I've never been completely down-in-the-mouth about the rise of casual gaming, but I'm sure I've said some snarky things on the topic in the past. A new study makes me feel bad for the things I've said.
The Information Solutions Group conducted a survey of casual gamers and found that disabled people have embraced these games as a source of relief or distraction. Of the 13,296 casual game players polled, 2,728 respondents indicated that they were disabled in some way. About 77 percent of these gamers said that casual games provide "additional benefits over and above what a typical non-disabled player might experience."
So, casual games are helping people? One respondent said, "Our son with Attention Deficit Disorder does not really remember he has a disability when he is playing." Another, a 58-year-old man, said, "Games like Bejeweled and Peggle, with simple controls that are also mentally challenging and engaging are ideal for me, because my mind moves as quickly as the next guy's but I type with a mouth-stick. In some ways, games like these are the greatest thing that's appeared on the computer scene for people like me."
What's really interesting is that almost half of these disabled gamers have recommended casual games to other disabled people, and some are even playing as prescribed by a doctor.
This study may be an eye opener for gamers in the "hardcore" set. Casual games may not be for us, but it's good to know that they're doing disabled people some good.
Check out the full details of this study at WorthPlaying.
Contest:
5:27 PM on 06.11.2008
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I don't have a disability, but I don't doubt at all that the elements I enjoy in Casual Games can be appreciated by anyone that just need a breather to focus and keep their mind working better.
I hope I don't sound ignorant, but this had never occured to me before. Great blog. Its good the issue has been awarded some attention.
in other words, this does not apply to casual gamers as a whole. in addition, since the survey is unscientific, it cannot be determined what percentage are actually handicapped, even if just applying it to popcap.com gamers.
for a true random sample, survey companies use random phone calls, and randomize the series of questions so that initial questions dont influence the answers of later questions. i took a couple classes on this for my IR degree, its pretty crazy stuff.
Noone cares that you're in college. This survey isn't being submitted to a medical journal, it's not being peer-reviewed to be publish in a Psychology Journal, it's not going down as part of American History and inputed into your Encyclopedia of Britianica under "Casual Gaming - 2008".
Calm the hell down, 20% of Pcpcap.com users that replied to a survey said they had some disability. Just accept it, and use your college degree for good, never for evil, or in this case, trying to debunk shit that shouldn't be held to the standards your Statistics 101 Profressor would have a heart attack over.
Congratulations.
That said, I don't think ADD can be put on the same level as someone with a physical disability. Video games have been subduing over active kids since its first inception.
i was referring more to people who may have the use of their hands but have difficulty using their arms. also people that cant stand might have trouble playing games where 'normally' u would be expected to stand and play.