Action Table Sports

The Top 10 Video Games To Improve Senior Health

If you think that video games are for lazy teenagers or adult couch potatoes only, think again. Once you start reaching your ‘golden’ age or if you are way past your 60s and 70s, your heart, body and mind can use the adrenaline rush brought about by the modern gaming devices which are available today.

Why Video Games Aren’t Just For Kids Anymore?

So what exactly are the benefits that grandma and grandpa can get from playing Wii, online games, PlayStation 2 or similar gaming devices? There’s actually a lot more to video gaming than you may actually think.

A good number of studies in the past have shown that playing video games has many positive benefits to senior health. For young people, one of the benefits of playing video games is to sharpen their problem-solving abilities. Video games are even known to improve the skills of a surgeon in the operating table.

Now, to give you an idea about the health benefits that older people will enjoy, take a look at the following list:

1. According to the Psychology and Aging magazine, playing complex video games after receiving training may improve the cognitive functions of seniors. This is one the functions which typically decline with age.

2. Aside from improving their cognitive functions, video games which require seniors to juggle multiple tasks may also improve their ability to perform some other everyday tasks in the ‘real world’.

3. Researches done in the past also indicated that video games such as the ones provided by Nintendo and Wii can be successfully used to doctor seniors with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other illnesses of a psychological or psychosocial nature.

4. Preliminary studies have shown that strategy video games may help older adults in keeping their brains razor sharp.

Since you will be playing with the aid of a joystick, video games can help Improve Your eye-hand coordination.
To sum it all up, what video games do is keep an aging brain young – which is why they bring forth a multitude of benefits for a senior’s overall health. And with the introduction of Wii fitness-themed games, who says that they can’t enjoy the physical benefits of video games as well?

Top 10 Video Games to Improve Senior Health

After learning about the benefits of using video games to improve senior health, which games should you borrow from your grand kids? Here are the top 10 video games which help improve senior health:

1. Brain Age and Brain Age2

This is a video game developed by Nintendo DS, which has already spawned a sequel: Brain Age2. Both the original and the sequel video games are inspired by the work of Japanese neuroscientist Dr. Ryuta Kawashima.

Basically, what the Brain Age video game will assist you with is stimulating your brain by giving it the workout that it needs with activities like solving simple math problems, currency counting, drawing pictures or unscrambling letters.

As indicated in their website, the activities in the Brain Age2 video game will increase the blood flow to your prefrontal cortex. [Poor Blood Circulation]

2. BrainBashers.com

BrainBashers.com is actually a website which was started in 1997 by Kevin Stone, BSC. The site has a great collection of logic game, brain teasers, riddles, puzzles, games and optical illusions.

The good thing about BrainBashers is that five new puzzles are added every other week, so you will have some new brain-exerciser games to look forward to. [Brain Strengthening Exercises]

The benefit of visiting sites like these is that your mental acuity will be sharpened because of the sheer number of activities that your brain can be engaged in.

3. Wii Golf

If, for one reason or another, you have decided to quit playing golf – you can still have a go at it with the help of a video game like the Nintendo Wii Golf.

You can enjoy it as part of the Wii Sports collection which includes a series of five sports simulations: tennis, baseball, golf, bowling and boxing. So, how exactly will the Wii Golf help seniors have a pretty good workout – with the help of a video game console? [Balance Exercises For Seniors]

The Wii Remote is the key. What it does is mimic the actions performed in real life sports.

Let’s say that you have swung the Wii Remote which you will be using as a golf club, its mechanism will detect how strong or how gentle your golf swing is, and the results will be seen on the screen.

4. Dancing with the Stars

Whether or not you’re a fan of the show that the video game is based on, you will have a blast playing the “Dancing with the Stars” video game. Released in October 2007, the game has PC and online versions, and is also available in Wii, PC, mobile and PlayStation 2 platforms.

If you will get the PlayStation 2 or Wii formats of the game, that is when you will have the best time exercising because it comes with the dance pad. Basically, you will enjoy a physical workout while playing a video game at the same time.

5. Tetris

Whether it’s a game installed on your mobile phone, your computer or a gaming console, the classic blocks game of Tetris will provide a lot of benefits for you as a senior.

When you use the arrow keys on your keyboard to play the game and you’re at an advanced level, your quick thinking skills will be sharpened. Hand-eye coordination and logical thinking are the other benefits that you will get from playing this game.

6. NASCAR 09

Bring out the risk-taking race car driver in you with the NASCAR 09 video game. It comes in the following formats: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. If you’re not into race car driving, you can try the other driving and flying video games, which will keep your wits razor sharp.

