http://www.3news.co.nz/entertainment/new-zealanders-find-videogames-beneficial-for-positive-ageing---study-2015091012#axzz3lIvR3FZU

http://www.gameplanet.co.nz/news/g55f0c51c19134/Digital-NZ-report-reveals-how-Kiwis-play-games/

The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) has released the Digital New Zealand Report 2016, finding that videogames are "beneficial for positive ageing".

According to the report, 43 percent of New Zealanders over 65 play games, compared to 32 percent in 2013, while the average age of gamers in New Zealand has gone up from 33 at the last report to 34.

Those over 50 are the fastest-growing segment of the population new to games, which Professor Jeff Brand of Bond University - the lead author of the report - said shows that "New Zealanders are increasingly using games as a preventive measure to healthy ageing and the benefits are undeniable".

67% of New Zealanders are gamers.

Now I know a lot of those 67% aren't playing GTA or CoD. They are playing Freecell and Spider Solitaire, or smartphone/tablet games. So much of the findings, especially about over 50s who are "gamers", should be interpretted in that light. We're not going to see an explosion of old folks BMing the young'un in Counterstrike matches.

Some other interesting stats

(Hello Jimmy Kimmel) "The growing trend of videogame spectating was also looked at, with DNZ finding that 48 percent of Kiwi players watch gameplay videos (live streams, walkthroughs, Let's Plays, eSports, and so on) online. Fifteen percent have created walkthroughs to share with others." and "The report found that 84 percent of adults say playing games improves thinking skills, 70 percent agree that videogames increase mental stimulation, 76 percent find they help improve coordination and dexterity and 47 percent state that games help fight dementia."

Playing video games is a waste of time aye Jimmy? Sure, opinions are like arseholes and if it's the opinion of 47% of adults that gaming helps fight dementia then either 47% of people are wrong or 53% of people are wrong. But still the fact it's a widely held perception is interesting.

"The multiple-screen household is the new norm – 83 percent of New Zealand households have three or more screens in their homes - 49 percent have five or more screens."

I have 5 screens: 2TVs, 2 laptops, 1 desktop. And if you count tablets and smartphones it goes up to 9 screens capable of video gaming.

"Video games beyond entertainment –23 percent of Kiwi adults have used video games at work for training purposes, and 38 percent of parents say their children have used video games for school curriculum"

My nephew's friend used the story from Infamous as fiction study in an exam and got an A. My son has referenced Smite as part of his classical studies class. I've not experienced video games for work training purposes yet.

."..video game devices are present in 98 percent of New Zealand family homes,"

Of course most of those will be PCs and smartphones. Many of which will not be used for any video game other than solitaire card games.

"...while the average age of gamers in New Zealand has gone up from 33 at the last report to 34."

So we're continuing to get older. This does and will affect what games will and won't succeed commercially, and probably is one of the factors in the rise of story-driven games. 

Anyway, at least now I'll be able to tell my wife I am doing something constructive and good for my health when I play my games, and say "I know it's true because I read it on the internet".

I didn't read the article but I assume it means everyone on the forums is going to become immortal sex gods!