Americans are highly divided along age lines when it comes to video games - with older Americans being far more hostile to video games.
Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the release of the first Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), a gaming console which when released in Japan helped to bring video games out of arcades and into peoples homes. Games have moved on significantly since the early 80s however, with many in the industry now saying that games have reached a point where they are not only an established form of entertainment but also a platform for artistic expression.
The latest YouGov research shows that Americans are skeptical of these claims. 36% say that video games have had a negative impact on society, while only 11% think that they have had a positive impact.
Breaking the results down by age reveals, however, a stark division within American society. 60% of people over the age of 65 believe that video games have had a negative impact, while only 15% of people aged 18-29 say the same thing. 22% of people aged 18-29 say that video games have had a positive impact.
The divide is equally clear when asked people are asked whether computer games can even be forms of art. 67% of those aged 18-29 agree that they can be, but fully 75% of people aged over 65 say that they cannot be forms of art.
Interestingly, there is also a partisan divide, though less significant than the age divide. 29% of Democrats believe video games have had a negative effect, compared to 48% of Republicans.
Complete results are available here.