7. Guild Wars

This PC game is available in Windows format only, and is developed by ArenaNet. It’s an episodic series of role-playing games on multiplayer online mode.

Guild Wars is in fact popular with both the younger and the older crowd – so you’ll have plenty of youthfulness to keep you company while the game sharpens your wits at the same time.

8. Pogo.com

If there’s one online video gaming site that is popular with the over-40 crowd, that is none other than Pogo.com. The site is suitable for seniors who are not really into racing, war games or strategic games.

Pogo.com includes a wide array of puzzle games, word games, card games, board games, arcade and sports games that will keep you spending as much hours as your grand kid is spending on the Internet.

9. Scrabble

Another classic game that will keep your brain razor sharp is scrabble. You can even go one step further and use the fun game to connect with your friends and family – no matter which part of the world they live in.

You can have a game with two to four players, and receive notifications on your e-mail if it is your turn to play.

10. Grandparent Games

To cap off our list, there’s the aptly named Grandparent Games which allows seniors to connect with their grandchildren through interactive games. If you want to connect with your children’s kids while exercising your brain at the same time, you get free access to the service for 7 days.

There’s a minimal fee to continue, but if you like playing the games, it is definitely worth it.

There you have it – our top 10 list of the best video games that will allow seniors to exercise their brains, their bodies and improve their eye-hand coordination. Whoever said that video games are a waste of time and are only meant for lazy kids and adults, can never be more wrong.

About the Author

Neelima Reddy, author of this article writes for HealthWatchCenter.com; which is the premier publisher of health related information and news from around the world. This blog is aimed at helping you better understand the problems you are facing every day and offer suggestions. Health Watch Center

World Cup Table Tennis™ — The Classic Game in 3D – iPhone Game Review

Harvard G03509W Action Arena 7-Foot Air Hockey Table $498.99 Tired of heading to the pub every time you want to play air hockey? Enter the Harvard Action Arena 7-foot air hockey table, which brings the same exciting, fast-paced gameplay directly into your home. Designed for four players instead of two, the Action Arena is well constructed, with sturdy 4-by-1/2-inch L-style legs, a cross bar for added stability, and a 6-1/2-inch PVC laminate apron with silve…

Harvard G05204W Game Choice 7-Foot 2-in-1 Air Hockey / Billiard Combination Flip Table $587.99 Double the action, double the fun! This 2-in-1 game table features a pool table on one side, and an air hockey table on the other. The playbed is made of a glossy laminate for fast action, and the electronic scoring system also keeps the action going. The 5.75″ apron and 4.5″ top rail make for more a consistent rebound, while the end panels and cross bar on the legs create extra stability. The tab…

PINBALL ZONE Sign part game room arcade machine games $8.99 This is a brand new 12″ tall and 12″ wide diamond shape sign made from weatherproof plastic with premium grade vinyl. The sign is perfect for indoor or outdoor use, made to last at least 3-4 years outside. The sign has rounded corners and a 1 hole pre-drilled for easy mounting. These signs will not rust or fade. Be sure to check out all of our other signs, they make great gifts!!…

Eye Toy Play 2 with Camera $11.65 MODEL- 97495 VENDOR- SONY PLAYSTATION FEATURES- PS2 Eye Toy Play 2 with Camera EyeToy: Play 2 is the amazingly addicting sequel to the groundbreaking original EyeToy: Play! Experience 12 all new crazy games and 75 bonus games as you block soccer balls hit homeruns and battle it out for the table tennis crown. Build burgers chop potatoes and mash …

Game Room [Download] $6.95 Classic game room fun! Go head-to-head with a friend or the computer in 3 different games. Test your reflexes on the air-hockey table. Match wits with the computer on the ping-pong table. Smash the ball through the opponent’s goal in Foosball….

SNAP! Classic Arcades Pong (Jewel Case) $0.01 Snap! Pong brings back the game that started it all. Competitive two-player gaming that operates simply — keep the bouncing ball in play for as long as you can!…

Atari Retro (Download) downloadable Software No joystick? No problem. New Version 2.0! With full screen gameplay! They were the games that captivated a generation  Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Pong® and Breakout®  some of Atari’s greatest arcade games brought to the living room on the Atari 2600 game console. Now these games are available in this award-winning collection for your smartphone or PDA. Each of the seven g…

Franklin Sports Deluxe 6 in 1 Game Center $149.99 Why choose which tabletop arcade game you want when you can have them all? The Franklin Sports Deluxe 6 in 1 Game Center offers six high-quality games in one convenient unit. This game center includes four different table tops: zero-gravity hockey, foosball, mini table tennis, and a board game top on which you can play chess, checkers, or backgammon. Tired of a game? Just change out the table top …

