Who Has Time For Bowling? I Have A Raid In Thirty Minutes.

I’ve seen a few articles in my inbox over the past week or so that are, to me at least, worth sharing. Interestingly enough, they all involve various studies centered around video games.  Of course, since I manage a video game store, everyone sends me any articles they see that include even the slightest mention of video games, which is great because I will just share them here.

I’m sure that most people who follow video game news at all have seen tons of stories about how great Nintendo Wii games are for seniors.  Recent studies involving seniors and Nintendo Wii games have shown evidence that playing Wii games can possibly slow mental decline and combat depression.  The latest study that I received in my inbox involved something slightly different.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the doc who frequently appears on Oprah, reports on a pilot study in which the seniors who participated were taught to play World of Warcraft.  According to the study, the participants showed improved mental functions on a battery of tests.  Combined with the results of a study sponsored by the Swedish Youth Care Foundation,  which concluded that World of Warcraft is as addictive as cocaine, this paints an interesting picture.  I wonder what came first, the study, or the nickname “World of Warcrack?”

Think about it.  In a few years, our nursing homes and elder care centers could be full of mentally sharp, but totally addicted seniors drooling listlessly over their computer screens while the ping-pong tables and shuffleboard courts sit as unused as the Nintendo Wii consoles.  Next time you’re on WoW, show some mercy, that level 80 could be your grandfather.