Gamers do have social lives, study says

When people think of gamers, they probably have an image in their heads of someone much like the guy in South Park's "Make Love, Not Warcraft." But, according to a study conducted by media company Giant Realm, that stereotype just might not be true.

After surveying more than 2,700 men between the ages of 18-34, the company discovered that about 75% of the respondents owned at least one gaming console and, contrary to popular belief, they had active social lives. In fact, gamers are more likely than non-gamers to go out to eat, check out movies and hit the dating scene – suggesting that gamers as a whole aren’t all overweight, Cheetos munching basement dwellers.

Here are some of the statistics found by the survey:

• Two-thirds (67.4%) of gamers have gone out with friends in the past week, compared to 54.9% of non-gamers.


• Gamers are more likely than non-gamers to use a number of personal care/grooming products, including deodorant, shaving products, body wash, disposable razors and hair grooming/styling products.


• Gamers are even more likely than non-gamers to hit the gym (28.1% vs. 22.1%).


• One-third of gamers have gone out on a date in the past week compared to only one-quarter of non-gamers (35.6% vs. 25.1%).
  

So much for the theory that gamers are all fat and depressed huh?