Microsoft: ‘Games are good for your children and family’

Okay, so it’s hard to take a study like this all that seriously, but this latest one from Microsoft definitely isn’t the worst one we’ve ever seen.

It’s second Play Smart, Play Safe index suggest that a nice round figure of 75 per cent of parents feel video games can be beneficial to children and family.

A further 61 per cent state that games are a great social experience, 52 per cent feel video games bring their families together (thanks to the Wii, most probably), and 80 per cent see gaming as a vital component in a balanced blend of modern and traditional entertainment.

The report does highlight a growing awareness of parental controls, but also suggests that a significant number of children want their parents to check a game is age appropriate before they actually play it.

Anyone who’s ever met a child will probably struggle to imagine them saying such a thing, mind you.

The number of parents and children questioned by the report isn’t revealed; nor is the methodology used to ascertain these favourable figures.

A poll carried out by YouGov for the BBFC revealed very different results to Microsoft’s survey, however, stating that 74 per cent of parents are very concerned over the levels of violence in video games and a lack of independent regulation.

Essentially, this means that about 25 per cent of parents worry about video game content and want it governing, yet feel the current state of the games market thoroughly enhances their family life and does their children good.

There’s a Chinese proverb that’s particularly poignant here: “Torture numbers long enough and they’ll confess to anything.”