Never Bother Your Kids About Gaming AGAIN!

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

I think I remember reading a study saying that video game players have higher than average grades. Not that correlation = causation, but it was an interesting finding.

Actually I was watching a show where they said video games are a lot more complex than they used to be and can help develop a child's problem-solving skills. The point of the show was that our pop-culture was a lot more relevant and stimulating than our parents'.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Buff

Video games are mis-labeled as a kids past time. There are plenty of older folks who play games too. I'm 30 and I still play quite regularily. I play WWII FPS games, and I'm in a clan where 30 is the average age. We range from 16 to 44 years of age. Previously to joining my clan, I just about joined a clan where I would've been the youngest member by about almost 10 years. They were about 15 guys ranging from 39 to 67.

People get this notion that video games are for kids, and therefore should be avoided and/or video gaming just isn't a good thing for society. Well that is a myth. Gaming isn't for everybody, but it isn't just for kids.

I still enjoy them occassionally, i'm 25...I have a lot of older friends who still play. I'll never make it to the NHL or become and NHL GM, so I'll always at least have some interest in checking out the NHL series. Its fun.

[CaramonLS]

I think the demographic for video games is around a 50/50 split for older/younger than 18. It isn't just for kids anymore.

Heck, my 43 year old uncle used to absolutely love playing SoCom online, and still loves his xbox.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Buff

Clans are not limited to just ET. You'll find a clan for nearly every online FPS game. I don't play them but I"m certain you'd find clans for WOW and StarWars Galaxies too (as well as other similar games.) Clans are basically the non-professional gaming leagues.

You are correct. Any team based online game lends itself to clans more than the regular FPS.

And I know I drink more beer playing slo-pitch than I do playing games.


Edited for spelling.

[Mr.Coffee]

I think one thing is certain... this probably is good news for optometrists.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Buff

Video games are mis-labeled as a kids past time. There are plenty of older folks who play games too. I'm 30 and I still play quite regularily. I play WWII FPS games, and I'm in a clan where 30 is the average age. We range from 16 to 44 years of age. Previously to joining my clan, I just about joined a clan where I would've been the youngest member by about almost 10 years. They were about 15 guys ranging from 39 to 67.

People get this notion that video games are for kids, and therefore should be avoided and/or video gaming just isn't a good thing for society. Well that is a myth. Gaming isn't for everybody, but it isn't just for kids.

Same here. I play in an ET Clan, where most of the members are adults, and they play considerably more then the kids.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by HitterD

Absolutly. I enjoy video games myelf. The difference is that every morning before work I go for a run and work out. Then I play video games a couple of nights a week, but I make sure to get my daily physical activity in as well. I only wish more parents could promote something similar to their children

Right on. I do basically the same thing. Finding a happy medium is the secret.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

I think I remember reading a study saying that video game players have higher than average grades. Not that correlation = causation, but it was an interesting finding.

A study was done and they found that kids who play video games were much more mentally alert than kids who dont play them and made less mistakes. They also found that while it shouldnt replace physical activity playing video games arent entirely bad on the body since they destress the body and also increase your heart rate just as much as doing a physical activity would.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I think the demographic for video games is around a 50/50 split for older/younger than 18. It isn't just for kids anymore.

I was watching G4TV about a week ago and I remember it saying that the average age for gamers is now in the 30s. It's definately not just for kids anymore with all the mature titles out there and any adult who does play games shouldnt feel any less mature than an adult who doesnt.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Azure

Same here. I play in an ET Clan, where most of the members are adults, and they play considerably more then the kids.

My boss laughed at me when I joined my clan. He is cool, but a bit old school.

[Bobblehead]

I was never serious enough for an ET clan. I enjoy playing all the new games that come along and never stick with one long enough to become l33t

I did fill in in a few scrims in ET, but that just proved to me how much I sucked.

[J pold]

Originally Posted by Inferno

A study was done and they found that kids who play video games were much more mentally alert than kids who dont play them and made less mistakes. They also found that while it shouldnt replace physical activity playing video games arent entirely bad on the body since they destress the body and also increase your heart rate just as much as doing a physical activity would.

