Interesting Statistics About Video Games

I definitely went though a phase of being addicted (namely starcraft!) but whether it was for good or bad who can say? I can safely saw however that I do still enjoy the StarCraft board game just as much so maybe its just that..

I'm also 17 years old and I want to know what platform of gaming you use and the genre or type of games you play because I'm currently in the process of writing a research paper for school regarding the influence of video games among kids and I want to include a subjective section of personal examples from the video gamer perspective.

I would include my own because I'm a huge gamer but I can't because I'm writing the paper :P

I am a 17 year old girl, and play video games almost 10 hours a day and have for many years. It has not stunted my mental development, as I have A grades in GCSE exams and A levels, and I am now studying to be a civil engineer.

I think you should leave your grammar nazi/e-thug ethics out of this discussion my friend. Not achieving much here to be quite honest with you.

As for the article, it feels quite extrememly biased. I do not deny the possibility that video games "stunt the growth of the brains of teenagers" (although this is very hard for me to accept as fact), it seems to me that the effect that video games have on the brain of children/teens/adults differ from person to person, just as anything does.

There are some kids who do infact have hindered social abilities, or are just strange who play a lot of video games. But there are also plenty examples people who play video games far greater than this study has mentioned, and lead a balanced "normal" (whatever that entails) life(I for instance played video games for minimum 30 hours a week for a long period of time).

What I'm trying to say is, it's incredibly unfair to generalize anyone, let alone teen gamers, by saying that our minds are being numbed, and there is nothing tangible you receive from gaming.

The e-sports world is growing at a ridiculous rate. MLG (Major League Gaming found at www.mlgpro.com) are home to some of the best north-american gamers who compete on several flagship games across a variety of consoles. Some of the gamers earn 6 figure salaries a year from gaming alone (plus contracts, sponsorships etc.). MLG events can see over 100,000 people per weekend with thousands of competitors from all over. On top of this there is WCG (Word Cyber Games) whose main event/StarCraft championship finals sold out a venue of over 6000 people.

Point being, that competitive gaming is growing, and is far beyond the "basic 'yes' or 'no' statements in logic sequences" that you speak of. The interaction, focus, critical thinking, communication and team work top-tier players need to compete is far beyond your comprehension.

On top of that, some of these players who play 40 hours+ a week are also going to university/colleges or are currently involved in ongoing careers. Some are entrepeneurs. Some are professional atheletes. Some are "mind numbed" teens. What I'm trying to say is: Generalizations are a backwards way of labelling individuals. It is completely situational and dependant on the person.

Video games can be competitive, fun and social. I don't really see what the problem is with any of those things, let alone all at once.

Something to keep in mind: balance is key. Some kids can balance their school work, friends and other hobbies alongside the avid playing of video games. Some kids can't. It's just like anything else in this world.

- NF

Recently the military has done studies on how video games affect the mind. In conclusion, the results must be benefical since they are now including military simulations in soldiers training.

As for the social aspect, many gamers go and compete in local tourneys in which they meet new people and have a chance to win money prizes. They help keep distant friends together and has been shown to increase social skills within teens over 12 years.

Now as for the whole argument, the fact that video games hurt childrens developements is false. Many studies claim they'res a "link" between these so called "controlled" studies. Most studies found a correlation, not a causal relationship, which means the research could simply show that aggressive people like aggressive entertainment. That's why the vague term "links" is used here.

people need to realize its the parents resopsibility. My mom kicked us outside till it was dark, she even locked all the doors so we couldnt get in....i thank her for that, but still think about what is important you got to even the plying field...whats more important getting money or not having a life? friends or a headset?

Hmm in the attached article you will note that they refer to the different areas of the brain relating to specific function... umm hello? That goes both ways. More social growth and activity doing math for 30min? Anyone see the obvious here? The kids were barely even focusing on the single digit math problems in front of them and thinking "who the hell do i have to talk to to get out of here!" and that my friends is hilariously obvious. Also what was the test base used for the research? A single game. There are many different styles of games out there and some of them incorporate a good amount of math as well as social skills. I think this is a case of "all things in moderation" whether that be from a parent or self induced. The ability to exhibit self control is from experience and that in turn develops the said "fibers" of the brain (which in fact are synapses). Memory and the ability to learn is relative to this, experience and not being well rounded through interaction and activity will of course change how the mind functions, so will too much of an activity. Be responsible and help others to be responsible by not labeling "objects" with "human" failings.

yes i used to be addicted to games until my mother took it away from me for about 6 months until she thought that i could actually handle it and my school work and friends and so i still play it now but its alot more blanced not just game game game all day thats what parents need to do, make sure there kids are balancing instead of overlooking it thinking it was just one time and make sure they dont play all day. Playing the game did make more antisocial though, when she took it away from me i didn't reall know how to interact with real people.

