Violent video games seen as learning tool

You're at the front lines shooting Nazis before they shoot you. Or you're a futuristic gladiator in a death match with robots.

Either way, you're playing a video game and you may be improving your vision and other brain functions. That's according to research being presented Thursday at a New York University conference on games as a learning tool.

Daphne Bavelier (Ba-VEL'-yay) of the University of Rochester says that people who play fast-paced video games have better vision, better attention and better cognition.

She mentioned 'Medal of Honor' as an example. A spokeswoman for developer Electronic Arts Inc. says the purpose of that game and others is to have fun, and any educational benefits are a bonus.