The Thrifty Gamer

Do you think that most video game players are kids sitting bleary eyed in front of television sets with fingers and thumbs tapping away in a staccato like manner on the control buttons of a remote control or keyboard? Well, there are plenty of those kinds of kids for sure, but they are not the most prevalent number in the demographics of video game players. That would be the grown ups, or people over the age of 18 to be more specific.

The Entertainment Software Association, a top demographics and research company did a survey recently and found that adults make up 92 percent of the people who purchase video games these days and 80 percent who purchase video game consoles.

The average age of video game players is now up to 33, and getting higher every year it seems. This recent survey found that 67 percent of the Heads of Households play video games as a form of recreation, according to the Entertainment Software Association, or ESA. The average age of the most frequent video game buyers is 38 years old.

The evidence of how old video game players have become was quite evident recently when the release of Halo 3 was getting a lot of media attention. Every news story showed footage of die-hard Halo 3 fans waiting in line for the release of this latest Halo video game. Most of these fans were adults who have followed the Halo video game franchise for many years. Many television reporters showed up at these events and when they conducted interviews you could see that the zeal and fanaticism of these fans was second to none. Some even had costumes that would have made any serious Star Trek or Star Wars fan quite jealous.

There are a lot of parents playing video games these days. Even more interesting is the fact that 80 percent of parents who play video games said they play them with their children, and that this experience has brought them much closer together as a family. In the early days of the video games parents often dismissed them as nothing more than a diversion. The parents of today recognize the value of playing video games.

The grown ups of today are the first generation to be raised on video games. They were the first kids to play Tron, Pong, and Donkey Kong and they have never lost their interest in this kind of activity. They have matured along with video games, made them part of their everyday lives and used them as an escape from reality.

Some of the video games that are currently on the market are quite amazing in their technical and creative achievements. Corporations like Microsoft spend millions of dollars to create games like Halo 3 which offer an experience that is much more than a game. First person shooter video games like Halo 3 and Far Cry by Ubisoft put the players in the game and provide them with choices that determine the outcome. A person can play alone on their PC or with many other people online.

There are now games that offer the sense of touch through the use of special hardware that can be purchased. The hardware involves attaching sensors and transmitters to your skin. The result is a virtual experience that is so realistic you can literally feel it. This kind of interaction can be far more rewarding than simply watching a movie or listening to music. The adult entertainment industry sees the obvious value of this technology and they have seized upon the opportunity with great interest.

Video game developers have known for years that adults are their main customers. They are designing more and more games these days like Grand Theft Auto, San Andreas that are strictly for players over the age of eighteen.

More and more middle aged adults are playing video games these days. Back in 1999 only 9 percent of people over the age of 50 played video games. Now, in 2007 that number has increased to 24 percent.

The video game industry generates 80 billion dollars worldwide annually. Most of that money is made from the sales of video games and Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii video game consoles that are purchased by adults for themselves. That is, after they have purchased one for their kids, of course.

Michael P. Connelly is an Author, Artist and award-winning Filmmaker who writes on a variety of topics that effect people in their every day lives.

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I get a lot of criticism for playing video games. "What is a 29 year old doing playing video games?" Aren't you too old to be playing X-box? I've heard it all and quite honestly I'm getting tired of it. Video games have been a part of my life since I was six years old. That's 23 years, so in my eyes this is more than a hobby it's more like a passion. As I have gotten older I play less but video games are still a big part of my life. So that raises the question, "should adults play video games or leave them to the kids?"

First of all there are different ratings for video games just like movies are rated. You have rated "E" for everyone, "T" for teens and "M" for mature. The fact that there is a rating system for video games lets you know that they are made for different age groups. So with that being said would you let a 5 year old kid go see a rated R movie? Chances are you would not because there is going to be adult language and violence. Well, the same principles apply to video games. Some games are designed for children, while others are designed for mature gamers ages 18 and up. Take for example Grand Theft Auto IV by Rockstar Games. This is a wonderful video game, however I would not let my children play it. The main reason being the game has a M rating. There is more violence and graphic language in this game than a Terrantino film. The graphics and the game play are awesome, not to mention the game has a great story line to it but this is meant for a mature audience. My point is, some video games were created specifically for older gamers.

So my answer to the question is no. There is no age limit for someone who enjoys video games. I will still be a gamer when I reach age 50. It's just a part of my life that I don' t plan on changing. Now, let's discuss the adults who have a video game addiction. I am a recovering video game addict. I used to play at least four hours every day. Weekends, forget about it seven or eight hours easy! Listen, if you are playing that much and it is not your profession then you too are a video game addict. It wasn't until I started my online business that I was ready to do something about it. I always knew I had an addiction for video games but I never took that next step to do something about it. I can still remember playing Mario Bros. on my Nintendo for nine hours straight until the ac adapter blew out. A big part of running an online business is personal development. I realized that in order for me to develop into the man I want to be, some things had to take the back seat.

It's as simple as this, older gamers like myself have to get their priorities in order. If you don't have a job, you should not be playing video games all day. If you have kids, you should be spending much more time with them than on the video game. If you have a significant other, he or she should not feel like the video game is more important than they are. If you haven't been outside or seen another human in days because of video games, you need to evaluate your life. You can't expect different results if you don't take a different approach.

