Adults Love Video Games

flabbybuns writes "For those of you who feel you may waste too much time behind a controller fret no longer. According to a recent report on adult gamer statistics, it turns out that the adults are more hardcore about gaming than the kids are. "

Stress relief

[Migraineman]

God Mode + FPS = Stress Relief

not as young as I used to be

[Dandano]

I find that the hangovers from games are much less severe than the drug/substance hangovers I used to get in college.

I believe I speak for most of Slashdot when I say

[Rob T Firefly]

well, DUH.

The first batch of kids in history to grow up playing videogames are now adults with the money to afford today's largely exorbitant game prices, and the age to be able to play games rated as violent/sexy/socially unredeeming as they want to.

RTFA and it agrees with what I've seen

[eamonman]

25 percent adults playing portables vs 75? percent teens

    - Adults are busying doing something like WORK or driving home so it's hard to play games then. Once they get home, they have their entertainment system, so there's no use playing on something with a tiny screen vs the console hooked into the big screen tv, or even the computer. Teens on the other hand are the ones in the back seat playing their games (hey, I did that with my game boy way back when.) Those 25% adults are either commuting by train and/or really love Nintendogs.

Teen guys mostly play online - Say it ain't so. Who doesn't love talking smack to a potentially international audience.

Teen girls (surprisingly) mostly play multiplayer - Not really surprising; this is why there's a Mario Party *7*.

Re:Of course we do.

[kannibal_klown]

I mean, come on. This is a no brainer.

I'm an adult, but my whole childhoold was filled with gaming, through my teenage years. And I still play games.

Sure, if it was 1985 I'd be shocked to hear that more adult gamers were so numerous. But in this period, most young adults grew up playing Atari/Intellivision/Coleco, Nintento, SNES, etc. It's common sense that many of them would continue the habit.

I keep hoping...

[PFI_Optix]

I keep hoping that some day the mainstream groupthink will come to realize that video games are no more immature a pasttime than watching television. The average American has no problem sitting in front of a TV for two hours a night, yet the same people act as if there's something wrong with an adult gaming for the same length of time.

He watches TV, she plays bridge with her friends, they read books, I play games. What's the big deal?

does it inversely relate with impressing women?

[bubba_the_mermaid]

In the tween/early teen years, men spend less time trying to impress women, and more time following "other" pursuits, which video games definitely fall into. From ages 15-25, we spend most of our time trying to impress women, which leaves less time for videogames, sports and other pursuits.

After that, we have long term girlfriends and wives, so pursuing other women will only get us into trouble. Instead, we revert back and pursue "other" interests... videogames, sports etc.

What are you smoking?

[LanMan04]

Generally, Adults have stopped learning (unless you go to university), and thus, they have more time to game and less to study (as high school is a frantic time).

I'm not sure what planet you're from, but I have WAY less time to game now that I'm a 40-hr a week employee than I did when in college (both undergrad and grad). There's no way in hell I spent a full 8 hours a day * 5 days a week on school work and/or class. A real job TOTALLY takes away from game time.

Most adults don't live with their moms

[skam240]

A big reason why adults are more hardcore gammers may be because they don't (typicaly) live with their parents like kids do. They don't have Moms and Dads bugging them to go outside to play and getting them into sports programs. Parents are in charge of the house's TV so if they want video games on it they can make it happen as opposed to kids who have to get their game time in when their parents arent using the tube. Likewise with the family computer.

One might say, in responce, that the wife (or husband) might serve as a limiting factor towards gaming for adults. One thing I have noticed, however, is that married men at least, often have friend networks far smaller than that of most children (which meens they go out to play far less often). While I only have a moderate number of married friends those that I know I see out in social situations far less while I see them playing more games or watching more tv now than they did when they were single. This being housebound seems to happen (albeit less so) to even those married couples who don't have children.

Re:Vague article with weak numbers.

[daniel422]

10 hours a week -- that's 2 hours a weeknight. Pretty easy for MMORPG fare or even most FPS. I'm sorry(?) to say I play at least that much after the kids go to bed. Sometimes my son and I play together, too. I definitely get more time in becasue I GO TO BED MUCH LATER since I'm not a growing boy anymore (not even sideways). Looking at the hours my kids are up (and even would be up when they're older) and able to play -- I just have more time. I've got 2 hours at a minimum of time after they're in bed every day to divide upon my entertainment.
I've got the income, I've got the habits (playing in college and afterward single-life incurred some bad VG habits), and I don't have Mom telling me to turn off the TV. Oh, I've also got all the money, and discerning video game tastes.
While I've been an avid gamer since pong came out (I still have every system I've ever owned since the 2600 -- and they all work), my parents limited the amount of TV/games I played as a kid and I will do the same to my kids. If I was playing an hour or two a day then I was lucky. I think most parents still restrict the amount of time spent in front of the TV to some degree.
When they get old they can waste their time playing (like me!) all they want. Till then they get to grow up with the master. And hey -- I'm pretty well informed on game content too, so I know exactly what they're being exposed to.
As an adult, I find most TV (broadcast especially) to be unwatchable. My cable box never seems to leave the Discovery, History, Science Channel and Cartoon Network -- and then it's only if something interesting is on. If I'm going to waste my time I'd rather be playing a game and keep my brain in it.

boy that's an odd result /sarcasm

[argStyopa]

Let's see, you have two people in a household that are 'gamers'.

One has a bedtime, one can stay up all night.

One has homework, the other has a boss that can be placated (to a point).

One has (perhaps) an allowance or a part time job, so $50 for a game is a major investment, the other has a REAL job where dropping $3000 for a new computer may be about a similar investment.

Which one would be prone to hardcore gaming addiction?

As far as adults are concerned, the only thing that can stop us are spouses, and, well, this IS slashdot...

Re:Obvious

[drinkypoo]

I think they were making the assumption that couples have children. The best situation is DINK, "dual income no kids"... which is where I am now. Well, it's even better if you make decent money to boot...

Re:Kids lack the necessary intellect!

[Anonymous Coward]

In the eyes of a child Pong is just a directive, save the ball from going off the table. In reality it is a brilliant metaphor detailing the nature of complimentary opposition, the goals of the two paddles may oppose one another, but in both trying equally hard everything remains in balance, and so life continues!

Re:Stress relief

[Kokuyo]

I am rally not trying to flame you here but... The demands of marriage? My marriage doesn't demand shit of me. It just gives me a haven of comfort, rest and peace. I'm sorry to phrase it like that but... if your marriage puts you through even more stress, why have you married in the first place?