Ok I am little impartial on the subject because I was never a huge gamer, when I was younger I played a bit, but now that I am older I spend about 7 hours a week maybe watching TV I go the gym a lot of put a ton emphasis on physical fitness and have been working out 4-5 times a week for about a year now but, I would love to see a study that says that playing sitting playing any video game can raise your heart rate as much as any physical activity expect for walking

[peter12]

I exercise strenously for about 3-5 hours a week. I still find time for some good gaming in there somewhere. I just got back into Cossacks 2, the intensity is lifechanging.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Want to raise your heartrate? Play Silent Hill in the dark. Taht'll raise your heart rate, or give you a heart attack.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by J pold

Ok I am little impartial on the subject because I was never a huge gamer, when I was younger I played a bit, but now that I am older I spend about 7 hours a week maybe watching TV I go the gym a lot of put a ton emphasis on physical fitness and have been working out 4-5 times a week for about a year now but, I would love to see a study that says that playing sitting playing any video game can raise your heart rate as much as any physical activity expect for walking

I guess it's just riding a bike or walking. I read the article a long time ago on gamespot.com or gamespy.com so the details were a bit fuzzy. It did talk about how gaming wasnt as unhealthy as some people think it is.

"A researcher at the University of Miami has announced that video games can give boys a workout that raises their blood pressure and heart rate and burns as many calories as walking or riding a bike. She also says people shouldn’t look on computer gaming as a contributing to childhood obesity."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/...521509530.html

[Dynamic]

Games today are so much more complex then when I was a kid. They have pretty well left me behind. I tried playing Daxter on the PSP and I was getting stuck every day at some point. My little cousin who is 10 wrapped the game in 3 days while I still haven't come close. Between work and my other physical activities, video games make me think alot more than I thought and I can see how kids who play them gain many problem solving skills and are generally brighter. Just try playing any Zelda game and tell me your brain doesn't get a workout.

Did anyone see the new Nintendo Wii........instead of a controller there was 2 kinda tongs things that you hold in each hand. There was a tennis game and this person was swinging their tongs and the player on the screen would swing accoridingly.

[HitterD]

Originally Posted by Dynamic

Games today are so much more complex then when I was a kid. They have pretty well left me behind. I tried playing Daxter on the PSP and I was getting stuck every day at some point. My little cousin who is 10 wrapped the game in 3 days while I still haven't come close. Between work and my other physical activities, video games make me think alot more than I thought and I can see how kids who play them gain many problem solving skills and are generally brighter. Just try playing any Zelda game and tell me your brain doesn't get a workout.

Did anyone see the new Nintendo Wii........instead of a controller there was 2 kinda tongs things that you hold in each hand. There was a tennis game and this person was swinging their tongs and the player on the screen would swing accoridingly.

I have heard about this, but not seen yet

Just imagine Boxing on that system. That could be super fun.

Now that is a way to get physical activity into gaming.

[J pold]

Anyways I think I am fighting a loosing battle here, its obvious a lot of your guys are a fan of video games, that’s fine if it makes you happy then good on yeah, I myself am not a fan of most video games, I’ll admit ill get NHL 07 when it comes out but that is my extent, I just have bad experiences with hard core gamers I guess, 2 of my buddies older brothers do nothing but game and have kind of lost all motivation in life but if it makes them happy I guess that’s all that matters really

[Coelah]

Gaming definitely gets a bad rap. Doesn't bother me. I like gaming and don't really care if someone thinks it's strange or weird. They're the same people who think nothing of sitting on the same couch passively staring at a TV watching people do things or pretend to do things. I'd rather take an active role in my entertainment. Doesn't mean it's the only thing I do, just like watching TV isn't the only thing they do.

[cheung31]

I believe this is the interview with Steven Johnson on The Daily Show and on the Colbert Report, that some people saw on TV in regards to the games in this day and age being so complex that it helps encourage problem solving. Pretty funny as well.

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/pop-cul...ort-179869.php

As for games increasing you heartrate, probably DDR is the only game that can accomplish that feat.

I think that a lot of games require a lot of hand/eye coordination. An awesome game I would like to check out is Guitar Hero, but I do not own a PS2