6-in-1 Table Top Arcade Game $140.84 6 Games in 1 Includes all accessories for each game Including real powered air hockey, foosball, table tennis, chess and checkers and backgammon Real furniture style construction Table top design great for any room 90-Day warranty Minimal assembly required 36 in. L x 20 in. W

Franklin Sports 6 in 1 Table Top Arcade Set $164.95 The Franklin Sports 6 in 1 Table Top Arcade Set brings the fun and excitement of 6 family-friendly games into any room of the house! The 6 in 1 table includes everything needed for air hockey, foosball, table tennis, chess, checkers, and backgammon. The real furniture-style cabinet features a dark walnut finish. A convenient storage drawer holds all of your gaming accessories.

Hexalot $9.99 “As Merlin, King Arthur’s most trusted advisor, it’s up to you to build bridges across treacherous puzzlescapes, and bring the Knights of the Round Table back to Hexalot! Recapture the Crown of Arthur by building bridges of magic crystals between knights and castles in ‘Arcade’ or ‘Adventure’ mode. You’ll experience an array of ever-changing levels with thousands of solutions! Hurry up, before King Arthur’s realm is lost forever!”

Joola Mini Table Tennis Table $124.95 The Joola Mini Table Tennis Table features a scaled down design just for kids! This mini ping pong table fits practically anywhere in your home and makes a great alternative to video games or television. This sturdy table includes folding legs for easy storage.

Microsoft XBOX 360 Arcade System XGX-00001 (No Games) $131.3 Microsoft XBOX 360 Arcade System XGX-00001 (No Games)

Table Tennis at the Asian Games : Table Tennis at the 2006 Asian Games, Table Tennis at the 2002 Asian Games $8.18 No Synopsis Available

Ultratech Table Tennis Table $615.98 Ultratech Table Tennis Table

Daytona Table Tennis Table $515.24 Daytona Table Tennis Table

Butterfly Personal Rollaway Table Tennis Table $599 Butterfly table tennis tables are engineered in Germany and are consistently featured at the most prestigious table tennis tournaments in the world. The entry level Butterfly Personal Rollaway Table Tennis Table is the perfect recreational ping pong table to start your family’s home game room. The hard 5/8 inch wood table tennis table surface gives you a responsive bounce for lively games and complete durability. The one inch round steel legs keep the table stable even during hard shots and overhead slams. This model ping pong table even folds into a compact storage position to conserve space and a playback position for solo play.

Butterfly Playback Rollaway Table Tennis Table $709.95 Butterfly table tennis tables are engineered in Germany and are consistently featured at the most prestigious table tennis tournaments in the world. The Butterfly Playback Rollaway Table Tennis Table has the durability and rugged design to stand up to heavy use in schools, recreation centers and sports clubs, or it can be used as a top of the line home table tennis table. The hard 3/4 inch wood table tennis table surface gives you a responsive bounce for lively games and complete durability. The 1 inch square steel legs keep the table stable even during hard shots and overhead slams. This model ping pong table even folds into a compact storage position to conserve space and a playback position for solo play.

Arcade Oval Table Lamp $440 Hampstead, Arcade Oval Table Lamp Arcade Oval Black Wood Veneer Shade. Diffuser had a diameter of 15″ and a height of 8.5. The overall height of this lamp is 22.5″. The base is a 6 inch square.

STS 175 Table Tennis Table $638.53 STS 175 Table Tennis Table

STS 275 Table Tennis Table $702.07 STS 275 Table Tennis Table

Stiga Synergy Table Tennis Table $479.49 Stiga Synergy Table Tennis Table

Expert Roller Table Tennis Table $1099.99 Expert Roller Table Tennis Table

STS 375 Table Tennis Table $699.99 STS 375 Table Tennis Table

STS 510 Table Tennis Table $899.99 STS 510 Table Tennis Table

Killerspin Revolution SVR-Black Table Tennis Table $3499.95 The premium, state of the art Killerspin Revolution SVR-Black Table Tennis Table was specifically developed with professional competitions in mind! Used exclusively in the Killerspin Extreme and Spinvitational Tournaments, this sophisticated ping pong table features two-piece tabletop construction for simpler set-up. The unique cutting-edge base, with its durable metal arched structure, was designed not only for its good looks, but for the superior stability it provides! And, this special, sleek black unit amps up the style for a truly radical new spin on table games. The advanced Revolution SVR offers stability, balance and the truest, most accurate bounces to be found in the sport!

