PureSim: "An Exercise for Your Mind"?

[KG Erwin]

Maybe this is simply a silly excuse to play the game, but if the wife or significant other complains, here's a possible rationale. I heard a good segment on NPR regarding mental exercises, which aid in three ways: to improve long-term memory, short-term memory, and working memory. Working memory is just another way to express the ability to multitask.

In PureSim, multitasking is definitely asked for, especially if you're a GBG player. Not only does one try to win the game at hand, but one must keep in mind the players' health, the standings, the upcoming opponents, the pitching rotation, and who's available on the bench as a pinch-hitter. Fortunately, we have visual tools to help us, but all of these things must be weighed in terms of the overall situation. There's more: the status of the farm system and possible promotions/demotions/trades. To do all this, the numbers have to constantly be rearranged and analyzed in a methodical and logical way.

On a side note, I think this is why baseball sims appeal to those who work with numbers in their real-life jobs (such as auditors and accountants).

As some of you already know, in real life I'm a tax auditor. I honestly believe that my gaming hobby helps make me better at my job.

Total BS, or can some logic be found in this argument? [;)]

[Wrathchild]

I find the game to be a great mental exercise. I'm in the IT field and used to program, so I'm just as fanatic about numbers and logic/analysis as financial people. What I love about this game is that it's extremely structured and logical, completely complementing to my mode of thought. (I operate poorly in chaos!) It's almost like doing a mathematical equation, of sorts, or, more likely, a multiple choice question. 'Here is the situation, here is the pitcher, these are your available options.' Now one of those options is the optimal option, but it's not guaranteed to get the result that you are looking for. Exciting when it does, frustrating when it doesn't. That's why I love playing blackjack, too. Every combination of cards, player vs. dealer, has a proper solution. If you know the solution (a simple matrix to be memorized) you are more likely to win. But, again, it's no guarantee. In both games you are still required to pay attention and keep your mind sharp, which makes them perfect forms of mental exercise.