I heard a report about this paper in nature, Video games boost visual skills: Spiderman may help to train pilots and treat stroke patients., on All Things Considered while I was driving home this evening. What I found especially interesting was the speculation that it was the, simulated, tension and danger that made the "gaming experience" such a good teacher. From my limited experience that's certainly the way it seems to work. Even playing platformers like Jax and Daxter you learn pretty quickly what to look out for when missing it means you fall into the ick and have to start again.