Saturday, March 12, 2011
Gaming Platforms Are Good For People Of All Ages
Gaming systems are not the same as they used to be. Motion gaming is getting people off of the sofas and onto the floor. Not only are kids playing the games, but so are their parents and even their grandparents. Senior living facilities are using motion gaming as a rehabilitation tool.
Motion gaming has brought seniors together and has increased socializing. Many senior facilities have found that motion gaming is a good activity for seniors to enjoy. Game systems like the Nintendo Wii, The xbox 360 kinect and the Playstation Move have brought out the competitive nature of the senior citizens and video gaming tournaments are regularly held between different senior centers and while he majority of the seniors at the community centers love motion gaming they occasionally get frustrated with the controls because they forget which button to push or are unsure about how to play some of the games. After a person stops worrying about the small things, they are able to enjoy the fun and physical activity that the platforms bring to them.
While many gamers have become very excited with the recent xbox 360 kinect release date, many senior citizens have become loyal to the Nintendo Wii which has been around for many years and this is because it allows a player to interact with the gaming system using a remote control and various other devices to simulate playing familiar sports such as tennis or bowling. What makes motion gaming different is that it makes the user interact using the body’s major muscle groups, and not just the hands as with most other video games.
People have been using technology to help get them moving form many years. But with motion gaming a person is able to exercise in a new way. The interactive nature of the games allows a person to become part of the game. Before they were watching someone on a screen show them how to exercise. Motion gaming has made the exercise more real. Not only can the elderly get the exercise they need, but it can also be used to help them get the exercise they need after they are injured.
Another benefit of the new gaming platforms is they work a person out mentally as well as physically. Research has shown that playing these games can help older people with many conditions that include Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Companies have noticed how the games are being used. They have started to develop games that are targeted for the senior market. There is no limit to how old or young a person is if they wan to play video games. The gaming companies have come up with many titles that are not difficult for someone to understand and can pick up and play without a long learning curve.
Video games have been around for many decades. People who were gamers back in the seventies are still playing games. Senior citizens are not afraid of gaming because it is something they have always done. But the way they are playing has changed dramatically.
Parents used to worry about the effects that sitting on a couch holding a controller in the hand would have on a person’s body. People worried that playing games would cause people to be less active and could lead to many physical problems. Motion gaming has changed that. The gaming platforms have people dancing and exercising. Young and old alike are finding out that it is fun to be a part of the game.