ABSTRACT
Physical activity and exercise often increase post-retirement, and many of the leisure activities that older adults report enjoying most involve physical activity. Complexity of media entertainment interfaces can present additional challenges to the older user. Age-related changes in hearing and vision can negatively impact the experience of watching movies and television. Video game play is clearly a popular form of the leisure activity, but there may be benefits to gaming beyond enjoyment. Video games by their very nature are designed to be challenging and, to some degree, frustrating. Video games, and specific video game genres, often have common game mechanics, controls, rules, and strategies that individuals with previous video game experience will know. In terms of game preferences, studies suggest that older adults are averse to violent video games as well as to fast-paced visually and attentionally demanding action games.