Rotate Mania Deluxe $9.99 Rotate Mania Deluxe is a puzzle game with elements of Tetris and Collapse games. Rotate each figure to match up triangles of the same color. Clear them all to reveal the picture behind the puzzle! Try strategy and arcade modes for double the fun.

Bubble Town $19.99 “Save Borb Bay from calamity in this addictive arcade/puzzler – one shot from the chute and you’ll be hooked! This MySpace and Facebook phenomenon is now available for download. Bubble Town will test your wits, not just your reflexes. Join an unforgettable cast of characters for an adventure of bubble-popping proportions. Choose from Journey Mode or Arcade Mode, but watch out for the Danger Zone. Pick from four difficulty levels, and rest assured, Bubble Town’s addictive puzzle and arcade gameplay will provide you with hours of fun!”

Sky Taxi 2 – Storm 2012 $19.99 “The president wants you to clean up the pollution that’s causing insane weather around the world. The only problem: avoiding the rogue robots that are attempting to exterminate anyone who comes near them! In the tradition of the best classic platform games comes Sky Taxi 2: Storm 2012, a side-scroller with 275 levels of running, jumping and bouncing off the heads of enemies. With simple controls, colorful graphics, bonuses, arcade mini-games, and tons of secrets, Sky Taxi 2 will keep you hoppin’ and boppin’ for months!”

Commonwealth Games Table Tennis Players by Year : Table Tennis Players at the 2002 Commonwealth Games $8.41 No Synopsis Available

London 2012 Olympic Sports Table Tennis Pin $8.95 Whether you’re heading to London for the Olympic games or you’re going to watch in the comfort of your own home, you’ll want a souvenir of your favorite sport. Grab this table tennis pin before they’re sold out! It features the official London 2012 logo below a vibrant table tennis graphic. If you miss out, you may have to wait four years!

Namco All-Stars: PAC-MAN $9.99 “PAC-MAN, the world famous arcade classic, returns in this faithful rendition right on your PC! Who can forget the countless hours and quarters spent avoiding pesky ghosts while chompin’ on dots and gobbling up the fruit for bonus points? Play Classic Arcade mode, featuring all the original arcade graphics you know and love, or check out the new Enhanced Mode with updated graphics and sounds! Play through all 256 dot-chomping levels of PAC-MAN and test your skills with all new stats!”

Dark Matter $19.99 “Discover this amazing remake of the classic arcade game Asteroids! Dark Matter uses today’s technology and visually stunning graphics to recreate the excitement and frantic gameplay of the title that made history. In 1980, Asteroids was one of the most commercially successful games that helped to establish videogames as a lasting entertainment medium. Now, embark on 30 various intergalactic missions in Campaign mode or opt to survive an endless attack in Challenge mode.”

Alien Stars $9.99 “Alien Stars combines all the best features of simple arcade games and classic space shooters! Defeat tons of different enemies, blasting through armor and ships as fast as they attack. Take on 11 different missions that feature their own boss fights at the end. Alien Stars is a turbo-charged game with beautiful space graphics and more action than you can imagine!”

Joola WM Table Tennis Net and Post Set $89.95 The Joola WM Table Tennis Net and Post Set is the official net of the 2010 North American Tour! This professional-quality net includes height and tension adjustment features with all-metal posts. It is ITTF-approved and is the same as the net used in the European Championships and the Asian Games. A zippered storage case is included.

Table Tennis Bat Controller for Wii $7.96 - Designed for Wii console ping-pong/table tenis games- Smart and cure, convenient to carry and use- Good material intensity, comfortable hand feeling- Player will feel playing in reality rather than simulation

Table Tennis Conversion Top w Official ITTF Size $258 Want to play table tennis but feel you don’t have space for a table? This could be the perfect solution. This green laminated table tennis conversion top can be placed on top of any standard table (including a billiard or pool table if you have one) to instantly convert any room in your house into a games room. A simple yet brilliant idea. A great solution when space is at a premium, this table tennis conversion top allows you to play ping pong any time, any place! * Laminated top and bottomOfficial ITTF sizeGreen surfaceConverts any table into a table-tennis tableNet and post not included61.5″ x 55″ x 1.75″

Totem Tribe $19.99 “It is the Epoch of the Comet, and Chieftan Aruku must bring peace to a troubled world. Totem Tribe is an arcade game that relies heavily on strategic elements. Build a village and explore uncharted islands to find jewels, complete mission objectives, and understand your surroundings. Build huts, barracks, and scout lodges, and solve puzzles to free other island dwellers. Each island is beautifully crafted and unique, and each mission is a different challenge. If you enjoy puzzles, arcade gameplay, and a little bit of strategy, you’ll love Totem Tribe!”