trailer

5. They can literally save your life.

There's nothing particularly pleasant about going under the knife, especially if you're wary of the surgeon's skills. That's why before making the first incision, Dr. James Clarence Rosser, Jr. of New York's Beth Israel Medical Center lets his patients know that he's awesome at Super Monkey Ball.

You read correctly. Years of honing his hand-eye coordination with video games have led the good doctor to believe that they can have a significant impact as training tools for laparoscopic surgeons at every level.

He takes his theory quite seriously, and after co-authoring a study proving that surgeons who played video games three times a week were faster and made fewer mistakes than those who preferred to avoid the toys, the rest of the medical community is, too.