Even though consumers spend billions on video games every year, there are people who have never heard of Mario or Zelda, people who have never picked up a joystick or had the thrill of winning a Super Smash Bros. game. Some people may have strict reasoning behind their decision to avoid video games, others may simply never have had the opportunity to get behind a racing wheel or PlayStation 3. If you are one of these people, there are many reasons why. You should get involved with video games.

1. Video games are fun!

I have yet to meet someone who has played video games and not enjoyed the experience. While it can be said that there are some video games that a person can find boring, there is a game for everyone. From Barbie and LEGO video games geared for younger ages to games like World of Warcraft and Elder Scrolls: Oblivion that appeal to an older audience, no matter how old you are, there’s a video game for you.

2. Create your own world.

With video games, you can do things that you normally couldn’t do in real life. This often gives people a sense of self-confidence and pleasure. In the Grand Theft Auto series, for example, players can get away with things like carjacking, public brawls, and murder, actions that certainly wouldn’t be tolerated in the real world. In Ace Combat, the player can pilot historical fighter planes and bombers in the framework of the First World War. In the Need for Speed ​​series, forget about speed limits. Players compete in street races with their upgraded cars against a variety of opponents while avoiding the police. With all that said, there’s no question that video games provide experiences that aren’t available in real life.

3. Even the elderly can play video games.

Think you’re too old to shard in Unreal Tournament or get level 15 in World of Warcraft? Think again. Lately there are an increasing number of stories in the news about older people playing video games and playing them well. Take the Sedgebrook retirement community outside of Chicago, for example, where people with an average age of 77 who have never touched a game controller can’t get enough of the Nintendo Wii. Wii Bowling has become so popular with this older crowd that they now host their own tournaments in which many of the residents compete. Take a trip to Cleveland and you’ll find Old Grandma Hardcore, a 69-year-old woman who enjoys first-person shooters and now works for MTV as a senior video game critic.