Re:Pro drivers are competing with gamers after F1 and Nascar...
by Agentlien on Monday March 23, 2020 @05:24AM
(#22662333)
This reminds me of the studies done on how experience in video games and virtual training translates to practice in surgery.
The basic finding was that just having played a lot of video games helped immensely because it means practice in careful hand-eye coordination. Also, real surgery is obviously different from virtual surgery, but there is strong skill transfer.[1]
full disclosure: I used to work for Surgical Science, primarily on the development of LapSim, their simulator for laparoscopic surgery.
[1]: https://surgicalscience.com/systems/lapsim/lapsim-validation...
It's not just those hardcore simulations that translate well. Even standard console games like Forza and GT are good at predicting real world talent. Yeah, the first time these people get behind the wheel of a real race car, they will be sore af and probably puke all over the place. But a workout routine will build physical endurance and most people overcome the nausea eventually.
A dozen or so people have graduated from Sony's GT Academy (online racing competition) and gone on to racing professionally.