And you thought computer games were just for kids?

Recent studies have shown that it’s not just kids and teens who are into video games.  According to the US Entertainment Software Association, these days the average “gamer” is 33 years old and has been playing games for at least the last 10 years.

Businesses are beginning to realise what their employees get up to in their spare time and some companies are even trying to incorporate these gaming skills into everyday work.

Many of these games rely on a high element of teamwork which could mean organising or co-ordinating large groups of people.  Some companies are going even further and even introducing computer games into the office.  And this has come up with surprisingly positive results including increased job satisfaction and, contrary to popular belief, higher levels of productivity.

Workers feel that being allowed to play games at work in the middle of the day improved concentration and some compared it with taking a coffee break.  Others felt that it was a great way of dealing with stress.  One company actually noticed a significant difference in the amount of sick-days taken by staff and put this down to game playing.

Teachers are catching on to the attraction of games too.  For years they have been well aware of their students’ interest in computer games but this has been condemned as a bad habit and something that should be discouraged.  Teens’ increasing game addiction is thought to have led to a decrease in students’ concentration and the current epidemic of obesity has also been blamed on students’ interest in solitary gaming rather than teamsports.

However, a recent UK study has come up with evidence to the contrary.  Simulation games have been deemed to have increased children’s planning skills, mathematics, reading and spelling.

The children and teens themselves say they prefer to play games in pairs, small groups or teams contradicting the previously believed criticisms against solitary gaming.

The Department of Education is now looking into incorporating gaming into the syllabus.  Students are predicted to become far more engrossed in course material when faced with it in a gaming context.  Even gym classes are piloting video games  where players must move their bodies rather than just a joystick or press some buttons.  

And the perfect job for the average gamer?  A games tester where essential skills include persistence, patience and the ability to play games for long periods!