PopCap Games, developer of such titles as Peggle (pictured above) and Bejeweled, recently commisioned a survey on the usership of casual games (primarily web-based), and found about 1 in every 5 suffer from some sort of disability. This incorporates all types of disabilities, which range from depression to multiple sclerosis.
The UN states as many as 650 million people worldwide live with a disability, or 10% of the world population, and 15% for the United States, meaning the statistics are in line with survey results. Interesting stuff.
The light side of the facts is these kind of games provide great relief for those in such a situation, positively affecting stress, mood, psychological tension, anger, depression, fatigue, you name it. 58 year-old Gary Robinson, who lives with severe physical disabilities, noted with the survey how it greatly benefits him:
"Games like Bejeweled and Peggle, with simple controls that are also mentally challenging and engaging are ideal for me, because my mind moves as quickly as the next guy's but I type with a mouth-stick. In some ways, games like these are the greatest thing that's appeared on the computer scene for people like me."
World Cyber Games 2008 kicking off May 31st & June 1st
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