Electronic Games for Senior Citizens

The number of gamers over the age of 50 increased by 15 percent from 1999 to 2007, according to a survey by the Entertainment Software Association (Reference 1). With this increase in senior citizen gamers comes an increase in electronic games suitable for that age group. Of course, senior citizens are free to play any game they would like, but seniors new to gaming may prefer titles with motion controls, cognitive benefits and a familiar setting.

Nintendo Wii

Nintendo’s Wii console has become a popular fixture in many senior centers and elder care facilities. Titles like Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort get senior citizens on their feet and moving. While some senior citizens may be daunted by video games with complex controls, the Nintendo Wii combats this problem with intuitive motion controls. The bowling mini-game in Wii Sports has players mimic the motions they would use in real-life bowling, while the basketball free-throw contest in Wii Sports Resort has you raise both hands in a free-throw motion (Reference 1).

Nintendo DS

A 2006 study from the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that regularly training and challenging the brain "reduced functional decline and improved cognitive ability" in the surveyed seniors (Reference 2). You’ll find a range of brain-stimulating titles on the Nintendo DS and its reiterations (DS Lite and DSi). Games in Nintendo’s Brain Age series provide a range of mini-games and tests designed to stimulate the mind through memory, math and language-based challenges. Several game publishers have released Sudoku and crossword Nintendo DS games. While these are essentially the same as their book counterparts, they have the added benefit of fitting thousands of puzzles on one small cartridge. Nintendo plans to launch a new version of the DS, the Nintendo DSi XL, with larger screens for easier viewing in spring 2010 (Reference 3).

Card and Board Games

Senior citizens may be more comfortable playing video games based on games they already know. You’ll find virtually any classic card or board game on a range of consoles. Any Windows-equipped PC comes packaged with classics such as solitaire, checkers, chess and hearts. Board game manufacturers have released console versions of Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, Risk and other classic board games across every current-generation console (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii), so it shouldn’t be hard to find a suitable classic game.

References

• MSN MoneyCentral: Nintendo's Wii a Surprise Hit with Seniors
• Everyday Health: Staying Sharp: Electronic Games and Exercises to Fight Memory Loss
• Engadget: Nintendo DSi XL Coming to Europe March 5, US Eventually