Ditto ^

seriously?? i grew up playing video games ALL the time. im 19 now and i still do, i also workout everyday non-fail. i dont skip my classes to play games or turn down chilling with my bros or new people JUST to play games... they're is nothing wrong with playing lots of games.. you just have to level out with other activities, try moshpits or working out :P i do

Didnt the military develop video games specifically for promotional purposes, not hand eye-coordnation purposes? Yes Games do have somewhat of a social aspect but how much live interaction can a child get playing video game? I mean its easy to be whomever you want to be when your online or "undercover" but how much real social skill do you gain from sitting at a TV or video game device all day?

i believe video game scause violence in a childs life i have seen it happen many times

Alright, these statistics are clearly flawed. First off, games stunting the developement of youth today? Well, hate to break it to you ( I'm lying I'd love to break it to you)but games today are helping children develope quicker hand eye coordination (hence the use of video games by the military) and yes the whole antisocial aspect... wait a second there is no anti-social aspect more than 60% of video games today are social ones.

Note that Japan has very serious problems with its young men withdrawing from society due to extended amounts of time playing games, watching T.V. or surfing the web. However, video games are not at fault.

You see, Japanese parents have had a very lax parenting model.

Step 1: Give Jin Final Fantasy XIII

Step 2: Ignore

Step 3: ???

Step 4: Profit

I find this a pathetic attempt at taking blame away from the parents, and putting it on something that is unrelated.

Perhaps the people with the under developed frontal lobe simply did not have enough love and attention from their parents? Of course, kids aren't the parents resposibility. What a crazy thought!

P.S. I learned to read at a very young age (before anyone else I knew at the same age) because of video games. Just a little food for thought.

Pshh this is ridiculous, Do you realize how complicated it is to play some of the games out there today? My parents can't even figure some of them out. How could it not stimulate your brain? This was probably written by someone who has never touched a videogame console in their life.

For every study cited in this article there are other studies that show that video games are an effective tool for education and engagement. Also, "video games" is a huge general category - there are all kinds of games, and many designed primarily to be educational.

Great post. There is a new directory called GrabStats.com - http://www.grabstats.com - that has a few hundred very interesting stats on video games and their effects.

Video Game Industry Statistics
http://www.grabstats.com/statcategorymain.asp?StatCatID=13

Online Gaming Industry Statistics
http://www.grabstats.com/statcategorymain.asp?StatCatID=14

lol wow ok so video games may not stimulate that part of the brain but then again they say in there its a nintendo game which means selection is limited and according to this article that actually states what games were used http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1879019.stm#map video games can help learn and have helped students in english classes according to another article because most games are based off existing stories so they have an easier time relating to the story.

I'm 20 and I have a little brother. I wish I could have gotten him to play outside with me more when we were younger. My mom thought it would even make him smarter. I've seen my brother turn more antisocial and self conscious and overweight because he doesn't get out enough and he started at such a young age that it's too hard to break the habit.
Isn't that enough of a reason? Why do you need all these facts and statistics? Watch what happens to your kids when you replace nature and imagination with a TV screen and remote. You are all fathers, right? My advice is spend time with your kids, give them enough attention and love that they won't need an artificial video game to give them that.

As a teacher, researching the field of learning development within computer games I find your logic fundamentally flawed. Yes generation X does have issued with old fashioned literacy, but how much l33t speak do you kn0\/\/?

Gen X has different thought, concentration patterns to older generations and is far more capaple of adapting to a rapidly changing world.

Just beacause you found no tangeable reward from gaming, doesn't mean gamers would find your interests any more rewarding. Modern gamers find the lack of interactivity stifling in literature.

Learning is far more about problem solving today and far less about knowledge, for example logarithm tables are a thing of the past.

Just because this trend is relatively new and expanding it is not necessarily bad. There is a mountain of evidence to the contrary. Read Gee 2007 "What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy" it's a good start to understanding something you clearly have a social disconnect with.

"Furthermore, Japanese researchers found that playing computer games stunted the development of the frontal lobe of the brain in teenagers, which is a crucial part of developing impulse control."

Idiot. Next time obtain facts that make sense.

Re: your crazy, playing video

The word “your” should be “you're.” You are probably trying to combine two separate words and not attempting to denote second person ownership. The word "I" should be capitalized when used as a first person pronoun. The text, "i am in 1st year university" is not proper English.

I wonder if meeting requirements to complete a level in a game, and meeting requirements to complete (even with an "A") a level or class in school is truly indicative of intelligence.

I played too many games before. I realized that fundamentally, my entire time was spent fulfilling basic "yes" or "no" statements in logic sequences in the computer program. I found no tangible reward, and though I may have learned a small amount of history or of other subjects, my time would have been better used and more purposeful in studying those topics independently. Above all, be honest with yourself.

your crazy, playing video games does nothing to your brain. i am in 1st year university, i play video games more than 13 hours a week and i get straight A's in school. i know many students who play video games and get straight A's also. that report is ridiculous.

You might want to quote your source with these statistics. I'm not contesting their validity, it would just be nice in case someone wanted to use those statistics in a report or research paper (I being one such person).