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Wrinkled gamers become important market

by on23 June 2008

Image

Get off my cyber lawn


Electronic games
designed for the Japanese elderly are being snapped up like chocolate cake at a starving man convention.

Most of the games that are doing well are those that are designed to help people get into shape. Sei Toyama, one of the organizers of the Tokyo Toy Show said that now a fifth of the population is aged 65 or older and will rise to 40.5 percent by 2055; and the world is ready for the sort of adult exercises toys you do not buy from a sex shop.

Part of the trouble is that Tokyo in April passed a law that requires companies and local governments to measure the waistlines of their employees aged between 40 and 74 years old. If waistlines for men exceed 83.75 centimeters (33.5 inches) and 88.50 centimeters (35.4 inches) for women, they are categorized as having "metabolic syndrome" and firms will be financially penalized, so there is a vested interest in getting people in shape.

Sega has created a realistic potted plant that nods when a person speaks to help lonely or stressed out adults. Sega and Hasbro have teamed up to develop the Ampbot, a two-wheeled dancing robot with stereo sound.
Last modified on 24 June 2008
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