Story time:

Back in the late 90's, when I was still a teenager, I used to play Colonization on our family 486. Even though it is a strategy game about setting up colonies in distant lands, it also taught me about production chains, logistics and security. The turn based aspect of the game helped me to plan things ahead of time and anticipate possible problems. For example competing AI players could capture my cargo and damage my ships during a conflict. Or even at peace time if they had hired privateers. At first I thought that little lost cargo is no big deal. But when I sat idle for several turns, waiting for my only ship to be repaired in the drydock, I realised that I didn't just lost some valuable cargo. I also lost the gold, the opportunity to hire more workers, all the production that those workers could have done, all the gold from that, etc., etc.. The real losses of that one small cargo snowballed into much bigger avalanche when considering that all my competition went on with their merry business while myown hands were tied. That taught me to avoid waste at all cost.

Fast forward maybe some 15+ years. After returning to my homeland, been working in various manufacturing and warehousing jobs, I was made responsible for all the logistics of three adjecent companies. One time, while checking fresh delivery, I discovered that they had mixed up some products and the delivery didn't match the paperwork. Fortunately the products they did bring were something that I also had in stock. I contacted the suplier immediately. I explained the situation and proposed that instead of wasting time and energy to return the merchandice, I would make a new order for the wrong products that they brought but they would bring the missing products in their next delivery instead. They agreed and I got the signatures from the lorry driver.

Moral of the story: sometimes two wrongs can make things right again.

I've learned that video games are video games, and life is life, and sometimes you just really, really need to step away from one and step into the other for a little while, and that there is nothing wrong with that. Being a gamer is a big part of my personality, and recognizing and accepting that fact has helped me to feel much more at peace with myself.

I learned from WoW that there is a thing as too much videogames.

Tomb Raider taught me its not nice to lock people in freezers.

Thanks to Kind Words, I have rediscovered letter writing. Analog is sometimes better :D

Through ABZÛ I discovered diving as my hobby and thanks to the game I could already learn something about the sea creatures. Diving with whales, penguins and so on is just fascinating.

Sucking at something is the first step to being sort of good at something.

Yes, that quote's from an episode of Adventure Time. But that attitude has gotten me through more games, jobs and degrees than I care to count.

I'll count the last one: two degrees.

I learned all about early American history (and pre-history) as told by Sid Meier in Colonization. I later learned that Sid Meier is actually Canadian.

I played a video game because I visited a place that was set in back in 2019. I travelled to this country which I had no prior relationship except that it was tied to history. Playing the game after coming back helped me be glad where I come from but also demystify places. Foreign places are different but people are the same.

When all else fails use fire.

Life is Strange taught me how a little carelessness can make the difference between life and death.

I am Brazillian, and videogames helped me a lot to learn english. My english is poorer today because a lot of games are localized in Portuguese.

The overall social aspect has played a signifcant part in how games have affected my life on a positive note. I'm not one to start a conversation all too often with people in the real world but when I do, it certainly makes my day. I'm very passionate about games I've enjoyed throughout the years (i.e. Jet Set Radio, Spyro, Metal Gear Solid series, LEGO series, LucasArts-era Star Wars games and so much more) and love sharing my experiences with others in addition to gaining knowledge from others on their own experiences with games they've ventured in. Without that social activity, I wouldn't be the person you see writing this today and wouldn't have made such great connections online and offline.

Kudos to the people at GOG for holding this contest and I wish everyone else on the forum good luck too! :)

Through video games, I was able to polish my English skills significantly.

I've enjoyed video games as far back as I can remember and still do, to this day. From simple shoot 'em ups, to racing games like Outrun, Pole Position to Ridge Racer, Daytona USA, Motocross Madness, Midtown Madness, Final Fight, Street Fighter 2 to the 32bit era of Tekken, Soul Calibur, and Panzer Dragoon, and to FPS like Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and Duke Nukem 3D. It was also a time of innovation and ingenuity; something we need more of in gaming aside from the usual bells and whistles we've come to know them by. Man, those were good times. I've also come to appreciate the story-driven and narrative aspects of video games; in addition to their cutting-edge graphics and gameplay; something that has been so charming and endearing throughout the years. I may yet pursue a career in level design and conception at some point in the future; who knows what it may hold for anyone excited at the prospect of working at various world-renowned video game development companies. I know everyone is into multiplayer and whatnot, but for those of us who love story and character development, video games have changed the way in which we empathize with various heroic characters and dastardly, despicable villains. I and everyone else is so grateful to see more cutting edge technology, which leads to bigger and better experiences the likes that have not been experienced before.

Here's to new and exciting upcoming video games and experiences; whether you're a console or PC gamer, or both!!