Contrary to popular belief, not all video games fry your brain. Some are actually proven to stimulate it.

Video games like “Grand Theft Auto” and “Call of Duty” have been said to spark violence and anger, especially in teens, but the positives of other games are overshadowed.

Other video games like “Just Dance,” “Rock Band” and online puzzle games provide physical activity, teamwork and critical thinking.

“Just Dance” lets players choose a song and complete the dance correctly, earning points. “Rock Band” incorporates teamwork by having each player pick an instrument to play and earning points for hitting the right notes in the selected song.

Lumosity.com is a website specifically designed to help challenge your brain’s memory skills and attention just by simply playing games.

An article from eSchool News said “Educators say that good video games can be used as teaching tools to help students develop an array of skills—from writing and physics to teamwork and problem solving.”

Certain games like “World of Warcraft” and “Angry Birds” are encouraged in classrooms.

The article also states that video games “lets educators create new career paths and emerge as leaders, no matter where they work or what their job titles are.”

These games create a sense of free will in the classroom as well as leadership and critical thinking skills.

Junior political science major Trey Wilson thinks games can be entertaining but they are more than that.

“Games such as ‘“Legend of Zelda”’ or ‘“Portal”’ involve very intricate plot lines that cause you to not only think but also devise entire plans,” said Wilson.

The military has been using video games specifically designed to depict real-life war situations.

America’s Department of Defense originally built a digital model for training, and eventually it turned into a video game, simulating “what-if” situations.

“I think that the military using video games is a smart decision and it is safer than shooting a target. It will also help with hand-eye coordination they may be lacking,” said Wilson.

It is much safer for the military to train with this type of technology, giving them an advantage on the battlefield.

Medical website, symtpomfind.com, listed the top ten positive effects that video games have- one of them being stress relief.

Wilson agreed, saying, “they are a great way to relieve stress when you are down about school or other things in your life.”

The website also states that video games provide physical activity, enhance social skills and an improved learning ability among other things.

Many video games do not portray everyday life situations. They might be realistic with graphics and sound effects, but like most movies, they are fiction.

“[Video games] are meant to entertain and that’s exactly what they do,” said senior psychology major Kirk Norris.

Although many continue to believe violent video games harbor violence, no research has been confirmed that playing these games correlate to violence in teens and adults.