Benefits of Playing Yu-Gi-Oh!

http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Poki_Draco

An example of a Yu-Gi-Oh! card.

Jessika Vega, Staff Writer
May 22, 2012
Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Opinions

Some people say that Yu-Gi-Oh! is just for children. They believe that there is no one older than 10 years old that play anymore. Yu-Gi-Oh! is a trading card game based on the show that aired some years ago. It is a strategy game where you use cards from a deck that you built. Your goal is to either get your opponent’s life points down from 8,000 to 0. Another way to lose is if you run out of cards to draw. I learned how to play and I got hooked. After my interest was piqued not so long ago, I soon realized that there is an entire culture of people that play the game. Once I began to get better, I noticed how much bigger my brain felt; there are many benefits to the game. Some of the benefits are as follows:

Improves communication skills:

A rule of the game is that one must declare what your move is and with which card. You have to be clear and know what each other is doing. I have attempted an OTK (One Turn Kill) before or some other awesome move but I was stopped because the card effect was much more complicated and I played a card wrong. This is why it is important to communicate, so that there is no unfairness in a win.

Improves business skills (trading):

In order to play and participate in this game, one must acquire cards to form a deck. In order to have a chance at winning, one must build up a deck of good cards. In order to get those cards, one must trade mediocre cards for cards that are worth, let’s say, about $80*. Trading takes a great deal of time, patience, and an ability to convince people into getting what you want/need. I have seen my dear boyfriend trade and it is quite intense. He has traded approximately 10 cards for a nearly entire deck. You can also buy packs of cards or even a nearly complete (starter) deck, but to get the best cards, you have to trade.

Improves reading skills and vocabulary (reading scripts):

To play a card correctly, one must read the writing on the bottom part of the card. Some cards have nothing important, but others explain how to put that card into play and what they do/what their effect is. Some fairly elaborate vocabulary is associated with the script and teaches young people better English skills. I now know much of the lingo and I feel confident when I talk about Yu-Gi-Oh!

Provides stress relief:

If you are like me, I find that a nice game of Sudoku is pretty relaxing. The same goes for Yu-Gi-Oh! because you have to think so much (it is a strategy game after all), it sort of numbs your brain and prepares you for a good night’s rest (if you play at night or in the evening).

Moves kids/teenagers away from drugs and alcohol and partying:

My  boyfriend and I spend a lot of time trading, buying cards, playing the game, making new decks, and fixing up already existing ones. We are also gamers and we do homework, so we are already nerdy. If more people could get into Yu-Gi-Oh!, perhaps youth would be more inclined to avoid negative things such as the ones listed above.

Improves math skills (life points):

Each player gets a certain amount of life points at the start of the duel. Throughout the duel, one loses life points according to how much damage your opponent does to your monsters. The remaining attack that your opponent has does direct damage to your life points. Once you lose all your life points, you lose. One must calculate the difference and, in some cases, there is multiplication. This can help in school and in the future for jobs.

Brings people together in a friendly environment/meet new people/find more friends:

There are certain stores where you can meet up with people who are dueling in a competition for prizes. You are all there under a common interest: Yu-Gi-Oh! Because they may be similar to you, you may make new friends. Even if this is not the case, you had the chance to be around others who like the game, so you have a good time. I have witnessed this at a game store in Surrey Central Mall. It is a moving experience.

Teaches courtesy and respect:

Like chess, the winner should be respectful and not hurtful towards the loser. You learn to respect your opponent, no matter who it is. You spend a lot of time with your opponent, so being kind is basically a pre-requisite. If you aren’t respectful, issues can arise, such as furious table-flipping, swearing, pawnching, etc. Some people don’t like each other so this is a very important thing (they must get over their differences). I have seen this happen at the Surrey Central mall.

Teaches patience:

One must wait while the opponent makes their move. One must read through the cards carefully and thoroughly. The opponent to the player reading the cards must be patient with their opponent, and that way both players have a good, fair game. It can be frustrating for some who are impatient (me being a beginner still and needing to take time to read the cards to make sure I am doing something right), but patience is necessary.

Boosts confidence:

When one successfully completes a game and beats their opponent, there is a sense of accomplishment. This may provide confidence in the future and in other things in life. Losing can be a downer, but when your opponent recognizes a good game played, it still feels fulfilling. Confidence is a very important attribute, so playing Yu-Gi-Oh! will surely help as a guide in life.

Because I am new to the world of Yu-Gi-Oh! there are still things I have not experienced myself. I look forward to doing more things that come with being a pro-player. Maybe someday I can rank with those who play in tournaments, for which perhaps I may write another article on. Until next time, adios dear readers.

*Trading goes by a price system where you trade based on how much a card is worth. As I mentioned above, one could trade a few lesser price-valued cards for a more “expensive” one.