We're not all obese lowlifes, says new survey.

[inter]

January 11, 2005 - The Entertainment Software Association "shatters myths about the profile of typical American video game players" is the press release about a study done by the ESA. According to the research, the average enthusiast gamer exercises, volunteers, and regularly attends religious services that don't include sacrificing virgins to a gargoyle named Dargloth the Magnificent.

Peter D. Hart Research Associates' survey states that videogame players spend less time gaming and more time exercising, participating in sports, doing volunteer work, reading, or "engaging in religious, creative, and cultural activities." Gamers who spend 6.8 hours a week playing games usually spend about 23.4 hours a week doing *some* of those activities, whereas gamers who spend 11 or more hours a week playing use about 34.5 hours of their week doing those other neat things.

Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA, says, "Gamers are everywhere and they're everyone. They are your friends, neighbors, co-workers, relatives, and kids. They lead responsible and caring lives, balancing their enjoyment of interactive entertainment with many other activities important to a well-rounded lifestyle. Indeed, those who continue to portray the game population as single-minded loafers are living in their own fantasy world."

We're not all fat, either. Just when anti gaming groups are trying to pin extra tummy rolls on excessive KOTOR play, Peter D. Hart Research Associates' survey reports that gamers claim to be playing sports and exercising for more than 20 hours a month, although the survey does not report the average height and weight of its participants.

* Findings include: 45% of gamers volunteer for 5.4 hours a month.
* 61% of gamers get religious for several hours a month.
* 93% of gamers read.
* 62% of gamers attend cultural events, like concerts, museums, or the theater.
* 50% of gamers paint, write, or play music.
* 94% of gamers follow current events.
* 78% of game5rs vote.

It should be noted that the study polled a random national sample of 802 adults. That's adults, not kids or teenagers.

[Laguna Loire]

Obese gamers...? Haha, that'd be funny seing someone as big as Jabba the Hut sitting there playing KOTOR all day...

[DayleJ]

its true...most of us here play sports and do over activities...we don't sit infront of the pc/ps2/Xbox or wotever all day.....stereotypical *******s