Gamers
From the New York Post:Video games aren't just for kids anymore.
Gamers' average ages clock in at 29, according to a new survey - and 41 percent of gamers are women.
The $11 billion video-game industry is trying to target gamers in their 20s and 30s - and the owners of some of New York's hottest clubs now boast video-game consoles for their grown-up clientele.
At nightspot Play in the West Village, hipsters put down their drinks in favor of spending some quality time with the PlayStation attached to plasma screens. Play suggests its customers reserve spots in advance in the PlayStation seating area.
At another hip lounge, Chelsea's Social Club, people crowd around a pair of PlayStations hooked up to giant 50-foot plasma screens when not hitting the dance floor.
"New Yorkers like trendy, edgy things that are right on the crest of what's new, before it goes mass market, and today that definitely includes video games," says Wilson Kriegel, 28, owner of the Village's Game Time Nation, where you can rent blocks of game time on a variety of consoles, all hooked up to 32-inch plasma screens.
"Believe it or not, we have a lot of people that come here on dates, people who are 20 to 33 years old."
Matt's Chat
For you locals, this explains our friend Tom ALOT. But one question that I have is: must the hardcore gamers spend ALL their time playing games? What effect is this having on our culture?Mark's Remarks
We are seeing some of the effects of video game culture now in views on the War in Iraq. We have raised children to think that violence isn't "ugly", that wars can be fought with no one getting killed, and we have tried to nintendoize the war. Now, as once again we are forced to realize that war is ugly, that it is violent, we are seeing people who thought life was like a video game get cold feet and turn on the war, even though our cause is just.
Also, we are seeing increasing violence in young people. If games like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City are really adult games, then why is it that some of the children I tutor who are only 11, know the game and discuss it? What are we doing, here, people?
The answer lies in personal responsibilty. It lies in finding fulfillment in the "real" world. We cannot simply give up on fulfillment in this world for the fantasies of our own creations in a digital world. Also, parents cannot allow the ps2 or xbox to become the new digital babysitter to replace television. Take some responsibility, for heaven's sake!
