An article in Nature points out that new research is indicating that playing video games looks to be helpful in training visual skills, especially those required to track a large number of objects and notice changes in complex visual fields.

The actual study (available at a link at the bottom) is $18, so I haven't read it yet, but an amusing comment in the executive summary is that games like Tetris don't help, but the less "socially acceptable games" (which include killing and the constant threat of death) are much more effective in driving the lessons home.