Virtually A Gaming Addict

Sun Herald

Sunday April 29, 2007

By Caroline Marcus

FOR a couple of hours a week, Ray Wills jumps around and gestures wildly at his television set, playing virtual reality sports such as golf and bowls.

Mr Wills, 70, is not a stereotypical video gaming addict, but admits he has been hooked since his daughter bought him a Nintendo Wii.

The elderly are the fastest-growing consumer of computer games after women, making up 8 per cent of all gamers, a study by the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia reveals.

"I might not touch it for three or four days, then I will get the urge and, once you start, you can't stop and the time goes so fast," Mr Wills said.

The virtual reality-style games that require players to act out the sport they are playing, are already a hit in US nursing homes.

Bowls is reportedly a favourite with older players. Some homes schedule weekly tournaments.

Unlike other computer games, often accused of promoting a sedentary lifestyle, the Wii has been praised by health organisations. Alzheimer's Australia endorsed the console for its physical and mental benefits.

Studies show that people who maintain mentally active lifestyles have a reduced risk of developing dementia, the group's research and development manager, Anna Conn, said.

"Playing the Nintendo Wii console in particular seems to combine gentle physical and mental exercise and can include a social component as well - for example, seniors playing Wii bowls tournaments," Dr Conn said.

"These are all things we would encourage in order to maintain brain health and reduce the risk of dementia during ageing."

Physiotherapist Kevin Mulrain said several therapies used virtual activity to treat patients, including those with brain injuries and stroke victims.

Nintendo launched the Wii console in Australia late last year and has been struggling to meet demand. A company spokesman said the console had broken negative stereotypes of the gamer as a "couch potato".

"The primary focus of these things is that everybody should be able to play, whether you are one or 100," the spokesman said.

Mr Wills said playing his Wii was the only form of sport he did. He enjoyed the shooting, golf and bowling.

While he usually played by himself or against his wife Kerry, 60, he took on grandson Max, 7, last week, saying: "It took him a little while to get into it, but once he did, he was thrashing me."

© 2007 Sun Herald

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