I can understand the argument from people who are against adults playing video games. Like drugs and alcohol, video games can ruin lives and destroy families. By no means am I putting video games in the same boat as heroin but it is an addiction. Before I started getting my life in order and prioritizing, my wife and I would argue three to four times a week. 95 percent of those arguments were due to me playing the video game excessively. She had no problem with me playing x-box, she had a problem with me playing for 5 hours a day. She had a problem with me being tired to get up for work. She had a problem with me not coming to bed because I was online with my buddies playing Gears of War. I honestly believe if I didn't slow down on my gaming she would have left me.

So where does a video game addict start when they decide it's time to grow up? Do what I did and listen when someone is telling you that you play too much. You have to admit to yourself and be ready to make a change. Next, you have to find another hobby to replace the gaming. You don't have to quit cold turkey, the point is to learn how to play for a reasonable amount of time. So instead of playing 6 hours a day, you only play 2 to 3 hours daily. Find something else to fill in that time that you would have been gaming. Personally, I started my online business and now this takes up more time than my gaming. Sure I miss playing as much as I used to but when I do play I enjoy it much more now. Not to mention, once my business takes off I will have the freedom to play when ever I want.

We know that us adult gamers have a negative stereotype. They think we are all lazy, burnouts who still live at home playing video games in our parents basement. You have to take responsibility for your actions and one by one we can give the gaming community a new image. I know the World of Warcraft(WoW) has a huge following. Some even go as far as to call it a cult. I'm not big into computer gaming but I can relate to them. There was one guy I read about who lost everything because of WoW. He would play for hours until it affected his job performance. Next thing you know he got fired, then the snowball effect came into play. A few months later his wife left him, then his home was foreclosed. The guy had literally allowed WoW to destroy his life. So to sum it all up, I am still going to side with my gamers and say that there is no age limit for video games. If a 30 year old wants to play Gears of War I feel that he has the right to do that. However, if that person's life is not in order they should not let video game interfere with their personal development. There is one question I want to ask all of those who criticize adult gamers, "how many hours of television do you watch a day?"

Discover how a laid off, video game addict turned his life around and now generates income online. The Paid Gamer

Would you have guessed that video games could improve your mind, or your life? Some people may scoff at the idea that video games may be helpful or beneficial in any way, other than provide a little diversion. However, there are quite a few benefits from playing video games!

Let's face it. Video games are primarily entertainment. They are enjoyed by millions of gamers all around the world for their cool graphics, great music, and interesting plots. To understand how these games can improve the minds of those that play them, we need to take a closer look.

1. Video games improve hand and eye coordination. This is easy to understand if you try to maneuver a character around using a game controller. Manipulating the game controller uses the same skills that it takes to maneuver a mouse around a computer screen, and is often more challenging since there are usually more buttons used in game play.

2. They feed the imagination. Of course, you can find some people claiming that while using television, videos, and gaming systems, people's imaginations are not engaged because an entire virtual environment is supplied for them. They say that video games hurt the imagination because games supply the mind with complete imagery instead of encouraging the mind to fill in the details of the environment for you. I really disagree with that view. Instead, I find that the imagery in the games actually fuels the imagination and drives it to consider new possibilities that might not have arisen otherwise.

3. Video games improve strategic thinking. Most of these games require players to think ahead and make decisions two or three steps ahead of a current situation. Players quickly learn the advantage of strategic thinking and they start to apply it to game play and to real-world situations and opportunities.

4. They teach patience and perseverance. No great game can be conquered in a day. Gaming teaches dedication and endurance, as some of the best and most popular games take weeks or even months to finish.

5. Video games enhance memorization. Playing these games can have a strong influence on memorization. In some games, characters are outfitted with a wide array or weapons or skills, and the player is most effective when these features are remembered instead of having to be looked up. Also, the terrain portrayed in many games (the "maps") represents a huge area, but accessing the maps can be disruptive to the game and cumbersome. To compensate, gamers will memorize a large portion of the terrain, and they'll remember the tasks required to get to specific areas.

6. They teach consequences. Video and computer games operate off of an "action - reaction" principle, with the player's actions determining next steps in the game play. This is a great opportunity to learn about consequences. Do something, and the game environment will be changed in a specific way.

7. Video games facilitate quick decision-making. The games often present the player with quick-changing situations. Game developers use the element of surprise to hold the interest and attention of gamers, and it's what makes games exciting to play. The challenge of many games is that to win, players must be able to make fast and smart decisions to cope with the many impromptu situations.

8. They encourage exploration. Players must explore the unknown and venture off the beaten path in role-playing games. They have to interact with characters that they've never met before. They have to enter areas of the game without knowing the consequence. And they have to open doors without knowing what's behind them. When playing these kinds of games, using courage to explore the unknown is not just an option, it's required.

9. Video games improve problem solving. It could be said that any game can hone problem-solving skills. However, video games are especially able to improve problem-solving ability, because most (if not all) of them are centered on challenging a player to solve a problem. In just one game, a player may solve anywhere from one to several hundred different problems.

These are only a few of the benefits of playing video games. I'm sure you could discover even more educational opportunities that are hidden inside video and computer games, once you start playing! And you are sure to enjoy hours of fun and amazement in the process.

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