Are video Games an entry point for acquiring high performance real life skills?

[wpaudio http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2009/10/20091026_me_05.mp3?dl=1]

Anecdotal evidence has been cropping up that video game players live in a world of their own. Even games that replicate real life activities, like guitar hero or the new DJ simulation game, are quite deceiving when it comes to giving you what it takes to become the next popular culture icon. This excellent NPR report makes the point beautifully.

We decided to pit DJ Cuzzin B against a (self-described “self-loathing”) gamer: NPR intern Brian Reardon. But the DJ experienced the same problems some guitar players have with Guitar Hero. Real skills don’t translate — and they can even confuse you. A gamer with no DJing skills has a distinct advantage. Reardon handily beat DJ Cuzzin B on their first trial game. Still, the latter said the game’s glamorous industrial nightclub setting was any professional DJ’s dream.

via ‘DJ Hero’ Lets You Rock The Club … From Your Couch : NPR.