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Research Study: Just About All Teens Play Video Games

Well, it's the secret of the week: video games are kinda popular amongst teens. No, really.

Now, when I was in high school, I'd estimate that maybe 1/3 of the students played video games, and every last one of them were male. But now, according to a PewResearch Center study , 97% of teens play video games "of some sort," and that includes 99% of boys and 94% of girls (yep, 94%). Of course, the realists will point out that "of some sort" can translate to 15 minutes of Bejeweled before bed, but nevertheless, it's a very impressive statistic considering the industry's past. In addition, it was revealed that 86% of those who play enjoyed their interactive entertainment on a console, while 73% had their fun on a computer. Lastly, we learn that "your civic outcomes aren't affected by how much you play video games," but at the same time, certain types of games can make you more "civic-minded." For the record, playing offline leads to more civic-minded thoughts and behavior while we have to say "not so much" in regards to those who only play online. Hey, we've always said the solo experiences were a bit more in-depth in terms of…well, everything!

So anyway, if you hadn't already guessed, games are a cornerstone of the teen lifestyle these days. …damnit, how come I couldn't have been in high school during this time? 🙁

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Bo0mKiiD
Bo0mKiiD
14 years ago

I was a stat, cool.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

Ben, at least we don't have homework every night – unlike those poor high-school students.


Last edited by TheHighlander on 6/7/2009 10:23:57 PM

kevinater321
kevinater321
14 years ago

ughhh essay due tomorrow (N)

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
14 years ago

You got that backwards, I think. 😉

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

Hmmm….too true…

Scarecrow
Scarecrow
14 years ago

God!

And it's not over 'till you finish college :*(

College is truly the worst of 'em all since they don't teach you anything…

Anyway just one semester

somethingrandom
somethingrandom
14 years ago

Work is so much better than high school. You get to look forward to the next pay check. School is just listening to boring teachers who don't know what they are talking about. Not only that, but there's also the fact that it's mandatory and you always have to get up at 7:00 (varies based on distance from school). EDIT: Plus, how many jobs require you to take your work home with you? That is the most criminal thing ever invented.

P.S. Ben, I'm pretty sure the only people who play Bejeweled are 30-50 year old women.


Last edited by somethingrandom on 6/9/2009 10:28:44 PM

Oyashiro
Oyashiro
14 years ago

I like how you used a picture of two people that are defiantly not teens. 🙂

Oyashiro
Oyashiro
14 years ago

Definitely*

Edit button disappears once you reload the page… -_-

Midris7
Midris7
14 years ago

Yeah, I remember when I was in high school and the next gen consoles just came out. I think I was a sophomore. But back on topic, people were bringing in their 360 controllers showing them off as they were the first ones to get it, haha.

MadKatBebop
MadKatBebop
14 years ago

I didn't know that many of us played video games(then again I can't name anybody I know in my school who dose not play video games)

LimitedVertigo
LimitedVertigo
14 years ago

I was a freshman in high school when FF7 came out.

Banky A
Banky A
14 years ago

Yeah, hardly any 'nice' girls in New Zealand play games ^_^

Which is soooo sad 🙁

Banky A
Banky A
14 years ago

*videogames

AntDC
AntDC
14 years ago

That's so true…

Morals
Morals
14 years ago

Ya but most of em are halo twitchers or wii havers.

WolfCrimson
WolfCrimson
14 years ago

What's a halo twitcher?

TroubleMaker
TroubleMaker
14 years ago

"Halo Twithchers", LMAO, instant classic

Cunn8780
Cunn8780
14 years ago

I was 6 when the NES came out, and I haven't stopped since. I just wish I was part of that statistic. Man, I'm old. 🙂

Scarecrow
Scarecrow
14 years ago

Back in the days 1990s it was rare to find babes playing games…

Funny how some of them do play games now

Still, they're not hardcore enough, that's the problem.

Beamboom
Beamboom
14 years ago

The problem… For who? 😀

Scarecrow
Scarecrow
14 years ago

All of us 😀

You could say it's a problem for these so called girl gamers since they're missing the greater games.

Vivi_Gamer
Vivi_Gamer
14 years ago

Well schools certainly changed since i was there then and that was only 3 years ago. and back then in my school it seemed 50/50, possibly below that.

Jalex
Jalex
14 years ago

Man, when I started school, it was mostly only the so-called 'nerds' that played video games.
Now nearly every kid or young adult I know either plays a Wii (and not much) or plays some form of online game or portion of a game for hours on end. -sigh- Gamers-wise, I miss the pre-PS2 years…..but thank God I'm betrothed to an RPG-loving Girl! 🙂


Last edited by Jalex on 6/8/2009 7:45:43 AM

CH1N00K
CH1N00K
14 years ago

Yeah, my friends and I played video games, but it wasn't as advertised as it is now. We didn't sit around at school and talk about what games we played. We did it after school where no one could see us. The ones that did advertise that they played video games were the same group of guys that played Dungeons and Dragons and Magic in the library at lunch. They weren't exactly high up the social standings…but looking back, I wish I'd spent more time with them then some of the people I did hang out with…lol.

At least they had an imagination and a sense of humour. But my religious mother would have nailed me to a cross if she found out I was hanging around Dungeon and Dragons people..that game is the spawn of Satan!…ah religion..promotes understanding and open mindedness…


Last edited by CH1N00K on 6/8/2009 10:20:41 AM

Troy Powers
Troy Powers
14 years ago

Good to see the return of the two happy gaming negroes.

BikerSaint
BikerSaint
14 years ago

Guess that makes me an antique!

I started with a Tandy computer, when there really weren't very much games other than a few little funny looking black & white screen blips on the machine.
Damn, I can't even remember the game anymore.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

Ice Hockey and table tennis on a monochrome TV using a Binatone game console. I had no idea that those moving blips on screen would ever become the HD glory we have today.

vicious54
vicious54
14 years ago

In middle school they would make us play Oregon Trail in our computer class but now video games are bad for you and not to be played. Ha, what a joke.

Been playing since Atari.

tlpn99
tlpn99
14 years ago

When I was in school we all played video games. I seem to be the only one that does so now on a regular basis still.

My cousin tries but with him having the baby and a wife now he gets about 30 mins a night if that. He manages to play a few games of Fifa before crawling to bed to start the day all over again.

Man so glad that's not me lol.

Troy Powers
Troy Powers
14 years ago

I'm in that boat. With the kid, I just don't have the time I used to. The last game I actually FINISHED was Heavenly Sword.

shaydey77
shaydey77
14 years ago

86% of those who play enjoyed their interactive entertainment on a console, while 73% had their fun on a computer.

SO there is 159percent of gamers out there..thats gud to know!!ha

Been gaming since the Sega Mega Drive. Blue hedgehog stole my heart..and mind…and time..and i dont care!!

Robochic
Robochic
14 years ago

I have been playing video games for a while, but what stole my heart for me to be a big gamer was Conkers bad fur day i dont' care what people say I love that little squirrel LOL

I have 2 kids, once they go to bed bam i throw a game in i play about 3 hours per night then go to bed. But once i'm off mat leave i know that'll change cause then i have to work the night shift Booo for night shift.

Kangasfwa
Kangasfwa
14 years ago

Super Metroid is the first game I ever played.

Insomniac's Spyro games are the reason I still play today.

Insomniac is still my favorite developer, by the way.

Perry Katy
Perry Katy
14 years ago

Been playing video games since 5 years old.
My first console is SNES. Then, i moved to Genesis, PSX, PS2 and the last is my lovelly PS3:)

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